[font=Arial] [/font]I have a few questions about shotgun ammo.

I have a 12 ga. Mossberg 590 Special Purpose home defense/law enforcement-type shotgun. It has a heavy, smooth, non-rifled barrel. I recently purchased some ammo for it and I bought 2 boxes of Vital-Shok 2 3/4", 3/4 oz. Magnum cartridges. They are the Barnes Expander HP sabot slugs, P152 XS. On the side of the box it says: *Use in fully rifled barrels only*.

My questions are: 1) Why does it say this on the box?, 2) Will I damage the gun if I fire these rounds through it?, 3) Is there any danger to me if I fire the rounds through it?

In other words, will anything bad happen to either the shooter or the gun if these rounds are used in a non-rifled barrel, or is this warning on the side on the box referring to accuracy issues when hunting. That is, if fired through a non-rifled barrel, the accuracy at 50 or 100 yards will be less than if fired through a rifled barrel, for example?

Two other questions I have are: 1) What defense shotgun cartridge is the deadliest, and why?, 2) If I were to buy a dedicated deer/elk hunting shotgun, which brands/models would you say are the best quality/accuracy. That is, if cost were no concern, which brand and model would YOU buy, and why?

Thanks in advance.
Kruger

I would suspect that the issue would be "Why pay for the expensive ammo and shoot if from a less than accurate weapon?' You will not get optimum performance from a smooth barrel.

However, I have worked with smoothbore muzzleloaders for many years and know for a fact that until you get out to 25 yards there is not difference in accuracy between rifled and smooth barrels, IF you patch the balls in the smoothbore just like you do in the rifle they are usually very close out to 50 yards. That said, the sabot is what gives the round it's accuracy potential. It will probably improve the accuracy potential over the standard slug in your smooth barrel.

After saying all that I would not advise you to operate against the advice on the box. I have never worked with that particular brand.

Shotgun accuracy is a relitive term. They are not intended to be 100 yard 1" group shooters, even with the best of gozmos. The specialized barrels were invented to give better performance in a shotgun only state, not to turn a shotgun into a rifle. Few people running around with a rifled shotgun would not turn it in for a good rifle if the law allowed then to use one. I do not know of any state that has the game animals you mentioned that does not allow rifle use. Even a $50 Nagent will give better groups than a shotgun. Two or three boxes of that expensive specialty ammo would buy you one!

Which is best? Shotguns are a real personal Ford vs Chevy type thing. The one you shoot best and/or have in your hands when you need it is the best one.

Using sabot rounds in a smooth bore shotgun is a waste of money and a good round. 'Standard' shotgun slugs (for smooth barrels) are formed with fins that cause them to stabilize (not necessarily spin) in flight. Sabot rounds do not stabilize themselves in any way, and rely on the rifling of the barrel to instill spin on them.

Shooting a sabot out of a smooth bore barrel = greatly reduced range and accuracy, and the slug will tend to tumble in flight.
Shooting a non-sabot out of a rifled barrel = potential for very heavy leading of the barrel, and all the issues that entails.

1) Because its the correct usage of the round.
2) No.
3) No.