Why are shotgun slugs preferred in semi-rural areas over high-power rifle cartridges?

Shotgun slugs are preferred in semi-rural areas primarily because they travel less far than high-power rifle cartridges. This characteristic is crucial in environments where there are safety concerns related to stray bullets. High-powered rifles can have effective ranges exceeding several hundred yards, which increases the risk of a projectile traveling beyond the intended target area and potentially posing a danger to people, pets, or property in surrounding areas.

The reduced range of shotgun slugs makes them a safer option in populated or semi-rural environments, where ensuring that bullets do not travel long distances is essential for public safety. This preference helps to mitigate risks associated with hunting close to residential areas and offers a balance between effectiveness for hunting and community safety.

The other factors, such as cost, accuracy, or loading difficulty, are relevant considerations but do not play as significant a role in the context of safety and range limitations in semi-rural settings.