Russian ammunition manufacturing company Techcrim has introduced a saboted buckshot load for the 9.6x53mm Lancaster cartridge which they co-designed with Molot Oruzhie. This cartridge is developed to be chambered in oval bore (a.k.a. Lancaster rifled) firearms to make them legally considered shotguns in Russia. However, despite the Lancaster rifling is considered smoothbore in Russia, it actually imparts a spin to the projectile, which means if these saboted buckshot loads work in 9.3x56mm Lancaster cartridge, they should work for rifle cartridges, too.

In each of these sabots, there are five 8mm pellets (a little smaller than the #0 buckshot) traveling at a muzzle velocity of 490 m/s (1,610 fps). The company claims that at a 35-meter distance the pattern size is 40 centimeters (15-3/4″) and each of the pellets penetrates a 5-centimeter (2″) pine board at that distance.

Now, birdshot/buckshot has been always known for having poor accuracy when fired from rifled barrels because the centrifugal force pushes the pellets of the spinning shot cloud away from the center of rotation resulting in a donut-shaped pattern with a void in the middle and shot dispersed around the actual point of aim. However, in case of a single column of buckshot which is in-line with the bore axis, the centrifugal force should not have negative effects on the pattern. Saboted bullets have also always suffered from accuracy issues due to inconsistent sabot separation. However, in this case, the sabot separation issue should have a negligible effect on getting a shotgun-like pattern and accuracy.

I think the possibility to shoot buckshot with a decent pattern from rifled firearms is a good way to expand the capabilities of large caliber hunting rifles and ammunition. Imagine such a saboted buckshot load for the good ‘ol .45-70 Government or for larger cartridges such as the .458 Winchester Magnum. You could probably be able to have five double ought buckshot pellets in a similar sabot in .45-70 Government and still have enough case volume left for stuffing powder that will push the pellets to typical shotgun velocities. This should allow hunting smaller game that would otherwise be destroyed if hit with a .458 caliber bullet. Such loads could also offer more flexibility for defensive use.

Do you agree with me and think that this is indeed a cool idea? Do you know of other similar loads that currently exist or existed previously? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Images from www.techcrim.ru