Lower Recoil HD Loads.

[nelson133]

I need some lower recoil buckshot loads for hme defense for a person who is both recoil shy and convinced that they need a 12 gauge shot gun with buckshot. I'm done discussing and arguing and am trying to find something that works. I looked at the Aguila mini shells, but can't find a pump they will feed through. Their homepage says to use a Wincester 1300, but I tried one and it wouldn't feed reliably. BTW, a double is out, it has to be a repeater.
Any info would be welcomed. Thanks in advance.

 

[halfacop]

Winchester makes some low recoil loads. I believe they are the ranger series of law enforcement loads.

Not sure if they sell them to the general public though.

 

[ArmedBear]

Remington Managed Recoil loads should do. Federal has some, too, I think.

Forget the Mini Shells. Toys for double guns. Fun toys, but nevertheless...

You can also load your own. Buckshot is so big that you can just count and drop the balls in, even if you have a reloader set up for trap loads and #8 shot.

Another suggestion: Limbsaver recoil pads really work. So do Gel Tek, Kick Eez, Pachmayr Decellerator, etc. Or you can get a fancier recoil system from Knoxx or Graco. Not free, but they sure absorb recoil.

 

[Fred Fuller]

The softest kicking low recoil loads I have tried lately are Fiocchi's offering. Unfortunately I am not having much luck finding any more of it to buy right now, hope you can do better if you decide to try it. The stock number for the load I like is 12LE00BK.

Hornady TAP in the blue hulls might be a contender too, I haven't tried it yet myself but have heard some good things about it. The red- hulled loads designed to run semiautos are pretty manageable in pumpguns, and the patterns are great.

The Federal low-recoil offerings use the same wad that produces such great patterns in the Hornady loads. It's pretty widely available also, but I haven't yet tried any of it and can't comment on its recoil as compared to other reduced recoil offerings.

Remington's 'managed recoil' loads are pretty widely available and not too bad on the recoil scale by comparison. It's an 8-pellet 00 load at an advertised 1200FPS, and patterns reasonably well for me in several different guns I've tried it through. Stock number for it is RL12BK00, I got the stock I'm patterning with right now at wallyworld for less than $3 per box of 5 rounds.


There's no reason a healthy person can't handle a 12 gauge pump gun, many repeating 12s actually kick less with reduced recoil loads than lighter weight 20s in the same make/model do with full house buckshot. A critical element in felt recoil is gun fit to the shooter, another is good technique. Premium recoil pads (Remington R3, LimbSaver etc) can also make a difference. I don't know the person or the circumstances, but please don't be too hasty in putting down their choce of the larger bored gun. It may actually be a better idea than running magnum loads through a lighter weight 20 gauge gun.

Good luck helping your friend,

lpl/nc

 

[DougW]

I have been using the Winchester Reduced Recoil 00 buck for a few years. It is my primary defence load. Both 12's are stoked with it. The recoil impulse is definately lower than standard buck. I also love the Ranger Reduced Recoil 1oz slugs. Very accurate and not punishing at all.

 

[Chupacabra]

The Remington "Managed Recoil" 00 buck is pretty good. Combine that with a Knoxx stock and you are set.

 

[556A2]

Remington's Reduced Recoil 00 Buck patterns very good in my 870. However, the Fiocchi's Reduced Recoil 00 Buck is the softest I've shot.

Lee: Ed's usually had the Fiocchi in stock. They had 6 or 7 boxes the last time I was in there.

 

[marklbucla]

The Remington Reduced recoil patterns poorly in my own 870 and even worse in my Mossberg 500A. It's also extremely dirty- noticeably shooting a lot of dirt and junk at the targets at 7 yards.

When it comes to recoil management, I've found that practice, pushups, and good technique really curb problems. Not too long ago, 50 shells would leave me sore for three-four days after shooting, but last weekend, I ran around 200 and felt a tad tender for only half a day afterwards.

 

[Bob F.]

Hornady TAP (blue hull) 00buck patterns something like 6" at 15 yds out of mu 870HD cylinder bore and the recoil is quite manageable. Unfortunately, nobody around here carries them. I've "stocked up" on Remmy Sluggers and 00value packs from Wally World, both about $6 a box of 15 rds. Should discourage the ravaging hoardes!!

 

[VWTim]

I patterned a couple loads last weekend out of my 870P, Federal Tactical (full power) and Win Ranger Reduced recoil. Both at 12 gauge 00 Buck, and patterned about the same. So now my shotgun is full of Ranger incase the gf needs to shoot it.

 

[bpisler]

Rmington reduced recoil

has alway worked well in my win 1300 and
mossy 500A.Out of either one it patterns
10-12" at 15 yards.My remington with a
mod choke will keep them inside of 7-8"
at 15 yards.

 

[JohnLINY]

My shotguns like Federal Tactical reduced recoil 00 buckshot. Pattern well out of my FN SLP, 870p, and 590. I order them from www.ammoman.com. Great prices and quick shipping.

For practice I use Wolf 00. It patterns ok. May get 1 or 2 fliers. But you can get it for dirt cheap via mail order. Sportsman Guide usually has a good deal on Wolf.

 

[BozemanMT]

I like the Federals too
Pattern nice, shoot to POI and don't recoil too bad.

But really, to reduce recoil, get a Knoxx cop stock/spec ops stock.
AWESOME!!! (search, there are a ton of threads on them)

 

[crucible]

I highly recommend the Knoxx SpecOps stock-recoi isn't an issue with *any* ammo with it. It's not perfect (kinda slippery and shouldn't be for the money), but it works as advertised reducing felt recoil in pumps more than 60%+ in my experience (slugs are ...get this: fun! not just survivable)

C-