Hammerhead 12ga Slugs - Possibly the worst round we ever tested

A viewer named Edward kindly sent us some Hammerhead slugs to test out. I have heard of these before and a couple years ago, I even asked the company to send us some samples to demonstrate - but my request went unanswered. I think after watching this video, you'll understand why. These were loaded precisely per the company's own load data. It's really too bad these failed so miserably as there are not that many companies in the U.S. that make alternatives to stuff like Foster slugs.
The problem with these seem to be the grade of plastic used for the wads. We've never seen wads melt and distort so badly, even in very high ambient temperatures of over 105 deg F.
Big thank you to our Patreon supporters!
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NO FIREARMS or FLASHLIGHTS ARE SHOWN IN THIS VIDEO
Video filmed safely at proper shooting range.

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

Yt: you should not show firearms. TFM: okay, we wont show the kenetic energy weapon. YT: you werent supposed to follow the rules, you were supposed to leave.

[@taofledermaus]

Yet they demonetized it.

[@CircleHooker1]

Lol..I needed this.

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

@@taofledermaus for.....safety reasons....im sure.

[@shodan1337]

@@taofledermaus sorry about that man. Christ, it must be as frustrating as it is tiring.

[@Rogers_Ranger]

@@manitoba-op4jx I agree, bring back civil defense. CAP..8 yrs

[@PsychoticBovine]

Paul Harrel says to wait until the pumpkins gorge on orange soda.

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

Thats why youve got to diversify your loads. Pre or post soda gorge, you'll be covered.

[@stonercat1232]

Lmao

[@hughaskew6550]

There's your new band name: Hydrostatic Pumpkin.

[@Gainn]

™'ing that RN.

[@bmstylee]

That's Greg's Smashing Pumpkins tribute band featuring Jeff, Danny, and Breanna.

[@fuzer909]

@@bmstylee Danny just shreds on a Fender Stratocaster.

[@alexsparks5596]

OG: "No need for language like that Jeff. This is a family show." 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@supergeek1418]

That back part of an aeroplane that has the fins, elevators and rudder is called the "empennage" - and, yes, you need it.

[@DickHolman]

Okhotnik & Spirit would like a word. :)

[@supergeek1418]

@@DickHolman Touche' Allow me to clarify: You need it on any *CONVENTIONAL* airplane...

[@Jafromobile]

If the tail and fuselage are missing, all you've got is a cockpit. Or a box office... it depends on what gender the slug identifies with.

[@WalterBurton]

🤣🤣🤣

[@JamesChurchill3]

Hey Jafro! Hope your engine build is going well.

[@Drillz007]

i was looking at comments did not expect to strike gold

[@waptek2]

triggered ,, get it gun joke!

[@allangibson8494]

Your screwed either way.

[@LYLEWOLD]

"People always wanna see the hole." made guys like Hef rich.

[@vintagethrifter2114]

Hef was more of a boob man. Larry Flint was more of a hole man.

[@LYLEWOLD]

@@vintagethrifter2114 touche' too true.

[@Skankhunter420]

Hey they arent completely useless, they can be used as a bad example lol!

[@0115Heather]

Me too!!!

[@Skankhunter420]

@@0115Heather dont be so hard on yourself.

[@VroomNBoom]

@@0115Heather yeah dont be hard on yourself keep your head up and keep trucking my friend god has a plan for us all and wouldn't put the load on you he does if he didn't think you could handle it keep your head up man god bless you

[@mozziej4350]

@@VroomNBoom you my sir are a good person

[@thomasdaum1927]

Once again , you have to use hot primers with Steel powder ! Been using Steel powder for years and Federal primers with no issues ! Also the projectile has to be seated as tight as possible against the powder ! Hope this helps ! I really enjoy your videos !!!

[@taofledermaus]

Thanks for the tip!

[@bmstylee]

Beautiful Cavity. Is that Greg's new chain of self storage lockers?

[@sawmaster6095]

The irony is that these are some of the most accurate slugs produced. I've shot a 3/4" 5-shot group at 100 yards with these out of my Tarhunt RSG-12. They were the "Rotweil Laser Plus Sabots", which is this exact slug loaded by Rotweil

[@johnnywadd9918]

RIP SEAN CONNERY

[@bmstylee]

Yep. Sad but true.

[@edwardwood6532]

I will always see him in knee high boots, a ponytail and an orange bandolier.

[@mik3ymomo]

@@edwardwood6532 there can be only one...

[@edwardwood6532]

@@mik3ymomo He pulled of the accent for Americans at least. Maybe Europeans not so much?

[@taofledermaus]

Best James Bond!

[@youssefsaab4072]

Was searching around a long while for a review of these slugs, but never got anything then came Jeff 😎

[@taofledermaus]

I've heard of them in Facebook groups, I don't think I have seen other tests of them.

[@aronbraswell1589]

rename them storm trooper rounds. those rounds would be more accurate if you threw them at the target. But, you tried great job guys

[@someguy2741]

Thats what happens when you get the cheapest wads from aliexpress :p Very good wad, make much speed, one cent for 13.

[@calholli]

I wish you guys could get a hold of the "dagny dagger"--- I think its only in 9mm at the moment, but If it were made to be 12 gauge, that would be awesome. It is a armor piercing style dart that is pressed into a plastic slug and its getting 2200 fps out of a 4" 9mm barrel. Very fast. I would love to see it in 12 gauge; maybe you guys could contact them at Atlas-- "dagny dagger", look it up.

[@sawyere2496]

Those legal? I thought AP pistol ammo wasn’t allowed or something

[@sawyere2496]

@Hydin Biden gotta love the insanely pedantic legal system huh :)

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

That first hole was ready for the introduction of the new OG WRIST wiggle!

[@GonnerMeLeggies]

Filling pumpkins with fluid....... Thats a good punk rock band

[@moatddtutorials]

Shootin' Loads

[@michaelkartman3543]

“The Fluid Filled Pumpkins”

[@KATASTROPHE69S]

Now use pumpkin seeds as buckshot. Lol.

[@joshuagibson2520]

I'm gonna ask my fav channel for a favor. Could we get some slomo of barrel harmonics and vibrations? I would be so grateful for that.

[@supergeek1418]

Assuming you can see something, that *would* be an interesting video. Perhaps with really heavy slugs, and large powder loads.

[@Bob5mith]

They _might_ need a faster camera to really get that. Maybe not. It would be really cool if they did. AKs really wobble when they shoot.

[@joshuagibson2520]

@@Bob5mith they sure do. You can def see it.

[@charlesmiller6826]

Sounds like a good video

[@bryanrocker5033]

This is what happens in testing, sometimes things work, this time they didn't. My guess is that they are using cheap wads or worse. It would have been good to have chronographed them. Just as an FYI, pumpkins prefer orange soda and will consume large amounts of it.

[@LordBlee]

I thought California had strict littering laws. I can't believe you just dumped your bag of dirt..... ;)

[@taofledermaus]

We'll just claim we are homeless and it's all good.

[@jaydunbar7538]

@@taofledermaus doesn't that only count if your dumping it on the sidewalk?

[@nadineherrell5426]

I missed this show. Well done. Interesting slugs. Thanks. Keep up the good work. Michael Herrell

[@tommypulver3462]

Guess the 7 feet per second load is the limit for the wad to stay intact...😆 🤣

[@alexanderthomas2660]

Looks more like chewing gum than plastic in those wads!

[@justaformer11b95]

Bonus points for the 80's throwback Lego space logo.

[@Kualinar]

Could it be that they mixed white bubble gum to that plastic ?

[@joshuagibson2520]

Yess. My fav channel!

[@Marz-px6vx]

Well that sucked for the people that made those slugs total fail. Im glad that you guys have a high speed camera so we all know what works and dont work.

[@jonathanlee6045]

So maybe it is a mortar round, just lob it up and out and hope?

[@charlesmiller6826]

😀😥😀🤯

[@frankie9259]

Loving all the videos lately Jeff. Your making me spoiled with content

[@taofledermaus]

thanks Frankie!

[@843SouthernPride]

Finally! First video of 4 to reappear in my feed. My fav channel. Thanks fellas

[@nukenvy2]

4:15 pumpkin is introduced with funny small smile then the video is zoomed out and we discover the pumpkin is terrified

[@caffeinatedinsanity2324]

Hammer head sounds more like the name for the designer than the slug itself.

[@Bacteriophagebs]

It's actually a really descriptive name. Throw a hammer and it spins around, just like the slug! Also, hammerhead sharks swim with the wide part of their head forward and thrash around, just like the slugs, too! See, completely appropriate.

[@caffeinatedinsanity2324]

That's one way to see it haha

[@barricksspecial]

Longshot is probably my favorite powder

[@TheGsellers]

The slo-mo pumpkin shot, should be a Halloweenie tradition!

[@jjohnston94]

2:35 A straight, non-smartass answer from OG? Are you feeling alright there OG?

[@saltcreekammo]

Steel powder is made for high velocity non toxic loads, but makes for a good overall magnum powder comparable to blue dot- just more temp stable. I don’t know why you didn’t have good luck with it. One of my favorite powders, along with longshot (my very favorite).

[@wayne-oo]

They must have bought those wad's on WISH !!

[@dude6155]

OG, your a hell of a shot, and a even better dude. We love ya.

[@OGsDangerShow]

Thanks man. I make a better dude than I do a good shot. But I’ll take that. 😎👍

[@birddogz545]

They kinda have a hammerhead shark look when they're flying sideways.

[@keithcarpenter5254]

Good to have you back Danny!

[@buffalosoutdoors]

As I said over on your Patreon post. These are flawed for sure but fun to watch in slow motion!

[@OGsDangerShow]

Its fun to watch failure in slow motion. As my co-workers! 😎👍

[@Smallathe]

Lol. Jeff and Greg, you missed the point - that is a brand new and novel way to make a random tiny plastic sculptures.... the slug is a side effect! ;) Wonderful video!

[@taofledermaus]

lol thanks Saar!

[@HereticalKitsune]

The mangled wads look like modern art!

[@natek1993]

Best show on the internet. Love you guys.

[@OGsDangerShow]

Thanks for watching, Nate.

[@johnkilcer]

I believe in your shooting skills OG. Sometimes it's just not in the cards

[@jimcappa6815]

Great Saturday morning. Coffee and a new TFM video! Happy Halloween!

[@taofledermaus]

Happy holidays!

[@PaperworkNinja]

"More t-shirts than Michael Stipe" Well, there's a memory of the days when MTV still played music videos...

[@neepgang4091]

I'll admit, That's a creative angle to film, to avoid getting zucced

[@kentuckyboy541]

The flies on that table are hovering around those slugs because they are really turds.

[@brianr8581]

🤣

[@TrojanHorse1959]

Great video Jeff, and shooting OG! You did your best with what you had. So when all you have is tumbleweeds...you just roll with it!

[@josephpecoul6532]

That was so funny the way Jeff said whoahh.

[@amorphoussolid8512]

It does not engender confidence in a company when you get such poor performance with the company's specified use.

[@gunslanger1200]

That slow mo pumpkin shot was fucking awesome!

[@jimmymoore9017]

Have been casting and loading these hammerhead slugs for years now using longshot and roll crimps with no problems at all and accuracy is great Shooting them out of USH's Put alot of meat in my freezer with them

[@richiet6381]

Slugs like this remind me of the old toys that we pop paper shots I know you know what I’m talking about🤣😂👍🏾👍🏾 lol og gets to test them💪🏾💪🏾🙌🏾

[@jamesmcdonald3054]

They're almost accurate enough to hunt barns.

[@randlerichardson5826]

Y’all be safe and GOD BLESS y’all Amen 🙏 tell Wildman Danny to get healed up now

[@sinisterthoughts2896]

When I didn't think I could like the OG anymore, he drops a solid old-school Zoolander reference. Stay golden ponyboy.

[@OGsDangerShow]

😂👍

[@richarddixon7276]

May well be a disappointing round , but there's Never a disappointing episode of Taofledermaus . Shoot Straight Stay Safe & Stay Well.

[@docskate4312]

Loved that you obviously liked the Paul Harrel Halloween pumpkin special as well😉👍

[@supercomp65]

Steel can be an excellent powder but its burn rate has been all over the map. The first batches were spot on with the data. Later runs were far to fast, and when people would test their rounds, loads that were listed at say 1400 fps for example were clocking over 1700 fps and pressure was several thousand psi over saami spec. Batches after that fell somewhere between the first two for burn rate. Whether or not the burn rates have stabilized since the first few production runs I dont know but for any load using steel powder, I highly recommend sending them to a lab for pressure testing.

[@marcthompson3828]

Hydrostatic pumpkin was the name of Danny's tribute band to the Cure.

[@matthewdoughty3268]

You guys should do more side to side comparisons with regular foster slugs

[@shmeenix8672]

Paul's video was hilarious.. the dead pan humor was perfect 👊🤣

[@ronaldbritton9705]

I am really surprised of your failure. I have shot these using Unique Powder at up to 80 yd or so with pretty good success. My target for these are old satellite dishes painted white with a black dot about the size of a smaller frisbee and usually pretty close groups with a rifled barrel and I did not see anything like the wads tearing up like that. Really weird. A little history that these components were used in the old Hastings slugs the yellow box with the red letters

[@adonnisrichardson1496]

Love the show guys Jeff and OG and Danny are awesome! Keep the great videos coming!

[@michaelfrench3396]

This is like Saturday morning cartoons for middle-aged men. 😁👍👍

[@michaelfrench3396]

@FireEscape ok. Saturday morning cartoons for people to old, and cool to be watching animated shows anymore. 😂👍

[@buckandslugreloaders9005]

Jeff, these are by the far the most accurate slug I cast and you know I cast many different types. Have you seen the groups I posted on the B&S page? These must be shot through a rifled barrel.

[@OGsDangerShow]

We used a fully rifled barrel on my Remington 870. It seemed to give worse performance than the smooth bore. Tore the S out of the soft plastic wads.

[@buckandslugreloaders9005]

@@OGsDangerShow man, that’s crazy. I tested these with Steel, Herco, 4756, Blue Dot, 800X, and Longshot. I’m the one who tested this slug with Longshot and submitted to SlugsRUs before they had Longshot noted in their data. I got excellent accuracy out of a USH and 835 fully rifled barrels, although 800X where the most accurate, shooting MOA or better at 100 yards. Sorry to here it didn’t work out for you guys. This is an excellent slug.

[@OGsDangerShow]

@@buckandslugreloaders9005 Then maybe its something we did on this end. 🤷‍♂️

[@danr5704]

@@OGsDangerShow I would really really really like to see the brass extreme penetrator fitted to that wad and work right, I've been hunting with hornady sst for years and dropped everything in their tracks until I shot a big black hog broad side running at 35yds, he spun 360 and ran off squealing, no blood or hair. Black hog and black crosshairs I can't say exactly where it hit, others tell me I hit his armour and they have seen them stop a 30 06.

[@reggiep75]

09:04 - Lead plate aka King Tuts Sandwich plate keels over laughing at the charade of this slug!

[@brianr8581]

The only thing those slugs are good for is a you tube review by my favorite mass acceleraitor owners!

[@GodsGladiator]

The slow mo on the pumpkin was SICK!!!! That looked so cool. OG out here looking like he just got off the set of LetterKenny 🤣😂🤣😂. O.G. Great shooting considering how those slugs performed, I mean you’re no Danny or Breanna 🙃 but great job haha 😆

[@taofledermaus]

thanks!

[@Nick-Stewbreeze]

It's a great day. Halloween and new video from you boys at Taofledermaus.

[@Warptenlololol]

I'm getting the Luetin flashback from the 10:41 song hahaha

[@hansgrueber8169]

When are you shooting the battleship guns in the background?

[@dennisjurewicz8321]

Who drew the hog target? They did an awesome job! :)

[@taofledermaus]

Gregg.

[@motherurck7542]

@@taofledermaus he's an artist!

[@neepgang4091]

I have a quart sized bag half full of solid steel dowell pins , kinda shaped like cylinders with two flat cones on either end. They generally tumble But shot out of a 45° 12ga muzzle, they fly straight over short distances

[@GaDawg0513]

"More T-Shirts than Michael Stipe" Killin me smalls!

[@OGsDangerShow]

Only us old guys got that reference.

[@adammanning8882]

You guys mentioning an airplane without a tail reminded me of the new Airbus ZEROe concept. I thought you might find it interesting Jeff

[@kczcb4697]

The pumpkin top is the same principle as children’s learning toys og. Too many long days on the road with your band BAG O DIRT

[@hardwurkindaddy]

You should prep all the pumpkin with green jello and a night in the fridge.

[@donpage4402]

Ok, these are the most accurate slugs in my NEF Super Slug Hunter single shot. I went thru $100 of slugs until I read what they recommended. They are accurate to 75 yards for me at 1400fps. The barrel is sized to fit the slugs and rifled. Would like to see you test them with a rifled barrel of the proper size.

[@ftswarbill]

Jeff: out of the thousands of rounds you have hand loaded over the years have you had any catastrophic failures that caused damage to the weapon? Not trying to jinx you just curious Sir.

[@tannhausergate7162]

What a promising title.

[@s.sradon9782]

Still waiting for those incendiary R.I.P. bullets to come into existence

[@terresabauman3897]

Could it have been, despite what the packaging claims, that the shell was just loaded too hot for the plastic wadding to handle? Maybe reducing the load so the slug was traveling between 1000 and 1200 fps would prevent the destruction of the wadding thereby increasing stability and accuracy? Just my own thoughts about it but I'm no expert like y'all. Thanks Jeff and O.G. for another good, entertaining video. My girlfriends and I always look forward to a new one, especially the ones with Brianna! :)

[@MadGeorge88]

Oh Jesus Christ, I hadn't watched in a while and thought Officer Greg had lost a hand, Thankfully its ear defenders and not a hook.

[@kenhelmers2603]

Thanks guys!

[@prestonschultz3076]

Alliant Steel powder needs a very HOT primer. It is designed for the use of steel shot shells. It is an extremely slow burning powder. The wad can't have a crush cavity because that powder needs all the back pressure it can get to ignite the charge. I shoot 7/8 ounce loads of steel at 1850fps. It's been awsome for me!

[@WalterBurton]

If I had a nickel for every "worst round" on Taofledermaus, I'd have an armory full of nickels. 🤣🤣🤣

[@tony66au]

Might be time for a collaboration with Rich Hy AngryCops/Drill Sgt, I think he could really benefit from a session with you, OG, Bre and Danny plus he can yell at any defective slugs!

[@mikeellis4158]

Went to Slugs r us and on its home page at the bottom it states "regardless of your barrels rate of twist. So it seems made for rifled barrels.

[@knickknoster2]

They are designed for rifled barrel use only.

[@lunchboxleftovers718]

in the winter if it gets cool enough you should fill the pumpkin with jello i say if it gets cold so it could set up outside instead of in your fridge

[@crankygunreviews]

Did a lot Of damage to the fluid pumpkin flying sideways, but that’s a terrible slug.

[@SlavicCelery]

I love all the comments attempting to call out how he loaded the shells. Not saying that mistakes aren't present. But, they've been loading shells for years with all sorts of things. My guess is that they changed up their wad to a cheaper material for cost savings and it shows.

[@TinkDaddy234]

If you want something out there but interesting, load a 2 3/4 20 gauge shell with a gummy bear. Not extremely accurate but it essentially freezes solid mid air.

[@CraigArndt]

LOL, more shirts than Michael Stype. That was good.

[@chrismetallica1]

Mine did ok with about 40 grains of Ailliant blue dot out of a smooth bore barrel. Howenter I did superglue the slug in the wad

[@danr5704]

I would never have guessed that the wad could come off, mine were loaded with blue dot as well but accuracy was not good enough for me at 50 yd. I'm stocked with hornady sst now, golf ball groups at 80 yd.

[@edwardwood6532]

Love the Michael Stipe reference.

[@SwingingTheDead1]

Danny has Aimbot just killed me dead. hahahaha

[@na-et2gp]

Really interesting to see these were so bad for you, I'm also shooting these over longshot with the recommended load data for 2 3/4 and 3" cheddite hulls. 18" barrel with extended rifled choke by Hastings. Of the half dozen slugs I've tested (including dsg, thug slugs, lbc) these hammerhead slugs grouped the best for me. I recovered a few from the 100 yard berm and the sabots looked good and were still attached. Lots of other guys have reported similar results with the hammerheads...obviously something went wrong in your testing...I wonder why yours failed so badly

[@danr5704]

I've only tried a few of them in once fired slugger hulls fully rifled 50yd at public range, didn't get great results I thought used hulls may have been the issue, Anyway, I would love to have the brass extreme penetrator fitted to that wad design and actually work right. I have an extended hastings for my 20 in, that would save me from swapping out to that heavy rifled barrel.