Penetration with 'Low-Recoil' buckshot?

M

MikeGoob

New member
Does anyone have info on tests with low recoil buckshot showing how much less penetration it has as opposed to full strength buck?

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Mike,

I'd rather not use it, myself. I do like buckshot for close in, but given reports of less than stellar performance from the field, would prefer to stick to full velocity loads within 25 yards or so, and slugs for further out. Some individuals whose opinion I respect a great deal use slugs only in defensive shotguns. I'm not saying I know more than they do, of course.

You'll likely get about as many opinions as you do responses- there's one more...

lpl
 
so many ammo types--why no simple answers! ;)

theboxoftruth says birdshot leaves too shallow a round to get more than an inch or so under the skin--definitely not a stopper. It seems buckshot of any kind is going to go through at least 4 walls minimum! Room distances I would fire this gun are all under 20 feet. I honestly would not like to use a pistol for home defense if I didnt have to.
 
Mike, the simple answer is to use the perp as an ammo slowing sponge... even if the 00 of regular velocity exits, it is going to have greatly diminished velocity after spending that much time in a body...
Brent
 
Might want to consider bird-shot for up-close-and-personal when wall penetration is an issue.
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Not only does birdshot not penetrate drywall very well, it has penetration issues on humans too. As the old saying goes, "bird shot is for little birdies". Stick with buckshot.

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good question, IF I can recall what the original thread is.

I bought 5 boxes (five to a box) of Federal's LE (Law Enforcement-or so they advertise it as) Low Recoil 00 Buck, reasoning being (to me) easier follow up shots due to reduced recoil. Also, Federal advertises a tighter pattern-not that that is any consideration in close encounters of the worst kind, i.e. inside your abode, fact is I might rather a wider spread.
I'm sure it penetrates less, that was the question correct?, simply due to the lower velocity. Brent would know more about all that then I. I'm interested in a definitive answer as I wouldn't want to have an insufficient load in my shotgun, although a 12 guage buckshot even if lower velocity seems, on the surface, to be quite adequate. PERhaps I should swap it out, use standard buckshot for winter (thicker winter clothing on the BG) and low recoil in the summer?
 
KG, I don't know nuttin' of them... To me it is not wise for me to leave the 00 Super X (super cheap) Winchester. They have worked on deer incredibly well and have always functioned fine. I just cannot bring myself to "spend more for less" when I have worked so hard to maintain a fairly quick reacquisition of my target. I am also of the mindset that so long as you don't go sprayin' and prayin' all willy nilly wall penetration concerns are greatly negated...
Brent
 
Paying more for less *LOL*, never viewed it that way.

I don't think wall penetration was his question but stop-a-bility penetration, and yes, we're not talking hosing the target "area" down with pellets...leave that for Hollywood *LOL*
 
I think the biggest difference between regular and low recoil is the weight of the payload. 1-1/8oz versus usually 7/8oz for reduced recoil. Power and penetration would be the same, just fewer shot in the reduced recoil.
 
KG, I understand. But like I said, I will stick with what I am sure is gonna stop an intruder in the home or even at a fair distance out doors as well. They were cheap enuff to practice alot with them and that was paramount too.
Brent
 
I think the biggest difference between regular and low recoil is the weight of the payload. 1-1/8oz versus usually 7/8oz for reduced recoil. Power and penetration would be the same, just fewer shot in the reduced recoil.
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Depends on the load. Some loads are just one less pellet. Some loads are same number of pellets and less powder. Some loads are one less pellet and less powder.

Confusing huh?

To the OP's question...........I'm not sure. Check the velocity rating on the low recoil buck as compared to full power. IF the velocity is the same with simply one less pellet, then each pellet will penetrate the same as the 9 pellet full power loads. If the velocity is less then you will get correspondingly less penetration (in theory).

However, It has been reported that the low recoil slugs actually can penetrate deeper than the standard velocity slugs of equivalent design simply because the lower velocity leads to less mushrooming and thus deeper penetration. Not sure if the same applies to individual buckshot pellets. Haven't seen any jello results on that. I doubt the physics are the same with a ~50 grain pellet vs. a 1 oz slug though......

For my purposes, I use federal LE flite control full power 9 pellet shells. They are perfectly manageable for me and I don't feel the need necessarily to go down in power. I keep Brenneke or Federal Tru-ball slugs handy for extra reach if needed (unlikely).

I do keep one of my shotguns loaded with Remington Managed Recoil 00 as it patterns well and my wife is more tolerant of it. That's my 18.5" accuchoked Mossberg 500. That gun and buckshot load were good enough to roll a deer in it's tracks at 30 yds a couple years ago, when I was recovering from back surgery and wasn't back up to full speed. I figure if it's good enough for that it'll handle a badguy at inside the house ranges.
 
thanks for all the insightful answers!

I am concerned with the pellets going through too many walls, but of course still being able to stop someone better than birdshot.

1.Everything Ive read says birdshot wont penetrate deeper than an inch or so under the surface, and gets caught up on clothing easy. If true, this is useless for self defense.

2.Everything Ive read about standard 00Buck is that it will go through 4 walls and keep going.

I know nothings perfect but I can live with maybe 1 or 2 walls worth of penetration. I was hoping some gel or ballistics testing was done on specifically low recoil rounds.

Thank you Rantingredneck for that info--it makes sense that recoil would be reduced if it had less pellets, making the manufacturers intention to producre ammo thats 'just as good' as standard ammo penetration wise. In my case I dont care how much it kicks, I just dont want it sailing through walls. I have a lot of neighbors very close by.
 
I load my shotty to have 2rds of #4 buck up first followed by 5rds of 00 buck and keep 5 slugs in a stock cuff. Escalating levels of penetration. #4 buck is 27 x 24 caliber - 23gr pellets. At the 10-20 foot range of most confrontations that's sufficient to throughly ruin a day, or even penetrate one wall and ruin a day. Yet the 23gr balls aren't going to have a lot of energy left after a wall - a room - and another wall. That doesn't mean that they are harmless beyond that, just that the risk to neighbors should be reduced. If 2rds of #4 buck haven't solved the problem then it's more than a burglary and that's where the (33 cal - 54gr) 00 buck comes in.

To answer the OP's question personally I would only go to a reduced recoil load if 1) full power was not manageable by the OP or his spouse and 2) and a better recoil pad did not solve the problem. In that case I see no reason not to go with reduced recoil loads as long as the range is kept short. But I'm actually going the other direction and looking for 2-3/4 magnum 12 pellet 00 buck for all of my future SD/HD 00 buck purchases. However I will maintain my habit of having 2rds if #4 buck up first.

I think the biggest difference between regular and low recoil is the weight of the payload. 1-1/8oz versus usually 7/8oz for reduced recoil. Power and penetration would be the same, just fewer shot in the reduced recoil.
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I think it depends on the manufacturer. For example Fiocchi "12HV00BK" 12ga 2-3/4 9 pellet 00 buck exits the muzzle at 1325fps, while the reduced recoil but otherwise identical "12LE00BK" 12ga 2-3/4 9 pellet 00 buck exits the muzzle at 1150fps. Federal posts nearly identical numbers for their full power and reduced recoil products. That would point to a reduced powder charge.
 
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Brent, I wasn't disagreeing with you.

Or wasn't my intent to if responding post reflected that.
I'm undecided it low recoil's are good, or bad. We all know that a 12 gauge 00 Buck will stop a Buck, how well low recoil's work on other "critters" , shrugs shoulders.
 
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