Lightfield Slugs
 

In the past two years I have shot two good sized bucks at close (40 yards) and very close (15 yards) rangewith the Lightfield 20 gauge EXP's. In both instances the slugs did not pass through. Both deer dropped within 50 yards of being hit and both were double lungor heart and double lung shots.

Has anyone else had this type of performance from Lightfields? Or is it just a 20 gauge thing? These are by far the most accurate slugs in my gun and I don't see any reason to change.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Yes. 12gauge. 75yard quartering hard towards me. No bones hit and still recovered several lil chunks of the slug next to the skin on the far side. There was no exit. Went on a dead run for another 75 yards and piled up. I had clipped his trachea as well as taken a lung/heart out.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I ve had a couple 20ga slugs not pass through but the deer hasnt made it far always in sight win BRI i found in the skin on the other side and it was a 30 yard quartering away i also had a partition gold stick in the of skin on a 80 yard shot then pass through at 150 yards both broadside and not hiting any noticeable bone ive had the same thing happen with my muzzle loader but in all cases the blood trial has been easy to see

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Light fields ARE THE ONLY THING i SHOOT OUT MY 20. My expierence's are the same as yours as far ae penetration goes. I've yet to have a deer go more than 50yds after being hit, a few dropped in their tracks. On longer shots say 80-100yds I've had pass throughs, the short shots I have yet to get a pass through. I think as the bullet slows down the penetration increases probably do to less bullet expansion. Every year I buy the latest and greatest slugs to try, and I always end back where I started shooting the lightfields.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I shot a nice size deer at 25 yards took out the shoulder and the slug was under the skin o nthe oppisent side with my 12 gauge. The deer only went 15 yards and droped. I like the litefield when I have a close shot 50 yards and under but for longe range i shoot a the brenneke rottweiler 3" mag golden they are 600 grains and i have shot thru both sholders at 100 yards and found it burried in a tree.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

i was lucky to fire these rounds first in my rifled moss.835.
first buck i shot was at i'd say 40 rds. right dead center in the brisket. ran about 30-40 yrds and collapsed. round stayed in the thoracic cavity (nice) and chewed up the lungs bad.

this year shot 2 yearlings. one dropped emediately from a front shoulder/lung hit. the other the bullet actually passed through both lungs, it was a small doe. both shot within 50 yrds and died very wuickly.

these bullets are very accurate and seem to use up all there energy quickly which is nice. plus they are the cheapest bullets you can buy at gander mountain i've notice.

just for the record i use the 3" commanders and will never change.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

WOW
now thats a round bro

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Lightfields are made not to have a complete passthru, but are made sothat all the energy destroys the taget (tissue) this what kills, not a passthru

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

One of my hunting buddies only uses Lightfields in his 20 gauge (NEF single-shot, rifled barrel, 2 X 7 scope). He's taken many deer with this combo, but usually doesn't get pass-throughs. Last year he shot a nice 8 point buck at 110 yards - right through the shoulder - killed it almost instantly, but the bullet did not exit the other side.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Thanks for the feedback. I am perfectly happy with the accuracy and the terminal performance. However, in a hunting round I would like a pass through for the blood trail. If the round doesn't knock the animal down at the short ranges I have shot at, then I want a hole through and through.

Because I hunt public land with most shots less than 80 yards I will stick with the Lightfields. A thin copperjacket around that 7/8 oz. hunk of lead would make it perfect for deer and bigger game.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

i've used them in both the 12 ga and 20 ga with excellent results. They usually don't go very far with a good hit. A great testimonial about their performance is this year my dad shot a nice buck @ about 45 yards with his setup in 12 ga. The slug went through the heart and the deer went 40 yards. The amazing part is that he did not see a sapling of about 4 inches in diameter right in front of the deer and the slug passed directly through the sapling before connecting with the deer. The entrance hole was very small in diameter and another portion of the slug entered the leg, and still had devastating results.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

This was from a deer I shot at 20 yards I shot it thru the Sholder and it did not pass thru but droped the buck never the less. Lightfields are good slugs for those of us that have to use shotguns.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Bowflex- I too live in a state(NJ) where we must shoot slugs for deer and bear.
My slug gun is an older Rem. 870 WM whic I converted to a permanant slug gun. 24" hastings rifled bbl, 3x9 Burris sits on top and stock replaced with synthetic.
For years I shot the Lightfields. Excellent accuracy on paper @100yds and I killed deer. Found all my slugs inside the deer, most broken in pieces. Some deer required a followup shot. This season I tried the Hornady SST's, 12ga 2 3/4"(saboted). The accuracy was AWSOME!! Better than the Lightfield. I killed a 6pt at 66yds(rangefinder). The slug entered mid ribs and went out with a nice exit wound. The deer literally flipped over! The exit wound was testimony to the expansion of that slug. Second deer was a doe at 45 yds quartering towards me. Entered the between the shoulder/low neck region and went to the offside hip! Broke that hip too! Imagine going all the way through the lungs, liver, gut, ham and finally the hip. I'm sold on these SST's and amselling 6 boxes of Lightfields cheap. $5 a box! Want 'em?

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

No, but thanks anyway! That is awesome performance.
I have read a little on the SST's and I think I'll try them out this off-season.

Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I have tried the SST rounds. My GUn is a Rem. 1100 3" Mag with a Hastings paradox toped with a Burris 2 3/4 X scope on it. It was my dads Gun and I got it after he died. He got the gun in 1987 and it has been a great der gun.

I have it sited in with Lightfoields and Breeneke golder rounds. The breenekee rounds I have never recovred as they have passed thru deer at 100 yards and under. That is with shooting both sholders out. I went to bass poo to buy some more Breenekes and they dont carry them anymore( Boo on bass poo).

While the sst is a great round and shoots alot faster than my Breenkees I noticed that the SST hit 7" high and my Brennke was hitting right on at 55 yards(Rangefinder) While the SST is shooting that fuch faster I think its a great round.

While it cost alot to shoot If I was to swap out my scope ever I might start Use the SST.

The only thing is I am a fan of large rounds. I still prefer to use the largest round for max knockdown. Sure all slugs work great if you aim right. So for now I like the Light field for under 50 yards and the Brenekee for out to 130 yards.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Slug Comparison

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

You're right about the change in striking point from other slugs and the SST's. My initial sight in from Lightfields to SST's was an 8" difference at 50 yds. I readjusted the scope to the SST's and from there it was all gravy!
I know have it set to hit 2" high at 50.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I ain't budging! Don't care what any new article sez. Don't care what anyone's Uncle Joe told them. Don't care what anyone sez.

If it ain't broke, I ain't looking to fix it!

12 gauge H&R Ultra Slug Hunter Deluxe, 4X scope, Brenekke 2-3/4" Heavy Field Magnums & 3" Gold Magnums.

I ain't never had a thing to complain about. Not knocking anyone or their choices but it seems like a lot of comments about hitting a deer and it runs some and then drops.

Maybe my slugs have some magic or something (I alwayswear my original Cardeer necklace when deer hunting). But most of my deer go right down. I will not take a maginal shot - only clear shots, mostly to the heart. Ain't in to tracking. I'll help someone track a deer, but not intrested in tracking my deer.

The buck I shot last year was about 75-85 yards with a 3" Gold Magnum. He was down and never moved again before the smoke even started to clear.

Brenekke's just wallop deer!

Point to ponder. Go to the Brenekke website. www.brenekke.usa and check it out for yourself. All these sabots on the market - designed for what? Little old, thin-skinned North American whitetails.

Brenekke? Designed for "the worlds most dangerous game". Ya know, little critters like cape buffalo and such.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I have a 20 gauge and lightfields shoot exellent through it but by far the best slug is the new hornady sst slugs. are you shooting sabot or rifled slugs?
hornady sst slugs




20 Gauge 250 gr. SST Slug
[align=right]86232[/align]





Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)

Muzzle
50 yd
100 yd
150 yd
200 yd

1800/1798
1628/1471
1470/1200
1331/983
1212/815





Trajectory (inches)

Muzzle
50 yd
100 yd
150 yd
200 yd

-1.5
2.5
3.3
0.0
-8.2
lightfield slugs








20 Gauge Lightfield Hybred EXP Ballistics Data







Range
(yards)


Velocity
(feet/second)

Energy
(foot·pounds)

Drop
(inches)

Flight Time
(seconds)






0


1502

1929

-------

--------






25


1371

1607

+0.83

.05229






*50


1257

1351

+2.01

.10948






75


1162

1155

+1.81

.17161






*100


1088

1012

+0.00

.23839






125


1030

907.4

-3.62

.30930






150


983

826.9

-9.25

.38387

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

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RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I agree with BowHunterCop. The definition of an ideal hunting bullet is it causes maximum tissue damage and completely depletes its energy into the target, just short of complete penetration.

I've started 4 kids deerhunting with the same 20 gauge and shooting Lightfield 20 ga. slugs. They've taken 9 deer total. I can't recall any passthroughs, but, I recall each deer fell within 60 yds of being shot. These little slugs have manageable recoil for young shooters and extremely accurate.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

That Lightfield video is a crock!

#1 there is no way at all of knowing what slugs were actually being fired.

The 2 guys shooting the buck were aiming uphill and the shot of the buck they allegedly shoot is a downhill camera angle in a much different lighting. Obvious editing.

The Slug X, slug Y and Lightfieldwas totally misleading. Slug "X" was a hole punched by asmaller 20 gauge, as was slug "Y"shole. Then the miraculous Lightfields punch obviously 12 gauge (probobly foster slugs - the holes are ridiculously large for a sabot-type slug, if not 10 gauge holes in the bullseye.

Is anyone really gullible enough to not see that?

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Sorry I had to post again because I had to take a break and finish laughing.

BOWHUNTERCOP, Gruntr Huntr-want to buy some ocean front property here in Illinois? [X(]

Bowflex said he shot those 2 deer at 15 and 40 yards but didn't get a pass thru. Does anyone really think that the slug has some built-in computer controlled braking system (CCBS) to aidin "delivering maximum energy" by not passing thru? At whatever range impact takes place? Hilarity! :D

According to the cute little chart snedd posted, at 15-40 yards those Lightfield's were going atleast 1800 fps and bringing home a likely 1800 lbs of energy. And still didn't pass thru?! That must be where the CCBS pays off. [:-]

So what I'm being told here is no matter what the range the Lightfield's are designed to slow themselves thru some magical process to deliver maximum energy? Aren't the Lightfield's supposed to be some magic longer range slug? Hit the brakes!

I AM NOT A PHYSICS MAJOR! But isn't energy the result of mass (slug weight) X velocity (fps)? It's something like that.

Therefore any reduction in the speed of the projectile while traveling thru the animal will result in a reduction in delivered energy compared to a slug just blasting completely thru and losing as little speed as possible.

If you have ever seen a bullet shot into ballistic geletin where it stops in the block you see a funnel shape created with the smallest part of the funnel being where the bullet stops. The funnel shape is created because the delivered energy is tapering off near the end of the travel. Pretty simple really.

If the projectile blasts completely thru the gel it still creates the funnel shaping somewhat as the projectile slows a bit.

On a given shot placement, a pass thru, and a full blast thru will deliver more energy every time than a non-pass thru.

Brenneke - designed for the world's most dangerous game.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

On a given shot placement, a pass thru, and a full blast thru will deliver more energy every time than a non-pass thru.

Maybe I missed something here.The statement doesn't appear to consider all variables when talking expansion,retained energy,bullet config,etc..etc..
vs a "Pass Thru". Based on my own field experiance PT does not always mean more expended energy into the Kill Zone/Vitals vs retained bullet.

On Deer sized game using 12g slug slinger - I've always gone for the slug that goes in expands into vitals and leaves a dimple just under the hide opposite side - animal drops within XX yards.That is the perfect projectile.
BTW I'm talking 100-125 yrd shots.

I have never found any advantage in "pass thru" other than a blood trail that you might have to follow for XXXX yards to find animal.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Remember what I said about the ballistic geletain example and the funnel shape.

If you compare apples-to-apples, hitting in the exact same spot, at the same angle, even with the exact same slug weight and design, a complete pass thru will be delivering more energy than the slug stopping somewhere short of exiting. It's simple logic/physics.

Remember the funnel.

Think of it this way. (it's just an example, no offense intended)........

Let's say your chest is 10 inches thick. If I were to strike you in the chest with the butt end of a baseball bat with enough force thatthe butt end stopped 5 inches into your chest, and then did it again with enough force to drive the bat completely thru or even just 9 inches thru.

Which would deliver more energy?

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Many fo you seem to be ok with deer running 50-75 yds before they pile up. That may be fine where you hunt, but here in NJ, if you don't knock that bugger down, he's gonna trot on over yonder to the next guy on stand and that guy is gonna drop that deer and its his. Jersey's unwritten rule is " he who drops him, keeps 'em!" We don't always get to spread out they way I would like to hunt. Thats why I like the fast, saboted slugs.
They deliver AND pass through!! Which, in my opinion is good. You get a large blood trail and you break both shoulders! I only rib shoot when I'm on private property and know I have no competition for the deer. On state land, I neck shoot or break both shoulders to drop 'em quick. Too many guys show up at first light and park their butt on a rock or log75-100 yds away from your well placed stand. They could care less if you're shining your flashlight and whistling to get their attention. They play dumb and ignore you. If a buck comes your way, you gotta' shoot quick and knock 'em down!

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Note to self...
Never, ever, never hunt public land in New Jersey!



Good Hunting,
Bowflex

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

UM,

Well - lets see what your geletain funnel looks like if you take the same cal,weight bullet and swap it out for a soft point HP.

I have no clue where your comin from with apples,bat,my 10" chest :eek: and the same spot,angle,slug,weight,design delivering more pass thru energy than the same retained slug - that has properly expanded - expended and released its energy inside the animals vitals or bone structure.

Hey - I'm just talkin decades of field experiance.

BTW - There are hunters out there that do not buy into the "Pass Thru" theory.

Back to the Lightfields - Great Slugs.I don't currently use them but always carry a few along with some Federals.These 2 slugs always seem to be consitant in any slug slinger I've used.Good slugs to give to a huntin buddy that might be short one day.They both get the job done.

Look at pass thru like this.Would you rather have a small heart lung pass thru from a dime shaped slug or a soft nose HP slug that went in expanded to the size of quarter and destroyed the Heart Lungs.Dear drops in 20-25 yrds.The pass thru runs ?????? yrds. I lost a very nice Buck 12yrs ago to a "Tidal Marsh" on a pass thru shot where deer bled like a stuck hog.He went at least 150-200yrds into marsh before the marsh ate up his blood trail.Hek with the pass thru theorys.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Yep! About 70mm

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I quit using Lightfiels about five years ago,I got a lot of fliers because the sabot didn't seperate properly from the slug and some of the rounds were hard to eject from my Mossberg 835 rifled barrel.I now use Federal Barnes expanders in my Remington 870 rifled barrel,with great results,but I am getting as good or better results shooting Brenneke KO,s in my cantilever smooth bore with a short rifled tube and they are a lot cheeper.$2.49 a box.

Redneck Bill

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I shoot a 12g rem 870 WM with a 24" hastings paradox cantilever rifled barrel (1:34 twist)w/a aimpoint red dot sight up top. From my experience i shot about $160 worth of ammo from a bench rest to find the tightest groups,I tested; 2-3/4Rem core lokt ultras, 2-3/4lightfield ids, 3 lightfield exp, 3 win partition gold, 2-3/4win platinum tip, 3 brennekes, 2-3/4hornady sst's, 3 federal barns expanders, 3 and rem buckhammers, 3 rem copper solids

The tightest groups produced @ 50yds was from the buckhammers, i could lay 5 slugs on a silver dollar, the copper solids were the second tightest, tied withthe brennekes. EVERYTHING else was crap, shooting 6" groups on up @ 50yds,, i think its due to the higher velocites an my barrels 1;34" twist rate, the SST's were the worst, as they had fliers everywhere, let it be know that ifyou are going to shoot the new ultra high velocityslugs, your rifled barrel best have a 1:28" twist rate or you wont stablize thebullet. buck hammers are a great slug that can reach past 100yds. its zero is at 100 yards and theycarry LOTS of energy. just my 2 cents

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

ReDoT
Nice field test info.I have to agree with you on twist rates.I tried Buckhammers in my Marlin 512 Bolt action slug gun witha a 1:28 twist and They were everywhere on the target with extra holes.The sabot was seperating from the slug before impact.I contacted Remington and they informed me that they tested with a 1:35 twist rate.
I'm surprised you had a problem with the Federal Barnes Expanders.The ballistics for them is exactly the same as Copper Solids and I shoot them exclusively in my rifled barrel guns.I consider the Barnes bullet slightly superior to the Remington.But They are too damn expensive to practice with,that why I usually shoot Brenneke KO's in a smoothbore.The longest shot I have ever gotten,hunting in heavy timber,is 75 yards and the cheap stuff shoots as well as the budget buster ammo.I still want to test the Federal Tru-Ball slugs.

Bill

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

well the federal barns wernt horrible i suppose,i could take deer with them if i had too,they just wernt acceptable too me, they were much better than the SST's they would of took 4th. im sure your marlin with the fast 1:28 twist is spinning those buckhammers too fast, since they shoot an attached sabot, im sure its detaching itself from the slug.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

ReDot... my 12 GA Browning BPS with an Ithaca cantilever slug barrel will shoot the Hornady SSTs very well... 2-2.5" group at 100 yards.

I've taken 2 bucks with these slugs.. one at 110 yds and one at 80 yds.. neither slug exited the animal. And both died in less than 20yds. So far I've been very impressed.

I tried the 3" lightfields out of my gun.. but they wouldn't eject out of the barrel after being fired. It may have something to do with the Ithaca barrel though.. not for sure. This year I picked up a Browning barrel and will be doing some comparisons.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Well if i remember correctly both the Ithaca and browning barrels use a 1:28 twist. I dont know if they both have the same amount of lands and grooves, but that doesnt really matter. Anywaysyour results will more than likely be the same from your browning barrel as the ithaca. If so i would keep that nice factory Browning barrel and sell your ithaca

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

Oh, as i dont use the hornady SST's in my slug gun, i have used the SST bullets in my T/C Encore muzzleloader (same bullet) sitting infront of 100gr. triple seven. Ballistically, they are a great bullet, relativly fast and flat shooting. Great at extended ranges, but in my experiance they just punch holes @ close range and dont expand much. but a well placed shot still brings them down

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

i used a lightfield slug this year and it dropped my buck on the spot. It destroyed both lungs and the impact broke the spine. theslug never passed through.
having a shot not pass through is not necessarily a bad thing though. F=MA. if the bullet slows down enough on impact to not pass through, that means more force was applied because it had more deceleration. If a bullet passes through, it does not apply its full potential force.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

your absolutley right, however its all relavant. its much harder for a slug traveling at 2000fps. to deliver all of its kineticenergy, [ie. by notpassing thru the target and/or shedding mass (bullet weight retention)], than saya standard velocityslug traveling at 1500fps of equal mass. Also, bullet mass and downrangevelocity ultimatly the deciding factorenergy upon impact. you can also get into bullet design, how the bullet expandsat any given velocity.

RE: Lightfield Slugs
 

I have a mossberg 695 with a leupold vx-II 1-4x20 and I don't have a clue about the wether my SG is a 1/24, 1/28 or whatever...What I do know is that this gun loves Lightfield slugs. I use 2 3/4" slugs and have shot at three deer and have had three 1 shot 1 kills.

Doe #1--2005. 55 yards shot on the right shoulder...quartering towards me slightly. Hit her hard and spun her upside down...she bounced about 15 feet away from my inital hit. Complete pass thru...but didn't need it.

Doe #2--2006. 10-15 yards on top of the shoulder. Hit the doe and she litterally hit the ground with all four legs pointing in different directions. From there she did a back flip somehow climbed back to her feet and fell 20 yards away. Round hit the top of the left shoulder and did not pass thru...again a passthru was not needed.

Button Buck (deer #3)--2006. This buck was traveling with the doe and ran about 70 yards away. Came back to 60 yards and was looking at the doe. Had a quartering away towards shot and took it. Hit about the 2nd rib back and out the right rear quarter...just before the ham. BB went 30-35 yards from impact and died in my sight. Passthru, but again not needed. Didn't even look at the blood trail as I could see the deer from the ground when I got out of the tree.

All total time for Deer #2, and 3 was 1-2 minutes. With this round I haven't had the need for passthru's, blood trails etc. Also, my grouping with these rounds, and my 695 mossberg is about 2" at 100 yards. At 50 I'll get a big hole. I think the mossberg 695 and the lightfield round were literally made for each other.

Paul