[earlthegoat2]

For home defense this sounds like the no brainer of all no brainers. First you have low recoil and all the inherent advantages that it offers. Then you have reduced velocities which is good for penetration issues. The list goes on.

I think that Low Recoil options for HD would be the ONLY way to go. Is there another side to the coin?

[4thPointOfContact]

With 3 inch Magnum slugs, you can stay safely inside and shoot the goblins outside through a couple walls?:evil:

[earlthegoat2]

Keeping in mind that there may just be goblins outside of my house I would rather I didnt shoot through my wife or more importantly my dog to shoot said goblins.

[Zoogster]

Buckshot is already a minimal performer per pellet.
It is only extremely effective because of the sheer number of marginaly effective projectiles.
With each pellet of regular 00 buckshot at around 210 foot pounds (around the energy of a .380ACP) you are going to have limited reliable penetration in different tissue. Some will go further than others.
If you then back the power off by close to 25% and go to around 150-160 foot pounds per pellet, like some reduced recoil load do you are even worse off.
The energy per pellet is not the only consideration, but the energy for a given diameter, because you need so much energy for a given diamater to reliably penetrate not just tissue, but bone.

Instead of calling it "tactical" or "reduced recoil" they should just call it "25% less power" loads.
Of course that might not result in more sales like a cooler sounding name for having less power.


So buckshot is already just adequate. People set the standard of buckshot at 00 with the velocity level they have had for at least the last century (and most people weighed around 150 pounds in the early 20th century, if they could manage so can you.)
If you are going to reduce the velocity you should probably at least move up a size in buckshot and go with 000 buck so you achieve similar penetration to 00 pellets buck at regular velocities.

[Youngster]

I agree with the above, buckshot pellets need all the help they can get, heck I'd use loads with 25% more velocity over standard if they were available.

[Ben Shepherd]

Couple things here:

Try federal lawman or federal offerings with flight control wad. As a general rule, they both pattern very well. They're both reduced recoil offerings as well.

Try some timing drills with them vs full snort stuff. If you can accurately get 8 or 16 more individual hits in the same time frame vs. the full power options.......?

[9x19sig]

On paper, low recoil buckshot may not seem tempting because of the lower velocity. But in reality a few hundred fps isn't going to matter a whole heck of a lot against soft squishy targets like a human.

The same thinking is what brought about ultra-super-extreme-maximum-magnums we now see today. A .243 will bring down a deer with ease, but why use a .243 when you can use a 338-378 weatherby?

[Der Verge]

Buckshot in .410 is quite manageable :mad:

[T191032]

Let's forget the adrenline-dump effect of a fight for a moment -

For some people, a Max load of buckshot, with an ill-fitting stock, well...hurts!
Less recoil, better control. As stated, based on per-pellet-power, you see why you need all of the payload to be on target.

Another thing to consider is what effect the body is getting. Anyone have some arthritis? ::Hand up:: I do, I do! Yes, Virginia, there is a difference in the felt recoil between so-called "Tactical" or "reduced-recoil" and Full-power loads!

But we are asked : Is there another side to the coin?

Sure, if you shotgun likes [enter brand-X Max-load] that is full power, then by all means use it! Keeps it simple. Deer hunting, home-defense, no change of loads, provided you're using buckshot for deer hunting. :)


9x19sig wrote :
"A .243 will bring down a deer with ease, but why use a .243 when you can use a 338-378 weatherby?"

Well, have you priced such ammo lately? I know of someone who loads a 30-378 Weatherby, and when we looked at the box of ammo during our trip to Cabelas - just shy of $100/20 he decided to pass. He can reload 20 at about $1/round or so. :what:

[Youngster]

I just don't see the need for the reduced recoil loads when the recoil pads and recoil reduction stocks available now are able to tame full power loads at least as much.

[Girodin]

I am more interested in the flight control part of the federal loads than the reduced recoil aspect. I have been impressed with their patters and I prefer having what to me is a notably better pattern than having a few hundred fps more.

[351 WINCHESTER]

For the average person that doesn't do much shooting and for their dear wives I prefer managed recoil. I doubt the perp would notice the difference.

[Big Daddy Grim]

I use regular 00 Buck but if my wife was shooting I would want less kick so she can have a good follow up shot if her first does not hit as for me I'm ok with the regular.

[Youngster]

I am more interested in the flight control part of the federal loads than the reduced recoil aspect. I have been impressed with their patters and I prefer having what to me is a notably better pattern than having a few hundred fps more.

Flite Control is also available in a full power loading...

[Girodin]

Flite Control is also available in a full power loading...

I'll have to get some and test with them. The only ones they ever have where I buy ammo is the reduced recoil tactical, so I've never seen the others. Maybe ordering some online is in order.

[jon_in_wv]

The OP didn't seem to be talking about recoil control with the reduced power loads was talking about reduced PENETRATION through secondary barriers if you should have to fire your weapon in the house.

[Youngster]

The OP didn't seem to be talking about recoil control with the reduced power loads was talking about reduced PENETRATION through secondary barriers if you should have to fire your weapon in the house.

Well he was talking about both but reduced velocity is only one more factor when it comes to materials penetration. For example I've found that the hardened, plated buckshot that are usually employed in reduced recoil loads seem to penetrate just as much as plainer pellets launched at full pop.

[dispatch55126]

For those that have hunted, they can attest that adrenaline and perception is a great thing. I hate practicing with slugs at the range even though my 500 isn't a bad kicker and I wear a recoil pad. When hunting, I don't even feel the recoil.

If you want to practice (which you should), use the reduced recoil. There's no need to punish yourself at the range. Get some TAP buckshot and leave that in your safe for "real world".

[MikePGS]

As a self-proclaimed wuss, i'd say just take a full power 20 gauge buckshot shell :P

[earlthegoat2]

20 ga would be ideal in my book and a low recoil option for them would be kind of useless.

[Youngster]

One thing I'll give reduced recoil loads is that the reduced muzzle blast is nice, especially indoors, but I'm not totally comfortable with getting ballistics more on the lines of shooting full power loads out of a 10-12" barrel.