The popularity of subsonic rifle and pistol ammunition has paralleled that of suppressors in recent years. Though suppressing shotguns lacks the popularity of quieting pistols and rifles, Remington applies the concept of subsonic ammunition’s lesser recoil to the .410 bore shotshell in its new Low Decibel line, which will especially benefit those shooting so-chambered revolvers, derringers and lightweight shotguns.
Frankly, the recoil generated in firing a .410-chambered derringer might be kindly described as “Not exactly plinking-pleasant.” I’ve evaluated .410 derringers for readers in the past, and perhaps the need to fire a considerable number of rounds through them in single sessions has soured me a bit on these diminutive handguns sporting barrels barely longer than the chambers themselves. I’ll wager you don’t know one person who blithely runs a box of .410s through his derringer on weekends. These guns can be adequate for some self-defense situations, but the responsible carrier will practice with a chosen self-defense arm, and—let’s be honest—most people aren’t eager to practice when every shot feels like punishment.
FOR TRAINING
Here’s where Remington’s Low Decibel .410 bore shotshell has a natural application, as its 650 f.p.s. velocity is about half that of .410 bore 000 buckshot launching at 1,135 f.p.s. Less velocity produces less recoil, all else being equal, and less recoil can equate to less avoidance of practice. Beyond practice, Low Decibel is a bona fide candidate as a self-defense round. Consider that Low Decibel’s #9 shot charge weighs ½ ounce—that’s 219 grains. What other derringer cartridge can deliver a 219-grain bullet? In an up-close self-defense situation for which derringers are intended, 219 grains of lead at 650 f.p.s. is no slouch as a fight-stopper. All the above also applies to revolvers designed to fire the .410, especially in regard to practice. Remington’s Low Decibel is a 2½-inch shell, so it will fit derringer and revolver chambers without a problem.
FOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Low Decibel is a good matchup with lightweight break-action and “folding” .410 shotguns like Iver Johnson’s IJ700. With an 18½-inch barrel and a hollow polymer stock, the IJ700 weighs only 4½ pounds; that’s good for a survival arm and helpful for training youngsters or petite new shooters, but the lightweight advantage is offset, of course, by the Iver Johnson absorbing less recoil than a heavier wood-and-steel shotgun. Here’s another application for Remington’s Low Decibel .410 bore shotshell. In the IJ700, there is a marked difference in recoil between Low Decibel’s 1/2-ounce #9 at 650 f.p.s. and another maker’s 1/2-ounce of shot at 1,245 f.p.s. The difference is also noticeable in heavier .410s like my old Stevens break-action and Mossberg 183KE (both weighing 5½ pounds).
Remington says Low Decibel shot patterns consistently at 25 yards, which is about right, as .410 doesn’t have the 40-yard reach typical for evaluating larger shotshells, yet is more than adequate for dropping birds from a full-choked shotgun. Marketing literature also says the lead shot features, “optimal hardness,” and that the ammo is, “reliable in both pump-action and break-action shotguns.” I interpret the latter to mean the lesser recoil of Low Decibel may not reliably cycle a semi-automatic action, and that, like most folks, Remington forgot that there are still a few bolt-action .410s around, like my Mossberg.
A 25-round box of Low Decibel retails at the Remington website for $27.99. A quick online search turned up prices in the $23-$25 range from online and big-box retailers. That’s a bit more than for standard .410 fodder, but not unexpected with special performance ammunition.
We tend to associate “subsonic” with suppressors or with shooting .22 Long Rifle in long-range competition, but subsonic ammunition also reduces recoil and noise without a suppressor. Hearing protection is still needed, of course, but Remington’s Low Decibel can make practice, hunting and even a morning at the trap and skeet range a bit more pleasant, especially for the newbie or the recoil-shy.
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