First, know your barrel
Every slug decision starts with one question: is your barrel smooth or rifled? A smoothbore is the standard barrel on most pump and semi-auto shotguns, the same one you'd use for birds or clays. A rifled slug barrel has spiral grooves like a rifle and is usually sold as a dedicated deer barrel.
Sabot slugs need rifling to spin and stabilize. Fired from a smooth barrel, they don't get that spin, and accuracy suffers badly. Our sabot slugs guide covers the rifled-barrel side of this. Everything below is for the much bigger group of hunters carrying a plain smooth barrel into the deer woods.
The confusing part is the label. Foster slugs are often sold as "rifled slugs." That name refers to the angled ribs molded onto the slug, not the barrel. A "rifled slug" is designed for a smoothbore.
The Foster slug
Karl M. Foster developed his slug in 1931 and received a U.S. patent in 1947. The design is simple: a soft lead slug with a deep hollow in the rear. That hollow pushes the center of mass forward, so the slug flies nose-first, a bit like a badminton shuttlecock. Most Foster slugs also carry external ribs that impart some rotation and help even out small manufacturing irregularities.
In the United States, the Foster is the default smoothbore slug. Almost every major ammo company loads one, and it's the slug most hunters picture when they hear the word. Its strengths:
- Easy to find in 2¾-inch and 3-inch 12 gauge, plus 20 gauge.
- Usually milder recoil than heavy magnum slugs, depending on the load.
- Works in typical open chokes when you follow the shotgun maker's guidance.
Its weak spots: soft lead deforms readily, so penetration on larger deer can vary with the load, and Foster slugs are known for leaving lead fouling in the bore, so plan on cleaning after a slug session.
The Brenneke slug
Wilhelm Brenneke, a German gun and ammunition designer, developed his slug in 1898, more than 30 years before Foster's. The original Brenneke is a solid lead slug with ribs cast on the outside and a wad (plastic, felt or fiber, depending on the load) attached to its base. Unlike a typical shotshell wad, the Brenneke wad stays on after firing. It acts as a gas seal in the barrel and as a stabilizing tail in flight.
The Brenneke ribs are designed to compress as the slug passes through a choke. Because the slug is solid rather than hollow-based, Brenneke loads have a reputation for holding together and penetrating deeply, which is why many hunters who chase big-bodied deer or hogs reach for them.
Brenneke makes a wide family of loads, including standard and magnum hunting slugs, a sabot version for rifled barrels, and home-defense versions in 12 and 20 gauge. Ammunition Depot lists the current Brenneke lineup on its Brenneke page.
Side by side
| Trait | Foster ("rifled") slug | Brenneke slug |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | 1931 (patent 1947) | 1898 |
| Stabilization | Hollow base puts weight forward | Attached wad acts as a tail; solid slug |
| Barrel | Smoothbore | Smoothbore (check the box for rifled-barrel notes) |
| Construction | Soft lead, hollow base | Solid lead, ribs, attached wad |
| Typical strengths | Availability, choice of loads, often milder | Penetration and weight retention |
| Typical drawbacks | Lead fouling; more deformation | Fewer choices on some shelves; often stouter recoil |
| Practical smoothbore range | About 75 yd for most guns | About 75 yd for most guns; some guns do better |
The 75-yard figure is a widely cited rule of thumb for smoothbore slugs. Your gun, sights and load may group tighter or wider. The only way to know is to shoot it.
Chokes and slugs
Slugs are designed to pass safely through open chokes and should never be fired through tight or unknown barrels. That's the safe baseline for every slug type. Cylinder and improved cylinder are the traditional slug chokes, and many smoothbore deer barrels are simply cylinder bore.
The Brenneke design has a reputation for passing through a wider range of chokes because its ribs compress. Even so, your shotgun's manual and the ammo maker's box are the final word. If you can't confirm what choke tube is in your gun, don't shoot slugs through it until you can.
What actually decides it
Smoothbore slugs don't spin much, so tiny differences between the slug and your particular barrel matter more than any spec sheet. Two shotguns of the same model can prefer different slugs. That's why experienced slug hunters treat the first box as a test, not a purchase.
- Buy one box of a Foster load and one box of a Brenneke. If you can, add a second Foster brand.
- Shoot from a solid rest at your real hunting distance. If your stand overlooks a 60-yard opening, test at 60.
- Fire three-shot groups and let the barrel cool between them; slug recoil fatigues shooters fast.
- Pick the slug that groups best and adjust your sights to it.
- Buy enough of that exact load to practice and hunt the season. Changing brands means re-zeroing.
If both group equally well, the tiebreaker is the animal. For average whitetails at moderate range, a Foster slug is plenty. For big-bodied deer, quartering shots or hogs, the Brenneke's construction is the stronger choice.
Loads to start with
Ammunition Depot's slug lineup changes with the season. These are verified listings to start your test, plus the broader category pages:
For Foster-style rifled slugs from Federal, Remington, Winchester and others, start from the 12 gauge section or the 20 gauge section and filter by slug. Deer seasons in shotgun-only zones run through these quickly, so it pays to buy your test boxes before the opener.
Twenty gauge and youth hunters
Everything above applies to 20 gauge as well. Both Foster and Brenneke slugs are made in 20 gauge, with lighter slugs and less recoil, which makes them a good fit for youth and recoil-sensitive hunters on deer at modest distances. Keep shots close, and test just as carefully, since lighter slugs leave less margin for poor placement.
Check your local rules
Many states and counties restrict deer hunters to shotguns, straight-wall cartridges or muzzleloaders in certain zones. Those rules can also cover slug types, shell capacity and minimum gauge. Read your state's current hunting regulations before you buy ammo for the season.
Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.
Frequently asked questions
Can you shoot Brenneke slugs through a rifled barrel?
Brenneke slugs are designed mainly for smoothbores. Some loads are marketed for both barrel types, so check the specific box. For a rifled barrel, sabot slugs are usually the more accurate choice.
Are "rifled slugs" for rifled barrels?
No. "Rifled slug" usually means a Foster slug with angled ribs on the slug itself. It's designed for smoothbore barrels.
What choke should I use for slugs?
Cylinder or improved cylinder are the traditional slug chokes. Never fire slugs through tight, ported or unknown chokes, and follow your shotgun maker's guidance.
How far can I shoot a smoothbore slug at deer?
About 75 yards is the commonly cited practical limit for smoothbore slugs. Test your gun from a rest and keep shots inside the distance where you can reliably hit a vital-sized target.
Is a Brenneke better than a Foster slug?
Not automatically. Brenneke slugs tend to penetrate deeper and hold together better, while Foster slugs are easier to find and often milder. Accuracy in your gun should decide.
Sources and further reading
Related reading
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.