Low recoil slugs - can somebody explain the difference?

[RMc]

Winchester's current Ranger LE line includes a 12 gauge low recoil 1 ounce rifled slug, with an advertised velocity of 1200 fps.
My experience with this load dates back to the first white hull - low brass version, (now marketed** with a gray hull and high brass).
This 1200 fps load is quite accurate and very soft shooting* - even when used with a 5.5 lb. NEF smoothbore slug gun.

*Same reccoil level as light one ounce 12 gauge target loads.

** In today's market, shotshell "Brass" height is virtually meaningless.

 

[Meeks36]

I used to shot 1oz slugs out of a single shot H&R. And that was painful. Then switched to a mossberg 500. Still painful. But less recoil. Also helped to have a sissy pad on it. My H&R had nothing.

 

[Riomouse911]

There are a few “reduced recoil” buckshot loads that drop a pellet or two to reduce payload weight along with velocity.

2 3/4” 12 ga 8-pellet 00 buck at around 1,200 fps is the most likely one encountered. ( The industry standard is/was a 9-pellet 00 load for 2 3/4” shells.)

Stay safe.

 

[9x56MS]

Winchester's current Ranger LE line includes a 12 gauge low recoil 1 ounce rifled slug, with an advertised velocity of 1200 fps.
My experience with this load dates back to the first white hull - low brass version, (now gray with high brass).
This 1200 fps load is quite accurate and very soft shooting* - even when used with a 5.5 lb. NEF smoothbore slug gun.

*Same reccoil level as light one ounce 12 gauge target loads.

We used to kill a lot of deer with those 1200 fps slugs but I never heard anyone describe them as very soft shooting.

 

[mcb]

We used to kill a lot of deer with those 1200 fps slugs but I never heard anyone describe them as very soft shooting.

It's all relative. Shoot some of the 3-inch magnum 1 oz slugs at 1700+ fps then those 1200 fps slugs fell like bunny farts. In reality a 1200 fps 1 oz slug is pretty standard in the recoil department. One of the more common 12 gauge load is the typical trap load that is 1-1/8 oz at ~1150fps give or take a bit. Pretty much the same recoil impulse as most of the manage recoil slugs.

 

[RMc]

There are a few “reduced recoil” buckshot loads that drop a pellet or two to reduce payload weight along with velocity.

2 3/4” 12 ga 8-pellet 00 buck at around 1,200 fps is the most likely one encountered. ( The industry standard is/was a 9-pellet 00 load for 2 3/4” shells.)

Stay safe.

The Federal Premium 12 gauge LE133 00B, 8 pellet Flite Control round is rated at 1145 fps from an industry standard 30 inch barrel at a distance of 3 feet The 8 pellets weigh in right at 400 grains

So from an 18.5 inch barrel - less than an ounce at less than 1100 fps.
Certainly a useful, tight patterning and soft shooting, buckshot load.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Wow.
LEF127 RF
1600+ fps for a slug.

That's stompin'!

1300 FPS will be quite fast enough for my needs.

Thanks for the info guys.

Will be interesting to see what actually shows up.

I ran the "F" version through Google. Looks like its OOS everywhere, and including the vendor I ordered from.

12 Gauge - Federal LEF127RS Maximum Hydra-Shok Rifled Slug

Manufacturer - Federal Bullet - 438 Grain Hydra-Shok Hollow Point Rifled Slug Case - 2-3/4" Plastic Hull Use - Hunting / Home Defense Quantity - 5 Rounds Per Box [split] Federal LE Premium Tactical® 2.75" 12 Ga Maximum Hydra-Shok Rifled Slug Shotgun Ammo. This Federal LE shotgun ammo features...

www.velocityammosales.com

I'm thinking "F" is for THE WORD YOU SAY when you touch one of those 1600 fps slugs off.

Here's a vid of a guy shooting water jugs with THE "F"

Federal Hydra-Shok 12 Ga. Tactical Rifled Slug Test

Water Jug Expansion Test of the Federal Hydra-Shok 12 Ga. 2 3/4" Tactical Rifled Slug.

youtu.be

Interesting how the slug turned into a donut in the water jugs

View attachment 1189585

And here's an interesting "non-scientific" vid of a guy shooting an old Level IIIA vest with the NON-F version.
I think "significant back-side deformation" would be the operative description of the effect.

I'm not a big advocate of the "ballistic energy" argument. But that looks pretty darn "energetic" to me.
Whole lot more than one round of .223
Even though it didn't penetrate the vest.

Will IIIA Body Armor Stop a 12 Gauge???

Federal Tactical LE 12 Gauge 1 oz Hydra-Shok HP Rifled Slug shot at a level III soft body armor panel. Will it penetrate it?

youtu.be

The first time I shot my fully rifled Remington 870 12ga I shot 5 of the 1-1/4oz 3in slugs and holy cow that was an interesting experience. The muzzle flash was crazy at the indoor range I was at. But I got my red dot half way zeroed at least. Now standard 1oz 2-3/4 slugs don't really have much kick to be honest.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've been shooting Federal true ball 1 oz slugs I think rated at 1600 FPS out of my stubby little bullpup, pump action. ... They're pretty unpleasant.... Not outright painful, but unpleasant after 20 or 30 rounds.

I just got a couple of boxes of the 1300 FPS true balls so we'll see how those feel today.


Most of my experience with shooting flesh and Bone is jacketed bullets out of rifles so my observation are limited. From what I've seen I'm inclined to say I wouldn't expect a huge amount of difference in performance on target based on the fact that what I have shot with slugs, I had a slug size entry hole and a slug size exit hole.... And those were probably standard Remington(I Don't know the specifics, at the time I just liked the green box) loads out of Mossberg 500.

 

[RMc]

Lest you fear lower velocity will seriously hinder the effectiveness of a one ounce rifled slug, here is a link to a successful deer hunt by Brobee 223 with a Mossberg ShockWave using Remington Low Recoil Rifled Slugs. These slugs, rated at 1200 fps, actually reached 1100 fps from the 14 inch barrel. The 590 had a XS Big Dot sight installed over the original bead to bring the reduced recoil slug rounds down to a 50 yard point of aim.

The complete pass-through shot came at frame 7.00

Deer Hunting with Mossberg 590 Shockwave + Low Recoil Foster Slugs = Steak

With managed recoil slugs and a Mossberg 590 shockwave, Brobee223 tries his luck at a track-following adventure, hunting whitetail deer.

www.youtube.com