Federal’s Flitecontrol has become the go-to tactical and defensive load. It is popular enough that it is tough to keep on shelves, especially if you want the 00 8-pellet, reduced-recoil load. That ammunition comes and goes in waves. The Flitecontrol wads have been constrained to the 12-gauge shotgun until now. Federal has unleashed a 20-gauge Flitecontrol load.
20-Gauge Flitecontrol Defensive Ammo
I am a 12-gauge guy, but I have been experimenting with the 20-gauge a bit, looking for methods and means to have a truly lower-recoil shotgun alternative. A big problem with the 20 gauge is a lack of defensive options. The most common 20-gauge loads are designed for deer.
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The new Flitecontrol 20 gauge round is a dedicated defensive round. It promises the Flitecontrol wad in a smaller package. The Flitecontrol wad is the black magic of tight patterns. The idea is that the wad and shot travel together until they leave the barrel. The wad has a built-in braking system that slows the wad and allows the shot to travel on without its interference.
This results in extremely tight patterns. To the point that inside of seven yards, the 00 from a 12 gauge looks like a slug. This gives us tight patterns that provide total pellet accountability. For police users, it extends the effective range and allows for better pellet accountability. Bringing it to 20 gauge opens it up for more shooters and a low-recoil option, right?
Low Recoil Not So Much
The 20-gauge Flitecontrol is propelling ten number 2 pellets at 1,350 feet per second. Each #2 pellet is .27 caliber. They weigh 29.4 grains each. That is 294 grains of lead per trigger pull. These pellets are copper-plated, which prevents deformation and helps with tight patterns. Additionally, the copper plating helps increase penetration as a whole.
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That is critical because #2 is fairly small, and if you want to reach the 12-inch penetration standard through ballistic gel, that copper plating helps. Also, ramping the velocity up to 1,350 feet per second helps.
That same velocity gives us more recoil. In fact, when I compare it side by side with my beloved 00 Flitecontrol, the 20 gauge has noticeably more recoil. This occurs not only because of the higher velocity, but because 20-gauge shotguns are lighter than 12-gauge shotguns.
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This load through a 12-gauge would be quaint, but through a lighter 20-gauge, you feel the recoil. This has become a standard problem with 20-gauge guns. You buy one expecting less recoil, but it doesn’t actually work out for you. The 20-gauge has the potential for lower recoil, but the reality is very different.
The Patterns
We lose the low-recoil capability of the Flitecontrol round in 20 gauge, but how does it pattern? Luckily, its patterns are exceptionally tight. However, it does not pattern as tightly as my favored 00 load. At seven yards, the pellets are quite tight and do not exceed a couple of inches, but it does not look like the slug-like performance of 00 Flitecontrol.
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At ten yards, it is under three inches, which means it is plenty tight for defensive use. At 15 yards, the pattern opened up enough to see individual pellet holes and measured about five inches wide and five inches vertically.
I saw a bit of horizontal stringing in each pattern. It was not enough to worry about, but it is interesting to see the pattern consistently horizontal. The #2 buckshot has a little stretch to it, but it is consistent, and that is a big advantage. Having a consistent pattern is just as important as having a tight pattern.
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Can you get it tighter with a choke? No. Flitecontrol wads do not work well with chokes. In fact, the pattern will get wider. These rounds are for cylinder bore guns only if you want maximum effectiveness.
The 20 Gauge Solution
The big benefit of a 20-gauge shotgun is not recoil; it is weight. If you want a lighter-weight gun, go 20 gauge. If you want a lighter recoiling gun, go with a semi-auto 12-gauge and reduced-recoil ammunition. If you want a lighter shotgun and a tight-patterning option, pair it with 20-gauge Flitecontrol.
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