Here it is, e-mailed to me personally, straight from Remington; the pressure of their Managed Recoil shotshells is:

"All Remington ammunition is loaded by SAAMI specifications and will fall within any standards they have for ammunition production."

Well, I guess that clears that up!

They gave you the correct answer. From what I've read, ammo makers get their powders in large quantities from the powder makers and then load it to the velocity level they want. The powder is not cannister grade, like we would buy for reloading. Cannister grade means one batch will be the same as the next. This is why we're warned NOT to open up a factory load to copy what they are using. It might look like Red Dot, for example. But it may not be the same as the Red Dot we buy over the counter.

Even before I asked, I knew the answer and why. I was (remotely) hoping that they might at least provide a pressure range (suitably broad for Remington and their lawyers) for the Managed Recoil shells. As it stands, we must believe that there is no pressure difference between Remington's 2 3/4" Managed Recoil loads and their 3 1/2" Premier High Velocity Buffered Magnum Turkey loads. Ask about either shell and you'll get the same canned answer.

Their "managed recoil loads", if they indeed do, are by using less shot and/or less velocity. Since low recoil does not come from low pressure, it's not a valid reason to assume low pressures. I do believe SAAMI standards are a bit higher for the 3-1/2" magnum loads. Topics like this could be a lot easier to understand if we could get everyone to accept that recoil is not determined by the amount of pressure involved.

All of this of course stems from the oft-asked question from owners of older smokeless powder guns; "What is a "light" load?" Might as well ask, "What is the meaning of life?". It would be nice if the industry had agreed-upon standards (along with appropriate units of measurement) before they could call a shell light.

Jim's right--different standard (14,000 psi) for the 3 1/2" 12 vs 2 3/4" at 11,500 psi. (3" is the same as 2 3/4" as far as service pressure limits go.)

A "light load" is either a smaller amount of shot, lower velocity or better yet, both. Has nothing to do with pressure.

I've read Remington's product description for their "managed recoil" target loads. They claim up to 40% reduced recoil compared to other target loads. Do doubt, as others have stated, reduced recoil would come from reduced payload and velocity. Improbable, but entirely possible, that such could be achieved with average peak pressures actually being higher than heavier recoiling loads in their line. Nowhere in their product description do they mention pressure.

This company, on the other hand, does use the term "low pressure" to describe some of their product line. Can't swear to it, but I'm pretty sure I've heard they've quoted pressure averages in reponse to customer's inquiries.

http://www.rstshells.com/rst_classic_shotshells_shotshells.htm

I have been able to get chamber pressure info from RST, Fiocchi, and B&P. RST even tracks chamber pressure by lot number, while Fiocchi and B&P give generic pressures for a given loading.

When Federal made up the low pressure target loads for Midway, they were indeed light in payload (7/8 oz 12ga) but not in velocity (1200 fps)--but still low pressure (mid-6K psi range, if I recall correctly). Winchester's Low Recoil/Low Noise load is a 26 gram shot charge at just under 1000 fps.