Reduced Recoil Buckshot

[Surefire]

I tried out some reduced recoil buckshot at the outdoor range, and I have to say it works well.

It is still powerful enough to bruise and isn't exactly comfortable, but in terms of control I found that it is easier to get back on target quickly with the reduced recoil loads vs full power buckshot.

One surprising observation I made is that subjectively the Federal Personal Defense load with large birdshot bbs seemed to recoil more than any of the reduced recoil buckshot I was trying out (Federal, Remington, and Winchester).

Additionally, when firing right after regular skeet birdshot, the reduced recoil buckshot wasn't noticably heavier in recoil.

The patterns at 25 yards were not great (not bad either, just kind of average), but then again a shot gun in a defense situation will likely be under 7 yards in a house.

Color me a fan of these loads. I think I liked Remington's Managed recoil more than Federal and Winchesters reduced recoil loads, because it had the best combination of pattern and recoil.

After this test, I'm thinking of loading the first shot with Federal's Personal Defense load (heavy birdshot), and subsequent shots with the Remington Managed Recoil buckshot load. I figure if the blanket of birdshot doesn't discourage an attacker, then the heavy stuff (buckshot) will be needed to discourage them.

 

[highorder]

I figure if the blanket of birdshot doesn't discourage an attacker, then the heavy stuff (buckshot) will be needed to discourage them.

This topic has been discussed to death but consider this:

What if you only get one shot? Loading differently for the first shot is like firing a warning shot.

A really bad idea.

You're not discouraging anyone with birdshot.
Legally, you are using deadly force.

You should consider making sure deadly force is deadly, not discouraging.

 

[Surefire]

^Yeah, makes sense.

I don't want to be SOL if I don't get a second shot.

I will load all shots up with buckshot moving forward.

 

[smoketheresfire]

I shot some of the federal reduced recoil OO thru my 500 at the range yesterday and loved it. Noticably less kick than any of the birdshot I've used in it. Pattern about the size of a pizza box at 15y. Will have to try the winnie though

 

[Nicodemus38]

have you tried to test the loads for penetration? i dont mean with gelatin, i dont really like it, but that digresses.

measure out the longest shot inside your house, it will not likely be longer then the longest hallway you have.

measure out the distance and one end place one of the following:

-dead roadkill deer the dnr or police let you take home after a phone call
-watermellon with a denim or leather jacket bought from thrift store bin
-water jug with demin or leather jacket from thrift store.

just shoot your loads at it and see how well or poorly they penetrated.

 

[mete]

Reduced recoil 00 buck works very well for home defense !! Effective, low recoil, not too much overpenetration.

 

[Mike U.]

I'd like to see some terminal ballistic reports from reduced recoil buckshot used in a SD/HD situation. I think that would go a long way in vetting the viability of reduced recoil loads in the mind's of most folks considering a RR load.
Barring that, it's still hard to argue against nine .33 cal pellets impacting simultaneously at ~1145 FPS* in about a 4-7" circle.
I've read it's like getting hit with a 9 shot burst from a 9mm submachine gun on full auto. ouch.




*This is the stated MV of Winchester Ranger reduced recoil 9 pellet 00 buck, which I have on hand and use in my SxS. It really is a tame shooting load, relatively speaking.