![Slug stuck in barrel](https://kumkoniak.com/108.jpg)
Some one-gun families did not own, and could not afford to buy, a rifle. Rifled barrels also made possible the conical bullet, and later the familiar spitzer (pointed) bullets used by most hunters today.īut demand remained for some sort of solid projectile that could be fired from a smoothbore gun and used on medium game like deer. Imparting spin to a projectile to stabilize its flight was a quantum improvement in accuracy. The answer, of course, was the rifled barrel. Also, a lead ball has a very poor sectional density (SD), and consequently poor penetration. Hitting the target is problematical and precise bullet placement is nearly impossible except at very close range. Unfortunately, the accuracy of a lead ball fired from a smooth bore barrel is pretty sad. The first shotgun "slugs" were probably round, lead "pumpkin balls." These were common projectiles for muskets and shotguns-any sort of smooth bore long arm-for a long time.
![Slug stuck in barrel](https://kumkoniak.com/108.jpg)