At 1000 fps each pellet carries 120 ft.-lbs. Propelled to the above-mentioned 856-fps velocity, each pellet still carries 88 ft.-lbs.

Weighing several Hornady 0.330вЂќ-diameter 00 buckshot on an RCBS electronic scale revealed an average weight of 54.2 grs. What about 00 buckshot? Most 12-ga., 2ВѕвЂќ defensive loads are loaded with eight to 10 00 buckshot. Thug-Slug has more energy than most 240-gr.44 Mag.

Expect good accuracy, too in fact, from a scoped, rifled-choke tube-equipped Sarsilmaz shotgun (shown at top), five consecutive, five-shot groups at 50 yards averaged 2.78вЂќ.Д®ven at a modest 856 f.p.s., the Ballistic Products, Inc., 1 1/ 8-oz. Best of all, this level of performance is achieved without a deafening discharge. of TiteWad and the velocity increases to 1020 fps, resulting in 1,137 ft.-lbs. And, even before expansion, the hulking chunk of lead is 0.725вЂќ (+/-) in diameter. as being inadequate for personal protection? Not likely. of energy, which is about double the energy produced by the much-vaunted 10 mm and more than most 240-gr.44 Mag loads. Seems unconvincing, right? At that velocity, the 492.2-gr. of Hodgdon TiteWad propellant in a primed 12-ga., 2ВѕвЂќ Cheddite hull propels a Ballistic Products, Inc., 1 1/8-oz. In such situations, a less-disorienting, yet still potent, subsonic load is preferred. In fact, most room diameters are typically two-thirds that size. Within the average American home, itвЂ™s unusual to have a room that is longer than 10 yards. ItвЂ™s disorienting at best, but are full-power loads even necessary? In short, the answer is no. If youвЂ™ve fired a round from a ground or box blind sans ear protection, you have an idea of its effect. But consider the sound of a supersonic shotshell when fired outdoors, and then imagine it in the confines of a small room or hallway. hunk of lead, or some combination thereof, has a dramatic effect. 2 lead shot (right).ДЇor home defense, few, if any, firearms deliver terminal ballistics equal to that of a shotgun load with buckshot or slugs multiple large-diameter pellets or a. When switching to subsonic loads, he opts for No. In supersonic loads the author prefers No. These are just some of the nuances associated with subsonic shotshells, but the rewards are worth the effort. Of course, this is less of a consideration with buckshot and slugs and more so with steel shot. When exiting the muzzle at less than 1100 fps, the pellets need to be larger and, preferably, made from a dense material in order to exhibit terminal ballistics comparable to those of supersonic rounds. Note that вЂњsubsonicвЂќ ammunition should not be confused with вЂњreduced-recoilвЂќ ammunition seldom is the latter slower than the speed of sound.Д«ecause subsonic loads propel projectiles slower than their supersonic counterparts, to maintain lethality, pellet size and composition become critical considerations. For those who prefer not to вЂњrock the boat,вЂќ maintaining a margin for error is the best bet. When approaching the 1100-fps mark, even extreme velocity spreads within a lot, or box, of shells is enough to break the sound barrier. For that reason, I prefer that вЂњsubsonicвЂќ shotshells have a velocity no higher than 1050 fps. Breaking that threshold means the difference between producing a hearty fooop sound and an earsplitting boom. And even though the speed of sound isnвЂ™t constant, changes in altitude and temperature, among other factors, can affect that number. The speed of sound at sea level and 59В° F. The only practical difference is the range at which they should be employed. Buckshot and slugs are equally effective at subsonic velocities as they are at supersonic ones.

Subsonic rounds