A1: Some slugs are designed to be shot through choked shotgun barrels and some are simply not. Usually a rifled slug, such as a Brenneke or the dangerous game type slugs popular in Europe can be shot though all but the tightest chokes, but this is not recommended. It would be usual to shoot slugs through a cylinder or an improved cylinder choke. For tighter bores under-sized slugs can be used. These slugs are usually not rifled and are commonly referred to as foster slugs.
A2: A shotgun cartridge is a carefully balanced collection of components that has undergone vigorous pressure and safety tests in a strictly controlled environment, and while it is widely accepted a shotgun slug does not produce as high a pressure for an equal weight of shot, changing any of it's components can adversely effect it's performance with unpredictable and sometimes dangerous results. Therefore it is not considered safe to do this.
A3: Published load data must not be varied by substitution of components by any other than the most experienced of home loaders. Again un-predictable and possibly dangerously high pressures could result in serious injury or at least damage to your shotgun.
A4: Some slugs work well in some shotguns but not in others. This can, and often includes shotguns of equal make and model. The only way to find out how your shotgun will perform is to find a slug and loading combination that works in your particular shotgun and stick to that loading. For example expensive Brenneke rifled slugs are usually considered the best, but a simple round ball loaded in a standard trap wad, assembled with an in-expensive Lee Load-All can, and quite often does out perform these expensive rifled slugs.
A5: No, this is one of the recurring myths in slug shooting circles. The so called rifling on a slug is there to allow the slug to swage down allowing the slug to safely pass through a tighter choked bore, and does not impart any stabilizing spin on the slug at all.
A6: Star crimps can be used to finish slug loadings, but this type of closing is very dependent on the height of the components within the case itself. A rolled turn-over type of closure is more forgiving being less dependent on the over-all height of the components within the case. If the loading calls for a star type crimp the finished crimp should be neither concaved within the case body or pushed out by the contents. This would mean the addition of wads to fill a case or a less bulky powder to reduce the contents volume. As in all loading ventures some experimentation may be needed to find the combination of components that give the best results.
A7: Yes, although using the shorter case length within the longer chamber will be detrimental to accuracy and will increase leading around the force cone area of the chamber due to the slug having to jump a gap of approx 1/4" between the case mouth and the cone area. It is far better to use a properly fitting case within the chamber. Never try a 3" cartridge in a 2 3/4" chamber.
A8: No you do not need a certificate to have loose shotgun slugs in your possession if they are not loaded. This is to say a shotgun slug itself is an inert piece of lead and only falls under the present firearms legislation when loaded within a primed cartridge capable of being fired from a shotgun. For example a collector of framed shotgun cartridges boards would not need any certification because the rounds in his possession would be inert and for display/collection purposes only.
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