Point of rifles slugs in a smoothbore barrel?

[Carter]

Rifling the slug causes it to spin and stabilize even if the barrel is smooth does it?

[bladeracer]

Rifling the slug causes it to spin and stabilize even if the barrel is smooth does it?

Yep, but only if the barrel is smooth.

[GLS_1956]

What I was told many decades back was that the "rifling" wasn't there to stabilize the slug, the shaped of the slug was for that, but that the "rifling" was actually placed there to give, or deform, as the slug passed through varying degrees of choke.

[happyhunter]

What I was told many decades back was that the "rifling" wasn't there to stabilize the slug, the shaped of the slug was for that, but that the "rifling" was actually placed there to give, or deform, as the slug passed through varying degrees of choke.

That's what I thought. The stability comes by having the nose being heavier than the tail, similar to a dart or an arrow.

[southeast varmiter]

Yep. The grooves are for forming the slugs, not spin.

[brett1868]

That's what I thought. The stability comes by having the nose being heavier than the tail, similar to a dart or an arrow.

Yep, and on some slugs they screwed a felt wad to the slug (Breneke was one)

Yep. The grooves are for forming the slugs, not spin.

Yep, and reduced the contact area with the bore allowing greater velocity.

[buster]

Why not just use a rifle?

[Lorgar]

I'm 99% sure it stems from hunting laws in the US where in some states there are seasons where rifle hunting is not allowed.

[happyhunter]

Yeah mate, some areas of the US only allow hunting deer with a shotgun due to limited space.

[Oldbloke]

Why not use a rifle? Well your right, often a rifle is the best choice. BUT, the beauty of the 12g shot gun is that you can load with 10 shot and shoot qual or 2 shot for foxes or SGs for pigs or slugs for pigs. One gun will deal with a lot of game/pests, just limited in range. That's why they are so popular. Buy Single barrel 12g for a few dollars and shoot most game. Just change the ammo.

[GLS_1956]

I'm 99% sure it stems from hunting laws in the US where in some states there are seasons where rifle hunting is not allowed.

That there are, Oklahoma isn't one of them, but they do exist.