I have an Ultra Slugger, Rem 12 bore rifled with cantalever, 1.5 X 5 scope.
NONE of the factory slugs I have gone bankrupt over have given me consistant FIVE shot groups.
I have gotten 2" at 100 wih 3 shots only to have two flyers open the groups to 6 inches or better.
A great deal of the probelms with sabot slugs is in the petals.
If it's real cold outside the petals get cole (hard) and one or two will actually break off before the slug is released giving the dreaded flyer.
Best of the bunh are the non discarding "sabots" like hammerhead and Buckhammer.
The slug and sabot stay one piece all the way to the target and they hit like a train wwreck.
Best performing sabot remains BRI now owned by Winchester. The BRI does not have petals but is a true sabot or shoe in two pcs. that fall away once the paylod clears the barrel.
Too bad Winchester still loads the BRI at a molassas speed of 1275 f.p.s.
I shot a small button buck at 80 yards with BRI slugs and not one passed thru, broke a bone, or knocked the 80 pound deer down.
Three hits and the thing had to bleed to death.
BRI slugs won't expand worf a hoot either but accurate they are.
2 inches and better at 100 is the Rule rather than the exception.
Honestly they are good only to about 75 yards.
All the other 24 $ a 5 pack slugs are pretty much a waste of money.
You buy them. They HAVE to shoot, you just spent 24 bucks, right?
So you get ONE three shot group of 2 inches at 100 and pronounce yourself king of all slug shooters.
That's why:
1) you never see pics of actual two inch or better groups at 150 yards.
2) you ALWAYS get measured groups like this " all slugs would hit a softball at 100".
3) or..... we set up clay bird in the butts and broke them at 150 yards with Super Duper Slugs. That's cause of the dirt and stones kicked up that broke the clay bird.
The slug MISSED by 6 inches.
Oh, and ya wanna see pics of 200 yard slug groups at 200?
Don't hold your breath.
Two years ago we bought a 4 X 8 ft. plywood and set it up at 200.
We made a 6 inch red paint circle in the middle.
We mostly missed low. Real low.
Over on s.g. world I challenged anyone to post pics of 200 yard 2 inch or better groups.
Still waiting for the pics.
Want to minimize cost yet remain effective?
Most deer are shot in the woods at under 70 yards.
Get an 870 pump with GOOD sights, a case of Brenneke K.O. slugs and learn what it WON'T do then go kill deer at 10 with slugs that cost a buck eighty-seven a 5 pack.
Of course you MUST learn to set up your swtich barrel slugger so it throws slugs, not shot.
It's easy, you just have to get off yer arse and learn and do it.
My BEST groups?
Smoothie Remington 870 at 100 yards with Winchester foster slugs inside 2 inches.
If there is any real interest in making a slug gun I'll teach you all what I know.
Y'all better give that Dixie sight a hard look see too.
And learn to use a tape measure for measuring groups.
......."kept all shots inside a soccer ball" won't do it.