Issue link: https://let.epubxp.com/i/169452
FI RE ARMS TACTICS game use to less lethal to some of the finest slugs in the industry. The Rio Royal Brenneke Slug Cartridge fires a stabilized Brenneke slug at 1450 fps. A Brenneke slug is a lead projectile on a special wad that leaves the gun in a single unit, based on the same principal as an arrow. An arrow has most of the weight in the front portion. Spinning imparted by fins stabilizes the Brenneke slug. In a standard shotgun barrel, it flies true for distances not normally anticipated in shotguns, delivering around 500 grains at carbine ranges. Many manufacturers, including Rio, choose Brenneke slugs because they are extremely effective. I ran these slugs through bare gelatin. (Editor's note: Look for the short video demonstrating an RBK12 going through gelatin in September's app.)There is no law enforcement projectile like a law enforcement slug. I also fired the Rio Royal Expansive Fragmentary Slug Cartridge (RE12) through ballistic gelatin. This is a oneounce sabot round, meaning the projectile is actually a payload designed to carry it more efficiently to the target. The slug separates into wedge shaped segments on the target. The segments destabilized quickly in the gelatin, preventing over-penetration. It shared in the astounding accuracy of the RBK12, with a margin of safety for close quarter use. This slug would be my choice for applications where the power of the buckshot is desired, but the accuracy of the slug is warranted. Rio also makes a product that has a steel core with a lead project called the Rio Royal Armored Slug Cartridge (RMG12). I did not have the opportunity to try this product, but I intend Circle 75 on Reader Service Card to try to run it through some steel core doors and barricading materials soon. There are several applications where the RMG12 would be appropriate for a high amount of penetration, such as a shotgun slug needing to be able to breach a barrier to the intended target or to stop a vehicle. In the tactical shop of the law enforcement officer, the shotgun slug is the Swiss Army knife. Slug employment is the way to go for agencies that need carbine effectiveness on an austere budget. For agencies that have not experimented with slugs in a while, it is worth revisiting them for amazing versatility. ■ M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N For more information on these companies, circle the corresponding number on the Reader Service Card COMPANY Rio Ammunition READER SERVICE NO. 77 Circle 76 on Reader Service Card www.officer.com September 2013 Law Enforcement Technology 35