Cutting Shotgun Barrels

[CharlesHarris]

US type "Foster" slugs are mostly a hollow shell and the "rifling" swaged on them is not to impart rotation, but to ease their extrusion through the choke, and they may be safely fired through full choke barrels and will give satisfactory results. Different brands vary in slug diameter, so it pays to experiment to determine which brand is most accurate in your gun. Diameters of US made 12-ga. slug ammunition varies from. 690" to. 740"! The RWS Brenneke with wad attached has also shot well in full choke barrels in my experience. I am not familiar with other slugs which may be available in UK or the EU, but my understanding is that CIP test protocols require that slug ammunition be safe in any standard choke.

Before WW2 solid lead round ball ammunition was commonly loaded with an undersized all which would pass through the choke. Where people get into trouble is in handloading cast solid balls larger than choke diameter, of scrap lead which is harder than pure lead, or in attempting to shoot. 44-40 or other bulleted ammunition in. 410 bore shotguns, which is a sure recipe to burst the barrel.