I would like to hear opinions as to the Federal #2 buck 3 inch Magnum 18 pellet @1100 FPS vs the Rio #1 buck 9 pellet @1347 FPS for home defense use.
A few thoughts: I took both to the range.
The Rio #1 buck 9 pellet (1347 FPS) kicks like a mule and taken apart seems to have twice the powder (or the wad ends 1/2 an inch higher to the pellets) vs Federal #2 buck 18 pellet 3 inch Magnum.
The pattern of both at 17 feet from an 18 inch no choke barrel could be covered by a Volleyball, but the Rio seemed to look more like a Blimp or Banana vs the Federal Volleyball. (I was surprised at the size of the spread in both. Certainly more like a volleyball and nothing like a softball)
Doing some math it does seem the weight- 529 grains vs 364 grains
and almost double frontage area of the 18 Federal pellets is much more.
The weight and added 200fps of the Rio #1 buck should give penetration than the Federal
Thanks
A few thoughts: I took both to the range.
The Rio #1 buck 9 pellet (1347 FPS) kicks like a mule and taken apart seems to have twice the powder (or the wad ends 1/2 an inch higher to the pellets) vs Federal #2 buck 18 pellet 3 inch Magnum.
The pattern of both at 17 feet from an 18 inch no choke barrel could be covered by a Volleyball, but the Rio seemed to look more like a Blimp or Banana vs the Federal Volleyball. (I was surprised at the size of the spread in both. Certainly more like a volleyball and nothing like a softball)
Doing some math it does seem the weight- 529 grains vs 364 grains
and almost double frontage area of the 18 Federal pellets is much more.
The weight and added 200fps of the Rio #1 buck should give penetration than the Federal
Thanks
Last edited: