12 Gauge Light Load Slugs For Target Shooting

Lef T

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Southern Ontario
Does anyone manufacture a nice light 12 gauge shotgun target load that uses slugs.
I'm a pistol shooter,but am getting a little touch of shotgun fever.
I tried some factory slug loads,but would like a lot lighter recoiling load for shooting paper..
Thanks
 
I just fired some different ammo off, I found the benneke slugs had less recoil than the standard Federal slugs and Fiochi makes a low recoil 00 round which is like shooting target loads.
 
Target pro centre advertizes that they have low velocity buckshot and slugs.
They have a banner at top of page.
 
Nine said:
Most 2 3/4" slugs aren't too bad. It's when you get the 3" slugs that it gets... tooth rattling. :D
I've never really understood this. Example; Remington Rifled Slug loads, 2.75" and 3" both have 1 oz. payloads and MAX dram eq. powder charge. They will both have the same recoil, because they're the same combination of parts, except for the hull. Same amount of powder pushing the same amount of weight = same recoil. A 3" Federal 1-1/8 oz. slug will definetely kick harder than a 2.75" 1 oz. slug, but the 2.75" slugs are also available in 1-1/8 oz, which will kick just as hard as a 3" because it has the same payload. Those Challenger Magnum 2.75" slugs are 1-1/4 oz. and fly at 1600 fps, and I'd be willing to bet they kick just as hard as any 3" smoothbore slug out there. Just in case anybody cares, I'm sure everyone knows the facts but I felt like ranting :rolleyes: I'll shut up now...
 
999 said:
federal and winchester make low-recoil slug loads.
Watch out for clever packaging, it catches a lot of people. I have several people think (even gunshop employees) they are getting reduced recoil slugs because it says on the box 'new design wad reduces recoil' or something similar (as is found on the Federal 1oz 2 3/4" slug silver/blue boxes) ....these are NOT reduced recoil loads.

The only real reduced recoil load I have been able to find from Remington, Federal or Winchester (there are others I just haven't found them yet) is the REMINGTON REDUCED VELOCITY LOAD. It is a green and yellow box, with a reduced velocity to about 70% IIRC. It reduces recoil by about 30-35% and is good for practice by recoil sensitive types.
There are other options for reducing recoil, but the standard 2 3/4" slug really isn't too bad at all once you get used to it, unless you have some other recoil sensitivity.

Cheers
 
I have never heard of paper shooting with slugs, other then to sight your shotgun in for hunting, in which case you want to use the same ammo you will take hunting.

You do know that sugs are around $1 a shot right? That would make for very expensive paper punching.
 
For bear defence training it is essential to shoot a lot of slugs and birdshot during regular practice all throughout the year if you really want to know how to use the gun when the SHTF. I do a lot of paper punching with my shotgun and I also teach/certify 40-50 field staff yearly using shotguns for bear defence, we run hundreds and hundreds of rounds down range.
You can get slugs for a lot less than $5 a box especially when buying in bulk.
There is some merit in practicing sometimes with reduced recoil but you are right saying that you have to practice , sight in and do official qualifications with full house ammo. 2 3/4" loads aren't bad at all so that is 95% of what we fire, reduced is for the recoil sensitive few we have, I also have used a Rem. 572 pump action .22 to help them practice their fundamentals with great results. It all helps.

Cheers
 
I forgot to mention that our guys are running into several grizzlies each day in the summer/fall so we have no choice but to take things seriously.

Cheers
 
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Xman said:
I have never heard of paper shooting with slugs, other then to sight your shotgun in for hunting, in which case you want to use the same ammo you will take hunting.

You do know that sugs are around $1 a shot right? That would make for very expensive paper punching.


I do it all the time. There is nothing better than feeling the loud concussion of a shotgun blast, and having a beat-up shoulder after the fact. Good way to blow off some steam.

I buy the 2 3/4 winchester shells at CT for 11$/15. I don't usually shoot more than 30 before I am done, half because of my wimpy complexion can't take much more, and half because as you say, it is not the cheapest of pasttimes.
 
If you are into reloading, Lee offers a 7/8 and 1 oz slug mould for use with standard trap hulls and wads, which they claim should cost the reloader less than standard trap loads. I'm thinking of giving it a try myself once I've gotten use to reloading and casting lead bullets.

Just a thought....

Frank
 
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