Federal tactical vs. Federal Classic Low Recoil

[buzz_knox]

I was flipping through a Jerry's catalog and saw a listing for "Classic Low Recoil" shotgun ammo for 12 gauge. It's 9 pellets of 00 buck, as with the tactical line. Anyone know what the difference is, and if it's a good defensive load?

 

[jthuang]

They are the same thing. Back in the day, Federal listed the 9 pellet 00 reduced recoil load under two product numbers. Packaging was different, but the load was the same.

My memory is a bit fuzzy on this, but these were the product numbers:

Tactical: LE127
Classic: H132

Justin

 

[Intel6]

This just came up on an email list I am on. Someone went to the Federal page and found that there was a diffence. I got my LE stuff before there was a civilian version and just assumend that they relabled the LE stuff for civilian sale. I didn't check it myself but the guy who did said they had slightly different velocities and the LE stuff had plated shot. I didn't go look for myself so I can't say for sure?

 

[LIProgun]

FWIW: In July 2000, I sent a similar inquiry to Federal about their slug loads. I asked: "What differentiates Federal's "Tactical" Rifled Slug (LE127RS) from your standard "Classic" (F127RS) 1 ounce rifled slug? The boxes I have say Law Enforcement and the hulls are clear plastic (marked "Federal Tactical Rifled Slug 2 3/4 IN"), and are not the usual Federal red like the F127RS."

The answer from Ron Ives at Federal was (reproduced verbatim):

THE LE127RS IS A REDUCED RECOIL.

IT ALSO HAS THE "NEWER" FOSTER TYPE SLUG WITH HYDRA SHOCK FEATURES.

IT ALSO HAS THE CLEAR TUBE FOR EASY I.D.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Justin,

Close, very close.

The LE127 is the prefix for their line of "tactical" slugs.

For 00buck they are:
LE132-xxx with the suffix designating 4B, 00 and 000 @ 1145fps.
H132: 1140fps

Intel6 is correct. The LE132's have hard-plated shot as opposed to the H132's non-plated shot.

I did some research on this a few days ago while hunting down shotshells to bring to the "combat" shotgun course. I decided to go with their P154 just because my local Wal-Mart had them in stock.

Jim

 

[buzz_knox]

How much will the lack of plating affect patterning at "social" distances?

 

[Al Thompson]

Buzz, I don't/didn''t see much difference until 15 yards or so. If your using a cylinder choke, probably not enogh difference to matter in any event.

 

[buzz_knox]

This would be used in an 870 Police with Improved Cylinder and/or a Moss 590 with whatever kind of cylinder comes std.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

buzz,

I'm with Al on this one. Results were about the same out to ~15yds through an IC-choked 18.5" Benelli.

At "social" distances, I'm not sure if plated vs. non-plated shot is going to matter.

Jim

 

[jthuang]

Thanks for the clarification, never knew there was a difference.

Justin

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Justin, I had the same idea as you. However, a little voice inside my head kept telling me "there's gotta be more to it than that." Turns out, there's not THAT much more...

 

[buzz_knox]

Update

Well, the ammo came in. My brother-in-law and I had ordered the tactical from Ammoman.com before, and this time we got the Classic from Jerry's. Well, when we opened the case, it was deja vu all over again. The ammunition is identical, but cheaper. Life is good. I bought some Ranger low recoil slugs for training and will be taking my "accidental" (long story) 870P to the range tomorrow for wee bit of practice.

 

[Gilmore]

Buzz_Knox, Do they have the same shot cup and primer sealant that the tactical rounds do? Let us know how they shoot.