I'm learning alot about shotgun slugs since starting my quest to develop a big game and dangerous game worthy double barrel slug gun and appropriate slug combinations for various dangerous game and big game.

To refresh, I started with an Italian made 12 gauge smooth bore. 24 inch cylinders. 3" chambers. It is a side by side... I like hunting close range.

I am about to try Fiocchi and Brenneke slugs.

However, there are three other companies that claim to make dangerous game slugs and all say I can reliably shoot their slugs out of my smooth bore. Of course all recommend testing and finding which of their slugs work the best.

First---
http://www.starsandstripesammo.com

They make a Thunderbolt dangerous game, a regular dangerous game slug, and round ball slug ammunition. They also make an AQ which is supposed to be a technology lending to greater accuracy. Very helpful, too. I am buying some of their slugs today.

Second---
http://www.ballisticproducts.com
They also make a "thunderbolt" slug.... hmmmm both companies claim there thunderbolt is their's. Okay. I can accpet that. They also make dangerous game and round ball, too. I am buying some of their slugs too.

Third---
http://www.dixieslugs.com
Interesting product and company. Their website needs lots of work but the owner is helpful and it looks like their PredatorII slug will be quite a lethal slug in my double barrel. They are heavy, conical and hardened for max penetration and impact. I am buying some of his slugs too.

All of the slugs I'm looking at in 3 inch or 2 and 3/4 inch will deliver awesome power and most claim excellent penetration as well. Starsandstripes can custom make slugs too and one of their customers tells me he uses a tungsten carbide that he has dropped asian buffalo with faster than ANY rifle he or his PH have ever witnessed...

At 1500 to 1600 fps and with a hardened 1 & 1/8 ounce or a 1 & 3/8 weight, with approx .735 diameters (nose diameter at .450") we are talking an extremely lethal "blow" with more penetration that most people are attributing to a typical slug. These are MASSIVE projectiles and they are not soft.

I know at this point the naysayers will jump on the "no accuracy" argument. Well, the fact is I hunt close range. And, yes, I expect repeatable 2 inch groups at 50 yards. That is about maximum distance I'll be hunting anyway. Why do I need a 200 yard gun/slug combination when that is NOT what I'm pursuing?

As of this writing, can I report 2 inch groups at 50 yards yet? Nope. I have been scoping out the suppliers of danegrous game slugs and ball ammo and I think I found 3 good ones right here in the US. I am going to be giving all of them the tests, and yes that includes hunting with their slugs. However, I highly recommend---if you haven't already---visiting these three companies and seeing what they have to offer in slugs for dangerous game and for big game.

Happy hunting! Blam Blam.