12-63

12/63 shells are built for smooth-bore guns whose chamber is stamped 63.5mm, not the usual 70mm or 76mm. This shorter chamber turns up in older shotguns and in some combination guns that pair a shot barrel with a rifled one. In this category you will find SB Practical Slug 32g, a slug round for a precise shot on larger game.

What 12/63 shells are and who needs them

12/63 shells only work in guns with a 63.5mm chamber, a longer shell simply will not seat properly or it raises dangerous pressure in the barrel. Chamber length is always marked by the manufacturer, either in the gun's papers or stamped on the barrel. Shorter chambers are common on older Russian or German-made guns, and on some combination guns that mix a shot barrel with a rifled one. If you are not sure what your gun takes, check the papers or ask a gunsmith before buying ammunition.

SB Practical Slug 32g, when to reach for a slug round

A slug is for one accurate hit rather than a spread of shot, the kind of shot you need on wild boar, roe deer or red deer at close range. SB Practical Slug weighs 32g and is currently the only round of this caliber in our range, built for hunters whose gun only chambers the shorter 63.5mm shell.

Driven hunts

On a driven hunt game often crosses close and fast, and a slug with a stable flight path gives you a better chance of a clean hit than shot would.

Waiting from a high seat

Shooting from a high seat over a feeding site is usually done from a steady rest, so a slug round lets you place the shot deliberately rather than react to a moving target.

Shooting from a combination gun

If your gun is a combination model and the shot barrel takes the shorter shell, SB Practical Slug lets you use that barrel for larger game rather than just birds.

Zeroing before the season

Before the season opens it is worth firing a few rounds at a target to see how the slug groups in your particular gun at different distances.

How to choose the right shells for your gun

Getting this wrong is costly, from a damaged gun to a real safety risk, so check a few things before you buy.

• Check the chamber length in your gun's papers, it needs to be 63.5mm or longer.
• Confirm the gauge matches, a 12 gauge gun takes only 12 gauge shells.
• Choose a slug round if you are hunting larger game or taking part in a driven hunt.
• Follow Lithuania's hunting and firearms rules on which ammunition is allowed for a given hunt.

Practical field advice

Store shells somewhere dry and avoid sudden temperature swings, moisture can affect how they fire. Before heading out check that all your shells are the right gauge and length, this matters most when your gun only takes the shorter shell and a mismatch can stop a hunt at the worst moment. Check the barrel after every shot before you reload.

The SB brand

SB makes ammunition for smooth-bore guns, including slug rounds meant for accurate shots at medium and longer range. The Practical Slug line is built as a straightforward choice for a hunter who wants a reliable slug rather than extra features.

If your gun takes a longer shell, look at 12/70 shells or 12/76 shells. For signaling or deterrence there is signal ammunition. If you are not sure which shells fit your gun, write to us and we will help you choose.