Federal’s Personal Defense Force X2 Shorty 00 Buckshot
If you run shotguns, odds are good you’ve at least heard of mini shotshells. Smaller in stature, these shorter shotshells offer shooters greater capacity with a solid performance, which is a win-win. Federal Premium Personal Defense Force X2 Shorty 00 Buckshot is a fantastic example of just what a short shotshell can get done.
Federal Premium offered details on the Force X2 Shorty:
Federal has combined the power of two of our newest technologies to create a shotshell option that changes the nature of self-defense. Force X2 Shorty shells measure just 1 ¾ inches but hold a payload of six 00 segmenting buckshot engineered to split into two equal pieces on impact. When used with firearms designed to cycle sub-length shotshells like the Mossberg 590S, the loads offer much higher magazine capacities with up to twice the wound channels over standard buckshot loads.
According to the ammo maker, these shotshells contain pellets designed to separate and create significantly larger wound channels upon impact. Because they measure only 1 3/4 inches in overall length, more of these shotshells fit in the gun, giving the user significantly greater capacity. In addition, their shorter length means the risks associated with possible over-penetration are lessened. This suggested there could be major benefits to using Federal’s Force X2 Shorty shotshells in home defense shotguns. Not all shotguns will feed shortened shotshells, but many do and there are also adapters available for certain models.
Jesse Whiteside, Federal’s Senior Director of Product Management, made the following remarks about the company’s 12 gauge Shorty:
Shotgun platforms are evolving to be able to cycle 1 ¾-inch shells reliably. The Mossberg 590S is a great example of that. When Mossberg demonstrated the new gun to us, we immediately saw the potential of the increased capacity and terminal effects of Shorty Force X2 load.
The concept behind Force X2 is pretty straightforward. In a 6-pellet 00 FX2 Buck load you get 12 wound channels. And with the short size, you get more magazine capacity. It’s as simple as that.
Force X2 Shorty Shotshells — Features
- Made using 12-gauge 1 ¾-inch six-pellet segmenting buckshot
- FX2 copper-plated buckshot pellets are designed to split in half on impact to create a larger wound channel
- Manageable recoil, especially when compared to standard length shotshells
- Double the wound channels due to pellet design
- Less risk of over-penetration
- Muzzle velocity of 1245 feet per second, according to the manufacturer
- Density of 11g/cc
MSRP for a 10-round box of Federal Premium Personal Defense Force X2 00 BuckShot is $28.99.
Have you tried mini or shorty shotshells in your shotgun? How’d it work for you? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.