Slug Power
DDupleks, Ltd. is a shotshell manufacturer in Riga, Latvia, specializing in high-tech slug ammunition. They’re finally getting a toehold in the United States market thanks to a partnership with Century Arms. Century sent me two different 2-3/4-inch 12-gauge loads called DUPO 28 and MONOLIT28. Both loads feature a 28-gram projectile (approximately 1 ounce) at 1,483 to 1,520 fps churning up roughly 2,040 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.
The DUPO28 is what I term a “buzz-saw round.” It’s a lead free, Diablo-styled slug featuring 6 tissue cutting petals that open up to 1.18 inches at the nose of the slug upon impact. It creates a massive entrance and interior wound channel, and if the slug encounters heavy muscle, the petals fly off as secondary projectiles. It can be fired in any choke and in rifled as well as smoothbores, but back-bored barrels are not recommended. I tested the DUPO28 in a Savage Model 210, rifled slug gun mounted with a 1.5-5X Weaver scope. At 50 yards, my 3-shot group measured 1-7/8 inches. Average velocity 10 feet from the muzzle was 1,483 fps.
The MONOLIT28 features a steel Diablo-styled slug galvanized to prevent corrosion. Being steel, the slug does not deform and being lead free, it doesn’t contaminate game meat. One of its outstanding qualities is its stability through brush and cover, due in large part to its shape, non-deforming material and ideal center of mass. At 50 yards it placed 3-shots in 2 inches at an average velocity of 1,520 fps. Again, it’s suitable for any choke, smooth or rifled bore.
All the DDupleks slugs feature polymer, bore-riding and bearing surfaces so there is never any contact between the slug and the shotgun bore.
Twelve-gauge slug loads are available in 2-3/4- and 3-inch cases loaded with 28- or 32-gram slugs and in a variety of field types, including one frangible target round. The DDupleks line also includes slug loads for the 16 and 20 gauge and the .410.