So, I would need a rifled barrel for the shotgun. Correct?
At self protection range I dont think that would be necessary. After 40-50 yards they might yaw and eventually tumble. I have used them in smoothbores, Strictly for fun. They are going to fly true for any self protection distances.
I read an article by some guy who shot deer with sabots at 200yds (might be true) with smooth bore 12 gauges.
I personally shot one deer with a sabot at 50 yds through a mossberg 500 rifled barrel . I also missed 1 deer at the same distance. For some reason the sabots would shoot 4 shots into 2-3” at 100yds and the 5th off the paper completely. I believe that when they leave the muzzle....the sabots hitting the air outside either hits the slug when it flys off....or perhaps one half of the sabot stays on a fraction of a second too long and causes the slug to sail off target.
Anyway a distances where a Bruin is charging you, any and all slugs should hit the target.
Anyway. Since my hunting area went from shoguns only to shotguns or rifles....I only hunt with rifles now.