Low powered rounds for SD/HD?

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DontBurnMyFlag

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Hey everyone,

I was looking at a box of my +P ammunition and it got the gears in my head working. Do they manufacture a round that has less power to it? I know sub-sonic rounds are generally weaker in regards to FPS and whatnot. I was just tinkering with the idea that maybe something was manufactured for something for home defense or similar situations? I know the question may come off as ridiculous, but Im generally curious.

I know there are different types of frangible and hollow-point ammunition to prevent over penetration. But are there any rounds specifically designed for what I described above.

Im not even interested in acquiring or using them, Im actually just stumped as to whether or not they exist.

Any help would be appreciated. Please satisfy my ammunition curiosity!
 
They make reduced recoil buckshot and slugs if your SD choice is a shotgun. Compared to a shotgun or even a 223, most handgun rounds are so anemic that reducing the power would be counterproductive. Anything remotely useful for defending your home will shoot through a wall with ease, with the possible exception of birdshot after about 50 feet. You would have to have a much bigger house, and a lot more faith in birdshot than I do.
 
If you're using a revolver for HD, cowboy action ammo is generally downloaded for safety so it won't cause splash back from the steel targets. .44 special, .38 special, etc. are all pretty mild. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think all ammo has to be RN or FP lead(not jacketed) and < 950(?)fps. Don't quote me on that, though. A 250 grain .45 Long Colt movin' at 900 fps did a fine job of pokin' holes in bad guys for a long time.
 
I have a large house (maxrange 50 ft plus).....I load the first 2 rounds in the shotgun with #4 birdshot, followed by 15 pellet S&B 00 3" magnum buck shot.

Heavy birdshot will definitely take the fight outa the BG at close ranges (OK it'll make a real mess). The 00 buck WILL penetrate walls, but I don't have to worry much about overpenetration, as I live in a rural setting.
 
Federal makes a line like described for revolvers. One can also buy wadcutters for 38 SPL guns.

The utility is for people with weaker hands and/or to enable faster multiple shots.

It is better to put rounds into a target and have a gun then give it up because you find the recoil not to be manageable.
 
Federal is the only company I am aware of which markets 'reduced recoil' handgun loads... these consist, generally, of very light-weight projectiles with a lighter charge of fast powder, to cycle reliably.

Reduced-recoil buck-shot is actually a really good idea, to have... most loads pattern exceptionally well compared to full-power shells.

Hornady TAP rifle cartridges are down-loaded 100-200fps from their hunting counterparts using the same projectiles, the idea being that this will reduce over-penetration...
 
I'd be concerned about a reduced power HP round not having enough stank on it to expand reliably.
I use reduced recoil 00 buck. I think .223 needs over 2800fps or so to fragment.
 
Yes, this is worked with all the time. Many, many years ago, the .38 Special target load, wad cutter, was suggested for the recoil shy in a defense situation. Better multiple hits than misses even with a low power slug.

.41 Mag when it came out, was in an S&W double action. There was a lead bullet load, tamed for police use. More power than .38 Special. More knock down than .357. But still civilized. Then there was the "full magnum" loading for hunting use. Haven't looked at an ammo chart in ages. I suppose the tame version disappeared long ago. Cops went double stacked mags and "spray and pray" ...
 
I wouldn't worry too much about overpenetration, and just practice so you can hit a target well.

The fact is, any round capable of disabling a human target will penetrate most walls multiple times.
 
Buffalo Bore makes a reduced recoil version of the 44 magnum... but mind you that even if the recoil is reduced, the energy of this particular round is still more than you'd ever need for a two legged predator.
 
:rolleyes: Well, I'll be the contrarian. I like light loads for home defense. I have often used the same ammunition for HD as I have for PPC. At night, in the dark, I don't want a lot of flash; and, I'd rather use a gun that puts all six shots exactly where I want them rather than have to work with something that: lifts the muzzle way up, gives me too much, 'air time' between shots, and takes away both my night vision AND my hearing.

Sure you could use a 44 magnum; it does compensate for all the supposed inadequacies of most handgun ammunition; but, full-house 44's make lousy fighting pistols! If I had to get into a pistol fight, tonight, inside my home I'd be perfectly comfortable dumping 6 modestly loaded 38's, COM, in 2.5.

(I'm positive that, whatever else happens, the target's going to be off to the body shop for repairs!) :)

However, to be perfectly honest, I can do the same thing with a 45 acp; it's what I usually carry and would, probably, reach for first anyway. Now that I think about it, there have been many nights, around here, when all I've had in my 45 pistol is Blaser FMJ. Blasers are NOT the world's most preeminent combat round; but, quite frankly, I just don't see this as a real life problem. ;)
 
At night, in the dark, I don't want a lot of flash
Click to expand...

"Flash" has nothing to do with the performance (power) of a cartridge, it has to do with the formulation of the propellant. Many SD and military loads are specifically formulated to have less flash.
 
Low powered ammunition as in reduced recoil, or reduced penetration in tissue and clothing?

If you want reduced penetration you COULD try glaser safety slugs. Yeah those odd looking plastic capsules filled with birdshot that explode inside the target with a shotgun like effect.
Or get a super light hollowpoint moving as fast as your gun can handle.. from what i read that TYPICALLY makes almost instant fragmentation.

Personally id rather that that 45 colt gun or 44 magnum with "cowboy" loads. No law says you cant use them for self defense or load them with modern hollowpoints.
Ive used the magtech cowboy load in 44 mag in a lever gun on oak stumps. That bullet just leaves a nice hole and no lead. A 12 guage full power slug into the same stump was letting us pull pieces of the slug out of the wood.

Still its up to you, what do YOU feel safe with in your gun?
 
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