New Federal buchshot load (#1) for LE

Bartholomew Roberts · August 22, 2011, 09:32 AM

I'm not much of a shotgun guy myself; but I had noticed in past reading that although the IWBA considers #1 buckshot to be the most effective terminally, few people use it because:

A) it is not readily available
B) it tends to pattern poorly in many shotguns

DocGKR at Lightfighter is reporting a new new Federal LE load using their flight control wad and #1 buckshot (LE132-1B). In addition to penetrating 14-18" of bare gel, the new load shows some impressive patterns out of a plain 18" 870P.

The pictures showed a single hole at 7yds and at 25yds, all but 4 of the pellets were in the 10 ring, and the 4 that were not were adjacent and up (upper thoracic cavity/throat). As I said, I'm not a big shotgun guy myself; but I thought the load might be of interest to this board since it seems to address one of the common complaints I've read about #1 buck (poor patterns).

Dave McC · August 22, 2011, 02:31 PM

Thanks! I'm one of those who had bad luck with 1 buck. Maybe I should pick up some of this and try it out.....

rantingredneck · August 22, 2011, 03:01 PM

If it becomes available around here or via internet order I will pick some up for testing. I use their LE12700 load (flite control, 9 pellet 00 at 1345fps) for general defensive readiness and deer hunting. If the 1B load patterns well and puts a substantial increase in payload downrange (typical 1 buck 2 3/4" load is 16 pellets of approx .30 caliber yes?) then I might be sold on it.

federali · August 22, 2011, 07:06 PM

It's been some years since I was in active duty law enforcement and I know that new loads have become available. At the time, the Secret Service preferred #4 buck, consisting of 27 pellets of .22 cal each. In a typical home defense situation, it won't matter much what you use. Even a skeet load will raise havoc with the intruder. However, the larger pellets can over-penetrate walls as two layers of sheetrock don't offer much resistance. Larger pellets are also more lethal to unseen bystanders at greater distances, assuming that some pellets may not strike the intended target.

Generally, buckshot loads shoot or pattern best in cylinder bore shotguns.

Lee Lapin · August 23, 2011, 08:04 PM

Thanks for the thread. I'll have to look for some! I'm one of those who hasn't been able to find a barrel that would pattern #1 worth a darn since I first got told about its supposed advantages in a hunter safety class in high school about 42 years ago.

lpl

Eghad · August 23, 2011, 08:16 PM

Thanks! need to try some myself since my 12 ga is the primary defense firearm in the house.

August 22, 2011, 03:01 PM	#3
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,729	If it becomes available around here or via internet order I will pick some up for testing. I use their LE12700 load (flite control, 9 pellet 00 at 1345fps) for general defensive readiness and deer hunting. If the 1B load patterns well and puts a substantial increase in payload downrange (typical 1 buck 2 3/4" load is 16 pellets of approx .30 caliber yes?) then I might be sold on it. __________________ NRA Member NC Hunter's Education Instructor PCCA Member (What's PCCA you ask? <- Check the link)

August 23, 2011, 08:04 PM	#5
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,223	Thanks for the thread. I'll have to look for some! I'm one of those who hasn't been able to find a barrel that would pattern #1 worth a darn since I first got told about its supposed advantages in a hunter safety class in high school about 42 years ago. lpl __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.

August 23, 2011, 08:16 PM	#6
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,226	Thanks! need to try some myself since my 12 ga is the primary defense firearm in the house. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

August 22, 2011, 09:32 AM	#1
Bartholomew Roberts Senior Member Join Date: June 13, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 5,386	New Federal buchshot load (#1) for LE I'm not much of a shotgun guy myself; but I had noticed in past reading that although the IWBA considers #1 buckshot to be the most effective terminally, few people use it because: A) it is not readily available B) it tends to pattern poorly in many shotguns DocGKR at Lightfighter is reporting a new new Federal LE load using their flight control wad and #1 buckshot (LE132-1B). In addition to penetrating 14-18" of bare gel, the new load shows some impressive patterns out of a plain 18" 870P. The pictures showed a single hole at 7yds and at 25yds, all but 4 of the pellets were in the 10 ring, and the 4 that were not were adjacent and up (upper thoracic cavity/throat). As I said, I'm not a big shotgun guy myself; but I thought the load might be of interest to this board since it seems to address one of the common complaints I've read about #1 buck (poor patterns).

August 22, 2011, 02:31 PM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 14, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,831	Thanks! I'm one of those who had bad luck with 1 buck. Maybe I should pick up some of this and try it out.....

August 22, 2011, 07:06 PM	#4
federali Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2011 Location: Nassau County NY Posts: 378	#4 Buck It's been some years since I was in active duty law enforcement and I know that new loads have become available. At the time, the Secret Service preferred #4 buck, consisting of 27 pellets of .22 cal each. In a typical home defense situation, it won't matter much what you use. Even a skeet load will raise havoc with the intruder. However, the larger pellets can over-penetrate walls as two layers of sheetrock don't offer much resistance. Larger pellets are also more lethal to unseen bystanders at greater distances, assuming that some pellets may not strike the intended target. Generally, buckshot loads shoot or pattern best in cylinder bore shotguns. __________________ Int'l Assoc. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors