Editing Shotgun slug (section)

{{short description|Type of ammunition used mainly in hunting medium and large game}}
[[File:Brenneke Slug-1.jpg|thumb|200px|A [[#Brenneke_slugs|Brenneke-style]] shotgun slug]]

A '''shotgun slug''' is a heavy projectile (a [[Slug (projectile)|slug]]) made of [[lead]], copper, or other material and fired from a [[shotgun]]. Slugs are designed for hunting large [[Game (food)|game]], and other uses, particularly in areas near human population where their short range and slow speed helps increase safety margin. The first effective modern shotgun slug was introduced by [[Wilhelm Brenneke]] in 1898, and his design remains in use today. Most shotgun slugs are designed to be fired through a cylinder bore, improved cylinder [[Choke (firearms)|choke]], [[rifling|rifled]] choke tubes, or fully rifled bores. Slugs differ from [[round shot|round ball]] lead projectiles in that they are stabilized in some manner.

In the early development of firearms for the year 1875, smooth-bored barrels were not differentiated to fire either single or multiple projectiles. Single projectiles were used for larger game and warfare, though shot could be loaded as needed for small game, birds, and activities such as trench clearing and hunting. As firearms became specialized and differentiated, [[shotgun]]s were still able to fire round balls, though rifled [[musket]]s were far more accurate and effective. Modern slugs emerged as a way of improving on the accuracy of round balls. Early slugs were heavier in front than in the rear, similar to a [[Minié ball]], to provide [[aerodynamics#Turbulence|aerodynamic stabilization]]. Rifled barrels, rifled slugs and rifled choke tubes were developed later to provide gyroscopic spin stabilization in place of or in addition to aerodynamic stabilization. Some of these slugs are [[Sabot (firearms)|saboted]] sub-caliber projectiles, resulting in greatly improved [[external ballistics]] performance.

A shotgun slug typically has more physical mass than a [[bullet|rifle bullet]]. For example, the lightest common [[.30-06 Springfield]] rifle bullet weighs 150 grains ({{convert|0.34|oz|g|abbr=on}}), while the lightest common 12 [[gauge (bore diameter)|gauge]] shotgun slug weighs {{frac|7|8}} oz ({{convert|383|gr|g|abbr=on}}). Slugs made of low-density material, such as rubber, are available as [[Less-lethal weapon|less than lethal]] [[Shotgun#Specialty ammunition|specialty ammunition]].