I usually buy 'serious' shotgun shells at least by the flat (250 rounds) once I decide I really like the load and it does what I want it to do. It's easier to hurt the checkbook once and get it over with for a while. I shop around for sales/good prices, don't forget to add shipping for those who charge for delivery.
is Low-Recoil significantly less powerful then regular loads?
At close range it shouldn't matter much. There are two ways to reduce recoil - reduce payload weight, or reduce velocity. Either one makes the load less effective than a full weight full velocity payload, but as I said - at typical household ranges, it won't really matter.
I personally don't use anything low recoil save for training new shooters, as I want all I can get out of a shotgun with standard loads. I'm not one who wants 3" maggienumbs, but I do want full performance 2.75" loads. But shotguns are the go-to long guns here, and may get used outdoors as well as indoors in an emergency. Therefore the chosen defensive loads here are Federal LE127 00 buck and Brenneke KO rifled slugs.
Estate 00buck has worked very well in my mossberg and can be had for $155 for 250 rds from cabelas. Never tried any low recoil loads so i cant help ya with those.
Gehr, if your 0 buck payload is one ounce and velocity is 1,300fps and 00 is same weight payload and velocity, it would be impossible to have a lower felt recoil...
The estate rounds are fine for home defense and pattern better than some premium loads I have tested. That's in my mossberg 500 your gun may like something else. I can't say about hunting with em my state won't allow 00buck for deer and I dont think i would use it even if it was... I have rifles for that. Don't know about bulk slugs but you could check www.ammunitiontogo.com
I don't see why not but it'd probably be best to check your local regulations "just in case".
SGammo also has bulk slugs but check some of the other sites listed earlier to find the best deal on what you want.
Tomac
Velocity is only 10% less than the std full-power load yet has a much tighter pattern so while maximum effective range may be reduced a bit I don't think a deer could tell the difference. JMHO...
Tomac