Penetration shouldn’t be too much less from #1 than from 00 Buck
Accordingly, the MacPherson, Schwartz, and Peters bullet penetration models give the following results:
-00 Buck @ 1100 fps should penetrate to 19.98" (MacPherson), 19.36" (Schwartz), 19.57" (Peters) in gelatin for an average penetration estimate of ~19.64"
-#1 Buck @ 1100 fps should penetrate to 17.88" (MacPherson), 17.96" (Schwartz), 18.15" (Peters) in gelatin for an average penetration estimate of ~17.99"
Given the engineering data , I’d say that both options are likely to be very similar in their performance.
Back in 1990-1991, during the Kuwait invasion, Lt. Gen. Thomas Kelley did nightly press briefings at the Pentagon. In one I recall vividly, he was showing videos of various massive destruction being thrown at the Iraqi forces. He then went on to describe B-52 strikes on mobile SCUD missiles.
A reporter raised his hand and asked something to the effect, “Now, General, isn’t that like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly?”
Without hesitation, General Kelly shot back, “In my own personal opinion, that is a delightful way to kill a fly.” He immediately pointed at another reporter and said, “Next question.”
3" number 1 buck contains twenty-four 0.30" projectiles, and the last thing one will ever remember in a gunfight is recoil. I agree with General Kelley: a sledgehammer is an excellent choice for killing a “fly.”
Is the Federal #1 buck actually .30"? I ask this because I once dissected a Federal #000 8 pellet load, which would nominally be .36", and it was slightly smaller, more like .343".
Not that it really matters, as long as it actually penetrates like the tests show. I am sure it is still effective, but I vaguely remember some one stating it was <.30".
It is a shame that buckshot is not designated by its diameter, that would make life a lot simpler.
I still cannot find any of the #1. I sent an email to GT distributors after I sat on hold for 35 min. on the phone and then got hung up on. I did, however, find a box of the Flite Control 00 @ my LGS last night and picked it up. It replaced the Remington Low Recoil 00 in my M1. I feel slightly better now, but still would like to find the #1 load.
Funny story, but a fly doesn’t shoot back. If you missed the fly with your first swing a fly swatter would provide a quicker follow up. It would also provide plenty of terminal performance.
I understand that tight groupings are desirable, but I prefer a little more spread at 15 yards than 1" at HD ranges. I would like something more like 3-4". Nice video. Would you consider doing the same test with Winchester Super-X #1 Buck???
Just pick an available DocGKR preferred loading, stop worrying about the nuances of terminal ballistics, and then spend the rest of your time & money learning how to master the gun.
I’m just sayin… A 1" group at 15 yards… You may as well load your HD shotgun with slugs. That’s why they call them scatterguns… I believe for HD purposes, a quicker spread is desired due to the confines usually associated with combat in most HD scenarios. I can aim just fine but if I can land 16 pellets in a 5" circle in someone’s torso, more than likely, at least one of those will prove to be fatal. I see no benefits of a 12ga over an AR-15 if your patterns are that tight. I don’t live in a palatial mansion so just about any shot I’m going to be taking indoors probably won’t exceed 20 yards. I need to test the spread on this Winchester #1… If it doesn’t do what I want, I need to get a single stage press and start churning out my own loads. Maybe a low velocity mix of 00, #1 and #4 with birdshot as a buffer and a spreader cup. Hmmmmmm…
Remember once the hit the target, the buck starts spreading out in a cone pattern inside the target (see video). So, no, not an inch tract, but rather lots of tracts.
The Flite Control buck behavior seems ideal to me.
In my cylinder bore guns, the Federal #1 loads shoots MUCH better patterns at 15 yards, 10 ring vs 8 ring, than either Winchester or Remington #1 loads. I believe the Versatite and Flite Control are the same wad technology, different name. Both the Hornady 8 pellet and Federal 00 9 pellet loads with those wads shoot very well for me in several guns.
You should plan to hit exactly where you’re aiming and have the mass of shot spread inside your target. By throwing a blanket of shot at a target you may be increasing your chances of a hit, but you are wasting the potential trauma that you could deliver to a specific vital area. As with any weapon, shot placement counts for alot and what #1 buck or 00 buck brings to the table is awesome terminal performance when penetrating as a mass then spreading rapidly in tissue.
I realize this isn’t a choice but I prefer #4 buck over 00 and #1. I’ve used all of them for coyote hunting and the 00 and #1 group too tight for me out until about 35 yards. The #4 doesn’t spread too much within that distance but enough to make a difference. I’ve never had a coyote get hit with #4 buck under 40 yards that did drop dead in its tracks. I know coyotes aren’t people but food for thought.
Just remember birdshot is for birds. Pattern groupings don’t really matter at HD distances unless the stuff totally opens up and only half the pellets hit the target. I suggest buying many diff. rounds and see how they pattern for you. On the up side you’ll have plenty of SG rounds in reserve.
, I’d say that both options are likely to be very similar in their performance.
