Hornady TAP vs Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot

[Tony617!]

I bought a few boxes of TAP FPD 12 gauge 00 buckshot. How does it compare to Hornady Critical Defense 00 buckshot? I've fired 50 rounds of critical defense but I have not fired TAP shot shells.

I don't really care for critical defense shells since the muzzle flash is really bright. Does TAP use the same powder as critical defense?

 

[nitesite]

Hornady is some very high quality ammunition. I'm glad you can find some these days!

The TAP Light Magnum is 8-pellet 1428-fps w/ a standard wad (expands/patterns wider)

The Tap Reduced Recoil is 8-pellet 991-fps w/ a standard wad (expands/patterns wider) **

The Critical Defense is 8-pellet 1500ish-fps and has a Versatite Wad similar to the FliteControl Wad and it patterns tighter than the TAP shell construction.

** - Strongly DO NOT recommend such a low velocity buckshot load for personal protection except for extremely limited circumstances. Additionally, it will not reliably cycle in most semi-auto shotguns.

I'm quite intrigued by your experiences with muzzle flash. That is something not often encountered.

Have fun and shoot safely.

 

[Tony617!]

The shells are orange hulls and say 1600fps and are safe to shoot from a pump or a semi-auto shotgun. I guess these are older shells since there is no mention of a VersaTite wad on the boxes.

 

[nitesite]

Yep, the orange is the TAP Light Magnum.

Hornady literature states that the 1600-fps data was from a 30" test barrel, but that in real firearms with 18.5" barrels it averages around 1428-fps.

And my post didn't say that the TAP has a VersaTite wad.

Good stuff.