Light Recoil 12 ga Ammunition

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DanThaMan1776

New member
Does anyone know how shells like these work?

I recall reading somewhere that reduced recoil shells have identical terminal ballistics to regular kickers. I simply don't see how this is possible while keeping Newton's third lawn in mind: If the reaction is less forceful (recoil less extreme), then the action (force of shot) must also be less forceful.

Do they use powder which burns differently? Do they simply use less powder? Does it have something to do with the load being fired?

And lastly, the reason I am asking all of these questions about this type of ammo is because I would love to use it as a HD load, but I am fearful that I am losing some of the 12 ga's power by switching to them. What does TFL recommend?
 
There's a definite and measurable energy loss with the reduced velocity.
But, at the distances in a home defense situation, it's doubtful there is any real world difference.
The ability to do quick follow up shots, due to more manageable recoil, should make up for any energy losses.
 
I load 2 1/4" shells with a reduced charge, with 1 oz of 00 buck or #4 buck. They run 900 fps, and are only effective for HD ranges. They lose energy pretty fast past 25 or 30'. BUT, the noise is less, the recoil is low, and you can get an extra one in the magazine. Depends on what you want to do with the load.
 
You lose a little velocity with the reduced recoil rounds but at across the room distances I don't think it will make much difference in effectiveness. Another advantage to reduced recoil rounds is they seem to hold a tighter pattern. A good reduced recoil buckshot is the Federal brand; at home defense ranges it will pretty much make one big hole in the target.
 
Low recoil 00 buck is the way to go for SD .Like any ammo make sure it works in your gun !!
On a recent tv show there was a Federal engineer who explained the development of their 'snow goose load'. Yes they make a round specifically for snow geese. They carefully adjust the burning rate of the powder , the power [brissance] of the primer and the shot charge to get exactly the properties they want ! You won't be able to match that by handloading I'll bet !
 
Recoil is a function of velocity of the payload, weight of the gun, and the mass of the ejecta (wad, powder, shot). Increase the weight of the gun, or reduce the other two, and recoil goes down
 
OP said:
Do they use powder which burns differently? Do they simply use less powder? Does it have something to do with the load being fired?
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Yes, sometimes and yes.

My friend, oneounceload, is over simplifying the explanation just a little. Most folks look at recoil numbers in just the same way because it's easier to quantify without the complex data from the internal ballistics (what happens before the load clears the muzzle).

Given an equal amount of energy to be resisted by the shooter, the perceived recoil (kick) can be reduced in two ways: (1) extend the reaction area over a greater portion of the shooter's body (lowering the total unit stress), and (2) extend the duration of the even (buffering -- lowering the instantaneous unit stress). The first factor explains why a proper fitting gun is so important, and the second factor explains why elastic recoil pads work. The human body is much more sensitive to slight changes recoil unit stress than we generally realize.

It's easiest to look at the action/reaction numbers in terms of the instant the ejecta clears the muzzle. In reality, the recoil event starts when the primer ignites. Two different powders may deliver the load out of the muzzle at the same velocity; but, their different burning rates achieve the velocity quite differently. Higher pressure loads accelerate the payload to muzzle velocity quicker than low pressure loads. So, they result in a shorter internal ballistic event. The powder charge that takes the longest to accelerate the load to muzzle velocity will give the lowest kick from the internal ballistics portion of the recoil event. [There's other factors from the internal ballistics that have lessor effects on the event, different powder charges contribute slightly different masses to the ejecta and different jet effects.] Rest assured, the ammunition manufacturers are well aware of the internal ballistics's contribution to recoil when making lite ammo.

If you are in doubt and you're a reloader, try an experiment using the same components, except for differing powders: Select two different powder charges with the same muzzle velocity from the data tables. One with (or close to) the highest pressure and the other with (or close to) the lowest pressure. Then do a blind test to see if you can differentiate between the loads based on their kick. The recoil energy from the ejecta will be constant; however the kick from the brief moment that the load is in the barrel will differ. Some may notice a significant difference, others may not.
 
Zippy's explanation is a good one, but he is also mixing in actual and perceived, and that is where many get confused..........there are 2 recoils......the real one that is the ACTUAL recoil, a calculation of what I mentioned above, and then there is the PERCEIVED or FELT recoil - this version is the one that fit, recoil pads, stock dimensions, and other factors that most folks think about and talk about mention. It may or may not reduce the ACTUAL, but a good fit, use of a gas action, good recoil pad, etc, will reduce the perceived/felt recoil. High actual recoil, even if your gun fits and you seem to not feel it,......will result in surgery down the road because recoil damage, like hearing damage, is a cumulative situation. It IS a serious situation that many dismiss, especially the folks shooting the hardest shells - slugs and buckshot - and it is not to be dismissed lightly.
 
oneounceload said:
High actual recoil, even if your gun fits and you seem to not feel it,......will result in surgery down the road because recoil damage, like hearing damage, is a cumulative situation. It IS a serious situation that many dismiss, especially the folks shooting the hardest shells - slugs and buckshot - and it is not to be dismissed lightly.
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Amen!
Another reason to use a heavier O/U or SxS instead of a stick gun and not to use a hotter load that the target requires. The more you shoot the more important this becomes. If the truth be known, I suspect there's a lot more hearing lost and damaged shoulders than we're aware of.
 
I suspect there's a lot more hearing lost and damaged shoulders than we're aware of.
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"Whassat you say there? Can't hear ya! I'd turn my hearing aid up but my arm's in a sling and I can't reach up and adjust it!"

Yeah, guilty on both counts here...........
 
I'm currently using W-W reduced recoil 00 buckshot and Fiocchi RR 00 buck, and i highly doubt the bad guy would be able to tell the difference between getting hit with a 1350 FPS or 1150 FPS 9-pellet 00 buckshot load. The best part about using low-recoil BUCKSHOT is faster follow-up shots, and a bit less noise
 
There's a lot of folks who think that shooting buckshot and slugs over and over is some sort of right of passage, and that if you can't handle the recoil, you're some sort of less of a man....get grip....recoil damage is a SERIOUS issue, it is for real, it is NOT to be taken lightly and it WILL lead to surgery and other maladies down the road. Add in some light gun, like a pump, and heavy loads, and you'll be having yourC4, 5 or 6 fused, along with rotator cuff, pinched nerves in the shoulder, etc, being dealt with.......I know, I'm dealing with it now..............this is FOR REAL young folks, it is NOT a joke and the long term effects are forever............

Shoot the HEAVIEST gun with the LIGHTEST loads...ALL the time and save the macho BS for something else, and save your body for growing old........you'll thank me after I'm dead and gone
 
A standard 12 gauge 2 3/4" Buckshot load actually imparts more recoil to your body than a .375 H&H Magnum Elephant hunting rifle, if fired from a pump action shotgun. A good gas operated semiauto will soften the recoil significantly. But shoot such ammo out of a pump action a lot, and it will indeed be very hard on you. I certainly would not want to do it.

So I would say definitely go with the reduced recoil loads. Although I feel that the Federal brand Personal Defense load is superior to the one that the OP refers to, as it has copper plated buckshot, while the one originally referenced does not. Copper plated Buckshot are harder, and this has two advantages:

1) Less deformation of the buckshot, leading to tighter, more effective patterns, and

2) The additional hardness will also help them to penetrated deeper as well.

So I would recommend this load instead:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=121561

The cost is only 70 cents more for a box of 5 shells. I think that getting the copper plated buckshot is well worth spending the additional 7 dimes.

Even better yet, in my opinion, would be to NOT get Federal's Personal Defense 12 gauge load with 9 00 Buckshot, and INSTEAD get the equivalent Personal Defense loading that has 34 #4 Buckshot in it. That load will produce a far denser pattern, that will be much more devastating at typical self-defense ranges.

Here is a link to it:

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=118316


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How do they work? Well, the FliteControl wad controls the pattern. The choke has no effect, since the plated shot leaves the muzzle in the wad. Immediately after exit, the petals (more like little fins) open up AT THE REAR of the wad and the shot is released--but not before it's travelled down range somewhat. This is different from a standard wad where the petals peel back as soon as they hit the air and release the shot immediately.

From my Scattergun Tech's, one a Cyl bore, the other Imp Cyl, the "pattern" at 10 yds. is one big hole. At fifteen yds. the pattern is 4" in diameter. At 25 yds., I measured about 7X9".

My testing was done with Federal Tac 00 buck when the FliteControl wad was new. It was designed to tighten up patterns in all those police cyl. bores out there. It certainly does. Recoil is similar to a trap load. The reduced recoil buck has worked very well for LE on the street, with the lighter recoil being better for faster follow up shots, or recoil shy recruits.

On the left is standard Fed Tac. On the right is FliteControl. The petals you see open are, I believe, to release pressure on the packed shot. The "fins" are at the rear of the wad and hard to see.

I disagree strongly with LanceOregons assessment that #4 buck is a better choice than 00 buck. LE all over the country is quite happy with 00 buck low recoil, and usually use #4 to cut down on penetration during entry. I've seen #4 bounce off plywood at a light angle.
 

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I disagree strongly with LanceOregons assessment that #4 buck is a better choice than 00 buck. LE all over the country is quite happy with 00 buck low recoil, and usually use #4 to cut down on penetration during entry.
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Nnobby45:

The glaring flaw in your argument here is that DanThaMan1776 is not a member of Law Enforcement. If he was, I would have recommended 00 buckshot to him.

For civilian usage, lower penetration is a very good thing.

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