

Anyone who has chased the pesky porcine plaguing much of the country knows one thing — those dang hogs are tough critters.
Too light a round or one without a properly constructed projectile doesn’t bring home the bacon. But Federal Premium is shooting to solve this dilemma with its latest release.
The subsidiary of Minnesota-based Vista Outdoor has introduced Vital-Shok High Density buckshot purely with pigs in mind. And while the shells will be new fodder for most smoothbore hunters, they have already proved their worth in the field.
The nine-pellet 00 shot has been utilized by a number of government contractors in hog culling operations. And if the tungsten-alloy pellets live up to Federal Premium’s specs, it is understandable why they have gained favor with this crowd.
The company lists a blistering 1,600 fps muzzle velocity on the buckshot, which should provide enough hitting power to persuade even the most determined hog to give up the ghost. The Vital-Shok rounds also feature Federal Premium’s Flightcontrol wads, meant to produce tighter, more consistent patterns.
The new buckshot seems to be a solid option for those who hunt where lead ammo is restricted. Presently, the company is only offering the ammunition for 12-gauge, in 2 3/4 shells. Vital-Shok High Density buckshot doesn’t come cheap, the MSRP on a box of five is currently $16.95.
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