Slugs Chronographed

[Unobtanium]

Benelli SuperNova Tactical, 18.5" barrel, Chronograph at 3m distance.

Remington Slugger, rated 1560fps
Actual, 1369*

Federal Hydrashok, rated 1610fps
Actual 1440fps**

Federal Truball DP, rated 1350fps
Actual, 1310fps**

Federal Truball LR, rated 1300fps
Actual 1267fps*




*Some errors on chronograph due to lighting, had to throw a few shots out of the 10 shot string.
**5-shot string


In short, the hottest slug I tested was only about 180fps faster than the slowest, and the federal Truball LR was VERY sedate on the shoulder while only being roughly 100fps slower than the full-house Remington Sluggers. The best accuracy came from the Remington Sluggers, and Federal Truball LR. The worst was the Hydrashok.

[Leroy Suggs]

Thanks for doing that.
I keep the Truball LR in my 18.5 gauge.

[Unobtanium]

This also means that at 100 yards, the Federal TB LR slug is going to be moving at 900fps and have 787.6fpe of energy, using Federal's published BC. The hottest slug I tested, the Hydrashok, is going to be moving at 951fps, and have 880# of energy. Certainly "not worth the recoil for longer shots", which is how most people rationalize full-power slugs "...but what if I want to reach out to 75-100 yards, instead of 25-50? I need the faster slug...not so much. Oh, the full-power Hydrashok drops by 2" less, both zeroed at 25 yards, per JBM calculator. Not much argument for it for trajectory reasons, either. (Both slugs are listed as having a 0.070 BC)

With the full-power slug, you are getting a whopping 51fps and 92.4# more energy on target at 100 yards. You are giving up muzzle flash, recoil, comfort, control, etc.

Shrinking the distance to a more typical 50 yards, the full power slug is giving you 1123fps and 1227fpe. The LR is doing 1030fps, and giving you 1032# of energy. A bit larger discrepancy, but really, it's still nearly academic.

The benefit of a full-power slug is rapidly diminished by distance to the point of insignificance at typical slug-use distances, in my opinion, based on the data I have, and have extrapolated from Federal's data.