Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug – Powerful 685gr Hollow Point, 2-3/4 in, 3 Rounds

Description

The Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug is one of the heaviest projectiles you can load into a standard 2-3/4 inch shell. It launches a 685 grain slug with a deep hollow point cavity at a manufacturer-rated 1,175 fps, producing roughly 2,100 ft-lbs of energy. Each pack contains three rounds.

How the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug Is Built

The design centers on mass and expansion. At 685 grains, this slug outweighs a conventional one-ounce slug by more than 50 percent. The nose carries an unusually deep hollow point cavity intended to open quickly on impact, while the heavy body keeps driving for penetration. Put simply, it is a hollow point shotgun slug built to hit hard rather than fly fast.

Phoenix Rising adds three-degree stabilizing fins along the body. The fins are intended to impart spin and keep the slug stable in flight, and the company states the round is designed to shoot in both smooth bore and rifled barrels. The manufacturer also states that it can be fired through a full choke. That makes it one of the few loads marketed as a full choke slug, though you should still confirm your own shotgun manual allows slugs through a tight constriction before trying it.

Because the hull is 2-3/4 inches long, the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug chambers in virtually every modern 12 gauge, including guns with 3 inch and 3-1/2 inch chambers.

Real-World Performance of the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug

The velocity is modest by slug standards, which is the trade-off for carrying so much weight. At 1,175 fps the trajectory will drop faster than lighter, faster slugs, so this is realistically a close to moderate range load. Expect practical accuracy inside roughly 50 yards from a smooth bore with bead sights, and somewhat farther with a rifled barrel and optic, depending on your gun.

Recoil deserves an honest mention. A 685 grain slug generates a heavy, pushing recoil impulse even at moderate velocity. Newer shooters and lightweight shotguns will feel every shot, so a good recoil pad and a firm stance are worth having before a range session with the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug.

Penetration is the other factor to weigh. Heavy hollow point slugs are designed to go deep, and in a home defense setting that means rounds can pass through interior walls and exterior siding. If you share walls with neighbors or have family members in nearby rooms, buckshot or a reduced-penetration load may be the more responsible choice. For hunting hogs or large game at short range, 12 gauge slug ammo this heavy makes more sense, but always check your state regulations on slugs and projectile types first.

Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug Specifications

• Brand: Phoenix Rising
• Model: Sledge Hammer Large HP Slug (PR-SLEDGEHAMMER)
• Gauge: 12 GA
• Shell Length: 2-3/4 inch
• Projectile: 685 grain finned hollow point slug
• Muzzle Velocity: approx. 1,175 fps (manufacturer rating)
• Muzzle Energy: approx. 2,100 ft-lbs (manufacturer rating)
• Choke: manufacturer states safe through full choke
• Rounds per Pack: 3
• UPC: 797053002203

Should You Buy the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug?

Phoenix Rising is a specialty shotgun ammunition maker, and the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug is aimed at shooters who want maximum projectile weight from a standard shell. It pairs well with a pump or semi-auto that you have already patterned and zeroed with slugs.

The drawbacks are cost and practice time. Specialty slugs cost much more per round than bulk loads, and three-round packs make extended practice expensive. Most owners practice with affordable 12 gauge slug ammo, then confirm point of impact with a few rounds of this heavier load. Heavy slugs often print to a different point of impact than lighter ones, so do not skip that step.

See the full ammunition selection at MAG5 Firearms for practice slugs, buckshot and other Phoenix Rising loads, and add snap caps for safe dry-fire practice and a shell case for storage. Additional details are available from Phoenix Rising.

Who it is for: shotgun owners who want a very heavy hollow point slug for short-range hunting or rural defense where penetration risk is understood. Store ammunition in a cool, dry place away from children, and follow all federal, state and local laws when purchasing and transporting the Phoenix Rising Sledge Hammer 12 GA Slug.