SlapShot USA develops shotgun loads for short-range defensive use. Their ammunition is loaded with very lightweight (for the gauge) projectiles that travel at extremely high muzzle velocities resulting in devastating terminal performance at close ranges. For example, their 12 gauge 193-grain Precision Home Defense (PHD) slugs, which we talked about earlier, reach a muzzle velocity of 3,000 fps. Recently, the company came up with a 12 gauge high-velocity buckshot load that throws 9 pellets of special single aught (#0) buckshot at a muzzle velocity of 2,800 fps.

Here is the company’s description of this new load (quoted from their website):

SlapShot USA’s high velocity single aught shot for home defense. Highly effective at 20 yards or less. Intended for home defense ToxSafe High Velocity Shot is designed to be be used at ranges typical in a home defense situation. Safe to shoot in rifled or smooth bore shotguns.

As the name implies, the ToxSafe buckshot is made of a non-toxic alloy. It is specially designed to deform in liquid media thus more efficiently dumping its energy into the target. Each of these pellets weighs 11 grains which is considerably lighter than the standard lead single aught pellets that weigh about 48 grains. The total weight of the 9-pellet SlapShot USA load is 99 grains – about the weight of two lead #0 buckshot pellets.

The SlapShot USA ToxSave High Velocity Buckshot deforms upon impacting a liquid media

Here is some slow-motion footage of this load fired from an 18.5″ barreled 12 gauge shotgun on a jug full of water.

According to the company officials, they could even further increase the velocity, but the current 2,800 fps already provides satisfactory performance.

The SlapShot USA High Velocity Buckshot loads are listed on the company’s website at an MSRP of $9.99 for five rounds.

Tell us in the comments section what do you think about SlapShot USA’s approach to designing home-defense ammunition.

Images from www.slapshotusa.com