Lyman's 525 grain "Sabot Slug"

Glen

Moderator
Staff member
Recently, a buddy of mine and I have been playing around with 12 gauge slug loads, built around the Lyman 525 grain "Sabot Slug". I've been casting them and Dave (who has more experience and tooling for loading shotshells than I do) is loading them. We did another round of testing this morning (before the rains moved in), and we are making progress! My understanding is that one can run these 1 1/4 ounce slugs as much as 1400 fps, but since these are going to be used for the diminutive coastal blacktailed deer over on the west side of the state (100-110 lb deer), we feel no need for that much velocity, pressure, or recoil (we're aiming for something more like 1200 fps). This morning, we were getting good groups with Unique at about 1175 fps (clover leafs at 25 yards with iron sights from a smooth bore slug barrel).

Lyman12 gauge slug.jpg
 

Ian

Notorious member
Very interested. I've been eyeing that mould for years and years but never "pulled the trigger" on one so to speak, looks like you two are closing in on a winning combination.
 

Will

Well-Known Member
There is a copy of that mold eBay made by a guy in Russia that many really like. He has various size pins to adjust the hollow base.

I'm interested in seeing your results Glen. Loading slugs has always intrigued me but I haven't taken the plunge yet
 

Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
There is quite a bit of info on that slug in the CB site, Casting for Shotguns thread. Most are duplicating shot loads of the same weight. Problem is fit with available components and cost of specialty wads. I'm playing with the Lee 7/8 oz. and enjoying the ease of loading. Playing with lubricating the slugs and buckshot with Bens Red(a batch I scorched). From what I've observed, a group with smoothbore that will shoot clover leafs is pretty good. A 1 1/4 oz. slug at any thing near 1200 should be more than enough for a 100 lb. deer.
 

KHornet

Well-Known Member
Have similar interests, but have never pulled the trigger. Would really be interested
in 20g slugs, but have never found molds for 20g,

Paul
 

Rally Hess

Well-Known Member
There was some talk of perhaps getting a group buy going for a 20 ga. slug Paul, but seems to have waned the last couple months. I'd like to see a similar mold made for the Lee drive Key slug in 20 ga..