Slug Drop
Trajectory for shotgun slugs, which use the same drag-model engine as the rifle calculator with slug-typical BC ranges.
How this works
Shotgun slugs follow the same underlying physics as rifle bullets, just with much lower ballistic coefficients — a rifled Foster-style slug is aerodynamically similar to the round ball category, while a modern saboted slug fired from a rifled slug barrel behaves more like a true rifle bullet with a noticeably higher BC.
Sabot vs. rifled/Foster slugs
The BC range in the note reflects this real difference: saboted slugs (fired from rifled barrels) typically hold velocity and accuracy out further than rifled or Foster slugs (designed to be stabilized by rifling cut into the slug itself, for smooth-bore shotguns). Pick the BC that matches your actual slug type for a realistic drop estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Why do rifled slugs drop so much faster than a rifle bullet?
Rifled (Foster-style) slugs have a low ballistic coefficient similar to a round ball, so they lose velocity — and gain drop — much faster than a typical rifle bullet, which is why most shotgun-slug hunters treat 100–150 yards as a practical limit.
How is a sabot slug different from a rifled slug for this calculator?
A saboted slug, fired from a rifled slug barrel, behaves more like a true rifle bullet with a noticeably higher BC — pick the BC range in the note that matches your actual slug type for a realistic result.
Can I use this for buckshot instead of a slug?
No — this is built around a single slug's weight and BC. For multiple pellets, the Pellet Count & Pattern Density and Pellet Energy calculators are the right tools.
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