Normally I use a 410 folding shotgun with a muzzle mounted moderator for HD, recently I've purchased a fully moderated 12b (pedretti/hushpower) what I liked about the 410 was both its efficiency and lack of mess, I'm thinking a reduced 12b load or possibly a light cartridge, even the subsonics I've put through the gun have been loud, not an issue in the field but sometimes I do the farmer a favour and put down sheep and pigs in the pen. Wondering if anyone downloads their 12b, or do I just repair and stick with the 410?
12B humane dispatch loads
- Thread starter Greenmist
- Start date
@cookingfat has some 12b loads developed specifically for HAD.
The 410 is the tool for the job. I do sheep with the 22lr when in a shed so not to upset the rest of them. Got to be careful with that tho.
A cartridge like a 21 gram hull comp x would do. Still noisy enough.
A cartridge like a 21 gram hull comp x would do. Still noisy enough.
I should perhaps have added - for any HAD work my preference is to use a Baikal fully moderated, single-shot, .410 loaded with Hull Subsonics. Not found the need to go to anything bigger as yet.
The 12g HAD loads we were issued for Badger cage culling were extremely quiet, straight shotgun no mod.
Heym SR20
Well-Known Member
the OP has a moderated 12 bore. I would use a subsonic load which will be much quieter than a normal load. For humane dispatch you will using a close range - sub 10 if not 5 yards so you will in effect be shooting a solid ball of shot, so shot size pretty immaterial - you will have plenty of penetration. But a 12 will always be messy. Its why a 410 is often recommended. A 22 is often also suggested but on maturer animals, a subsonic hollow point may not penetrate the skull. You need a HV solid.
Beauty of using shot is that stays in the animal with little risk of pass through. But you need to be close.
Beauty of using shot is that stays in the animal with little risk of pass through. But you need to be close.
Actually, thats a very good point and the answer is no
Majority of stuff is point blank, I have no hesitation that it will be effective, I just don't need it the be loud, messy and effective
Do you have any details on those please?
As I've mentioned, I already have a .410 with a mod, never got on with a .22 for HD, always found the 410 better
They weren't loaded with lead in case of a ricochet off the trap. Don't know what they were loaded with as i it was explained on the training course, and as I wasn't trapping I wasn't paying attention. Memories of my school days coming back now.
Reckon it was a sintered metallic powder, I thought it was stainless dust, but I could be wrong ... some discussion was had around these cartridges, so a search may bring it up?
palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
Loaded with bronze powder and a stack of fibre wads.
palmer_mike
Well-Known Member
Not the badger killer ones (although they are similar).
The military/police ones have a plastic wad and stainless steel powder.
The badger killer ones have a stack of fibre wads (it’s arguable that these do the actual killing) and bronze powder to provide sufficient back pressure.
In a former employ I had quite a bit of experience with them……..
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