"A shockingly different shotgun sabot". This is how the German-based Brenneke company – one of the best known hunting and professional shotshells manufacturers in Europe – calls its latest creation: the TOPAS line of hunting shotgun shells, first launched on the European markets at the 2018 IWA OutdoorClassics expo in Nuremberg, Germany.

The Brenneke TOPAS shotshells – where TOPAS stands for "Top Accuracy and Speed" – were developed to meet the needs and demands of those big game, deer and boar hunters who – either in Europe or elsewhere – will still not trade their shotgun for a rifle or can not use a rifle due to local legal restrictions. Available in a 12-gauge and a 16-gauge version, the Brenneke TOPAS shotshells come with a 70mm / 2.¾" case.

At the heart of the Brenneke TOPAS shotshells is a barrel-friendly blue plastic sabot which also integrates a wad, solidly connected with the cartridge. The sabot hosts a 20 grams (309 grains) slug in the 12-gauge version and a 17 grams (262 grains) slug in the 16-gauge load. The 16/70 gauge is a lead-free variant, but a 12 gauge will also be available soon. And unlike most sabot slugs that trade power for accuracy, the massive frontal area of the Brenneke TOPAS slug still delivers a substantial shock to a game animal.

The Brenneke TOPAS slug travels at a staggering speed of 510 meters per second (1673 fps) at the muzzle in the 12-gauge version and at 561 meters per second (1840.55 fps) in the 16-gauge version. Muzzle energy ranges between 2606 Joules (1919 ft-lbs) for the 12-gauge and 2675 Joules (1972 ft-lbs) for the 20-gauge: that's more than enough to stop any deer. And accuracy is also outstanding: with its flat trajectory, from either rifled or smoothbore shotgun barrels with any choke, the Brenneke TOPAS slug is capable of  5 cm (2") five-shot groups at about 35 meters (40 yards).

The Brenneke TOPAS Sabot slug shotgun shells are sold in five-shots boxes and it is shockingly reasonable in price, comparable to mass-produced Foster-type slugs, but much higher in quality and offering superior performance.