Noob Ammo Question

[Good Ol' Boy]

I'm going to be buying a Panzer AR 12 very soon. Reason is simply because I want one. Use will be mainly plinking/having fun. I will be using primarily rifled slugs.

Question is what's the difference between 2 3/4 slugs versus 3" slugs?

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

3 inch gives you a lot more recoil and little or no benefit IMO.

 

[Starter52]

2 3\4 inch slugs will give any shoulder a good smack.

3 inch slugs will rattle your teeth down to the roots.

I don't buy 3 inch slugs anymore.

 

[nettlle]

3" will give a flatter trajectory. Looks like this gun weighs 6.5 pounds. A 3" would not be pleasant in a 6.5 pound gun.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

So it's mainly more velocity?

From what I've been reading the projectile size seems to be the same at 1-1.5oz.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

So it's mainly more velocity?

From what I've been reading the projectile size seems to be the same at 1-1.5oz.

A bit more velocity with 3".
You stated that plinking/fun was the purpose so I assume you are just looking at standard foster type slugs.
They are available in weights from 7/8 to 1 1/4 oz, at least they used to be.
For the range that they are effective and accurate there is no advantage to the small velocity increase of the 3" shells.
Remington states less than 1/2" difference in drop at 100 yards.
Remington offers" managed recoil" slugs that would be my choice for plinking.

 

[brewer12345]

I am still boggling over the idea of plinking with slugs.

 

[22250Rem]

I'm also assuming that we're talking about standard Foster style slugs. I haven't used any in almost 20 years now since my dedicated slug gun got a fully rifled barrel and now sees Sabot slugs exclusively. Back in the Foster slug / smoothbore barrel days I went from 2 & 3/4" to 3" slugs in the hopes of harvesting deer more efficiently due to the claims of the 3" being more of a good thing. After a few years I went right back to the 2 & 3/4" slugs because I discovered that the deer could not tell the difference! ( But my shoulder could), and the deer died just as quickly regardless of which slug was used; along with the fact that the 2 & 3/4" slugs were a bit more accurate out of my gun. Plinking with slugs would be a very expensive proposition but if accuracy is the goal I would use whatever is most accurate. Every gun will show a preference ammo-wise and with slugs accuracy is my only concern, even my rifled barrel sabot slug gun only uses Winchester / BRI 2 & 3/4" Sabot slugs because of accuracy and because just about any slug has more power than what I need. I just need to place it where it needs to go.

 

[PabloJ]

I'm going to be buying a Panzer AR 12 very soon. Reason is simply because I want one. Use will be mainly plinking/having fun. I will be using primarily rifled slugs.

Question is what's the difference between 2 3/4 slugs versus 3" slugs?

For plinking you want "tactical", "managed recoil" slugs with velocities of 1200fps to 1350fps. These are made in 70mm case by Brenneke, Fiocchi, Winchester, Federal. One good example is the best bear defense slug called Truball Deep Penetrator with Vo of 1350fps plus reduced velocity Truball at same or 1300fps don't remember which. You don't want regular Truballs as they start at 1600fps and that is going to leave a "mark on the shoulder". Cabela's usually stocks Remington foster 1oz 12ga slugs at 1200fps. The good Truballs are found at BassPro off 95 past Glenn Allen except if I was there recently because I empty the shelf spots. The good ones are found by looking at muzzle velocity given on the box.

 

[lemaymiami]

Lots of folks think they need 3" shells for that ultimate impact at the other end... If you ever got a look closeup at the terrible damage ordinary 2 3/4" 00buck or rifled slugs do to any target at shotgun ranges (under 20 meters for this 'gunner...) that's all you'll ever need for defensive purposes.... One impact at center of mass from 20 meters inward is a genuine fight ender, period.

Those that load up with 3" shells (unless they're really aiming at geese or longer range turkeys) are not likely to shoot enough to get skilled with a defensive shotgun in my opinion. Ordinary 2 3/4 shells will beat you up enough if you really get into them. I note that many praise "reduced recoil" rounds for their defensive shotguns. Me, I want the standard that I carried on the street for over 20 years and have confidence in its results.... basic 2 3/4" 00buck for an open target and slugs for barricaded targets... They'll never let you down at close range.

 

[PabloJ]

The 12ga 3" shell is useful when using steel loads for waterfowl or heavy payloads in turkey hunting otherwise it's just a meaningless "bruiser" and "flinch inducer".

 

[Jenrick]

I note that many praise "reduced recoil" rounds for their defensive shotguns. Me, I want the standard that I carried on the street for over 20 years and have confidence in its results.... basic 2 3/4" 00buck for an open target and slugs for barricaded targets... They'll never let you down at close range.

We've had very good success with tactical/reduced recoil/etc. shells at work both in buck and slug. What we saw in testing and had proved on the streets is that the velocity difference between reduced recoil and standard shells didn't result in any meaningful increase in penetration, and opened the pattern up. If you step up the velocity to the high end you see an increase in penetration, but the pattern will again be worse then a reduced loading. For example Hornaday's TAP buckshot round patterns superbly from an IC barrel, while their light magnum load is on border of what I would consider acceptable for duty use.

-Jenrick

 

[illinoisburt]

Slug guns just for fun? Certainly can be! Other than recoil the headache is expense. 100 rounds of basic Winchester fosters or Remington sluggers will be around $80. It does not take long chew through your wallet. Between some of my own shooting and my son's latest ridiculous purchase (box fed AK Fury) slugs have an awful short shelf life around here.

Reloading is absolutely the way to go. Get a Lee 7/8 ounce key drive mold, melting pot, and plain jane Load All II. Investment is about $120. Easiest thing in the world to buy a couple 100 round cases of any $20 promo shells, dump shot, melt, and mold. The hardest part is opening the crimps on them. Once cooled then seat and recrimp. Breakeven is literally 200 slugs. The results have been very good. Accuracy has been about on par with regular fosters at 50-75 yards and has nice field load recoil. No issues with handling or feeding that I've noticed. Be sure to label the reloaded slugs with a sharpie to identify them later as they look exactly like the field load you started with.

 

[PapaG]

I shoot a lot of slugs. I have shot a pile of slugs. I did a lot of work with a bunch of shotguns and a bunch of slugs. I have never "enjoyed" shooting slugs. Plinking! To each his own but if I was going to plink I would load my own as light as would function in the gun. In fact, I have developed a load for my 1100 (for my wife to use for deer) that is not much different than a 1 ounce trap load. You can buy a Lee slug mould for a song and a Lee Load All for a half a century note. If you are going to shoot a lot, that might be the way to go. (of course, starting to reload is a self defeating purpose as you can't stop "growing"). I'm up to around 70 moulds, a bunch of presses (five shotshell alone), and dies, dies, dies.

 

[Armored farmer]

If you find a sweet spot for that 1oz lee key drive, please share it.
I would love to find a good recipe.
I havent been too successful with mine.

 

[PapaG]

If you find a sweet spot for that 1oz lee key drive, please share it.
I would love to find a good recipe.
I havent been too successful with mine.

No sweet spot yet, nor with either the Lyman 12 or 20 sabot slug moulds. Still fooling around. O.k. to fifty but not near as good as Fed truball.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Today shot some more of the AR12 at my buddies. Lots of 2 3/4 1oz slugs and then at the end of the day he tells me he picked up some 3" 1 1/4. Was not expecting that much of a difference but still put a smile on our faces.

Definitely a lot more recoil but didn't "hurt" anymore than the smaller shells. Biggest annoyance to me is the absolute inability to get any kind of remotely quick follow-up shot with the bigger rounds.

We'll probably stick with the smaller rounds and only occasionally shoot the larger ones.

Just for those wondering the ammo was Federal 2 3/4 1oz rated at 1600 and the 3's were 1 1/4oz also rated at 1600.