Penetration Test II - Buckshot

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0faustus0

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Penetration Test II - Buckshot

12ga_Buckshot_Shells_Low.jpg


From left to right:
  • Reminton Express #4 Buckshot;
  • Hornady Superformance 12 ga 2 3/4 00 Buck;
  • Federal Power-Shok 12ga 2 3/4", 000 Buck;
  • Federal Vital-Shok 12ga 2 3/4", 00 Buck;
  • My hand loaded #1 buckshot load; (I did not test this one)
  • Sellier & Bellot - 12GA, 2-3/4", Sport 00 Buck

Some of you might remember my slug penetration test that I did last year. And I think there was a clear "winner" when it comes to penetration.

Here the link:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1635960-Unofficial-12ga-Slug-Penetration-Comparison

But, this year I wanted to see how buckshot compares to those results and I tested a couple of buckshot loads last week end. And the results are a bit unspectacular and surprising to me. I thought that the high velocity buckshot loads should produce more penetration … but I guess that was not the case. In short none of those commercial buckshot loads was able to penetrate two spruce boards of 1.5 inches thickness each.

Here the details ….

The Setup

I had four boards of spruce 1.5 inches thick stacked behind each other, and with a 9 inch circle as my target. The gun was a 870 Police 12ga with rifle sights and a fixed improved cylinder choke. All shots were fired from 20 meters.

The_Setup_Low.jpg



And here the detailed results

Reminton Express #4 Buckshot, 12ga, 3"
  • Model: 12HB4
  • Muzzle Velocity: 1225 fps
  • Pellets: 41
  • Wad: none
  • Buffer: yes
  • Hits within a 9” circle: 8
  • Penetration: not even one board … :-(

Remington_4.jpg



Hornady Superformance 12 ga 2 3/4 00 Buck
  • Model: H86246
  • Muzzle Velocity: 1600 fps
  • Pellets: 8
  • Wad: Flight-control Wad
  • Buffer: none
  • Hits within a 9” circle: 5
  • Penetration: did not penetrate 2 boards (the second board stopped all pellets)
  • Note: I had expected more from this load because of the high velocity of 1600 fps

Hornady_00.jpg



Federal Power-Shok 12ga 2 3/4", 000 Buck
  • Model: F127000
  • Muzzle Velocity: 1325 fps
  • Pellets: 8
  • Buffer: yes
  • Hits within a 9” circle: 5
  • Penetration: did not penetrate 2 boards (the second board stopped all pellets)

Federal_000.jpg



Federal Vital-Shok 12ga 2 3/4", 00 Buck
  • Model: PFC15400
  • Muzzle Velocity: 1325 fps
  • Pellets: 9
  • Wad: Flight-control Wad
  • Buffer: yes
  • Hits within a 9” circle: 7
  • Penetration: two pellets penetrated two boards completely. But I believe this happen only because those two pellets were traveling together through the boards.

Federal_00.jpg



Sellier & Bellot - 12GA, 2-3/4", Sport 00 Buck
  • Model:
  • Muzzle Velocity: 1214 fps
  • Pellets: 9
  • Wad: none
  • Buffer: none
  • Hits within a 9” circle: 3
  • Penetration: did not penetrate 2 boards (the second board stopped all pellets)
  • Note: This load produced the worst pattern.

SB_00.jpg




Voila, that is it … I leave it up to you to come up with your own conclusions ….
Hope this provided some valuable information ....

Faustus
 
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Interesting and not surprising. I tested buck shot (#00) and slug loads back in the mid 70's and my determination then was that buck shot was not all what fellas cracked it up to be. Buck shot in my opinion is fine for police close quarter work say inside a home. But has very limited use for deer in the field. I have witnessed many deer lost to being wounded or probably completely missed by buck shot. Also been present when several deer fell to it by one lucky pellet going through the deer's head. My experiences over the years anyways.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to do the test and post the results. Very educational.
 
mrgoat said:
... Buck shot in my opinion is fine for police close quarter work say inside a home. ...
Click to expand...

Thank you for posting this. Buckshot has trouble penetrating wood...

I don't know if any of you guys watch Paul Harrell on youtube but he does this kind of testing and the smaller buckshot sizes #3 and #4 won't go thru (his simulation of) an interior and exterior wall..
IIRC, that video is called "Why Shotguns don't suck for home defense".

He also does a video on 20 gauge shotgun for hunting and that one he shoots (a simulated) deer cavity
with buckshot and slugs. Worth a look...
 
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1st, thanks for the info although I agree another test medium should be tried. 2nd, I watched a video last year where a guy actually uses buckshot on a few deer with good results. Can't remember the ammo supplier, it may have been Hornady? If you're willing to keep shots to within 30 yards I don't see any reason not to use it.
 
Watching penetration tests on you tube .most of guys are using magazines taped together and soaked in water for a couple days . The bundle looks to be 6 to 8 inches thick . Interesting results just the same .thanks for posting .
 
I shot a doe a doe a few years ago with 12 ga Remington express 2 3/4" 00 buck out of my full choked I Ithaca 300 at about 10-12 ft. She was put up by a guy hunting with me and ran straight at me. Anyway as yous can imagine it was a very tight pattern at that distance and I could cover all entry holes with the palm of my hand.
When I skinned her out I found 3 pellets had hit rib bones and somehow slid up the rib bones and then slid back along her spine, and I found all 3 from about the middle of spine to almost her rear end. I really couldn't believe how poor the penetration was at such a short distance?
 
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