Brass Cased Shotgun Shells? Top Answer Update

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When did they stop making brass shotgun shells?

Starting in the late 1870s, paper hulls began replacing brass hulls. Paper hulls remained popular for nearly a century, until the early 1960s. These shotgun shells using paper hulls were nearly always roll crimped, although fold crimping also eventually became popular.

What does high brass mean in shotgun shells?

Most shotgun shells come in low-brass or high-brass styles. “Low-brass” and “high-brass” refers to the height of the metal base at the bottom of the shell. People assume high-brass shells are more powerful and better. Ammunition makers know this, so they charge more for this high-brass ammo.

What is the most powerful 12-gauge shotgun shell?

Hornady 12 Gauge 2-3/4 Inch Shell, Slug, 1575 Velocity, Shot At 25 Feet. A shotgun bullet or a slug is a solid piece of lead. It makes them the most powerful ammunition for 12-gauge shotguns.

Are old shotgun shells safe to shoot?

If it doesn’t look safe to fire, you probably shouldn’t shoot it. If you’ve bought the old ammunition in its original packaging, it doesn’t hurt to inspect that as well. Vintage boxes in good condition are a good sign; if the shells inside don’t look damaged either, it might just be good to go.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

What type of shotgun shell is best for home defense?

Buckshot shotgun shells

Widely used shotgun shells for home defense are the buckshot shells. Buckshot has a broad penetration range of 16.5 inches. This penetration range is the most suitable range to slightly harm the target. The effective range of this shell type is 30 to 50 yards.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

What is considered low brass?

Low Brass Instruments are the family of brass instruments consisting of trombones, euphoniums and baritones, and tubas. This article will address a few common concerns and questions, as well as getting into some more detail about the different types of instruments and their uses.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

What does high brass mean?

1 : brass containing at least 33 percent zinc — compare low brass. 2 : high-ranking officers or officials the living honorees weren’t always political or military or railroad high brass— B. A. Botkin & A. F. Harlow doesn’t know enlisted men and their opinion of high brass— G. W. Johnson.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

How long are shotgun shells good for?

The universal recommendation is ten years, although there’s no doubt that ammunition can last longer if stored properly. Aside from preserving the life expectancy of your shells, the key is to identify the warning signs that ammunition might have reached the end of its usable life.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

What is 000 buckshot used for?

000 buckshot, also known as triple aught buck, has one of the largest diameter pellet sizes found on the market today, making it great for both hunting and personal defense.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

What is better for home defense buckshot or slugs?

What Is Better for Home Defense, Buckshot, or Slugs? Buckshot is better for home defense because the intruder will be in the house and at close range in most cases. Since buckshot disperses tiny pellets when fired, you have a better chance of hitting the target, even in the dark.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

What is the best shotgun in the world?

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

Why are shotgun shells plastic?

Until the 1970s, shotgun wads were made of paper or cardboard. However, in order to lower manufacturing cost and increase ease of production, manufacturers switched to non-biodegradable plastic. For hunters, the plastic wad helps to create a tighter shot pattern enabling them to kill more birds (and injure less).

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

Why is buckshot called buckshot?

buckshot (n.) also buck-shot, “large size of shot used for killing deer and other large game,” 1776, from buck (n. 1) + shot (n.).

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

MAGTECH Brass Shotshells – Product Review \u0026 How To!

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Brass Shot Shell, 12 gauge, 2-5/8″, new production, marked …

This new production all brass shotgun shell is designed for a 12 gauge shotgun … The ‘A’ designation indicates a ‘thin wall’ brass case that accepts 11 …

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Magtech Brass at Ballistic Products Inc – Hulls

When choosing wads for brass cases, choose one gauge larger for proper fit: For example, use 11-gauge cards in a 12-gauge brass case. Magtech brass shotshells …

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Brass Shotgun Shells at Brownells

Brownells is your source for Brass Shotgun Shells at Brownells parts and accessories. Shop our vast selection and save! … SHOTGUN SHELL CASE-12 & 16 GAUGE.

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Shotgun shell

Self-contained cartridge loaded with either buckshot or a solid ball

A 12 gauge shotgun in a clear plastic case through which the contents can be seen. From left to right: brass, propellant, overpowder wad, shot wad, #8 birdshot, excess wad and crimp

A shotgun shell, buckshot, or simply cartridge is a type of rimmed, cylindrical (straight-walled) cartridge used specifically in shotguns and typically loaded with numerous small, pellet-like, spherical sub-projectiles called buckshot and fed through a barrel with smoothbore has a conical constriction at the muzzle to regulate the amount of dispersion. A grenade can also sometimes contain as little as a single large fixed projectile known as a slug, usually fired through a rifled slug barrel. The cartridge case usually consists of a paper or plastic tube mounted on a brass base containing a primer and shots are usually contained by a wadding/sabot inside the case. The caliber of the shotgun shell is referred to as its gauge.

The projectiles are traditionally made of lead, but other metals such as steel, tungsten and bismuth are also used due to lead limitations[2] or for performance reasons such as achieving higher firing velocities by reducing the mass of the shot charge. There are also other uncommon projectiles such as sabotage darts, rubber bullets, rock salt, and magnesium shards. Snail shells can also be crafted using special non-lethal projectiles such as rubber and beanbag bullets.

Shotguns have an effective range of about 35 m (38 yd) with buckshot, 45 m (49 yd) with birdshot, 100 m (110 yd) with slugs, and well over 150 m (160 yd) with sabotage slugs in rifled barrels. [3][4][5]

Other rounds include:

Ferret Rounds: Rounds designed to penetrate a thin barrier (such as a car door) and release a gas payload.

Bolo rounds: two large lead balls attached to a wire.

Piranha Shells: Shells full of sharp thumbtacks.

Dragon’s Breath Rounds: Grenades packed with incendiary chemicals that can create a fireball/flame when discharged and ignite a flammable target at close range.

Most shotgun shells are designed to be fired from a smoothbore, but specialty rifled barrel shotguns are limited to lead or sabot rounds, as the “shot” would spread too far through the rifle. A rifled barrel increases the accuracy of sabot shot rounds, but makes it unsuitable for firing shots as it imparts a twist to the shot cup, causing the shot bundle to scatter. A rifled slug uses a rifling on the slug itself so it can be used in a smoothbore shotgun.

history [edit]

Early shotgun shells used brass cases, similar to pistol and rifle cartridge cases of the same era. These brass shotgun bodies or cases resembled large rifle cartridges in both the head and primer portions of the shotshell, as well as in their dimensions. At different times, cartons made of felt, leather and cork, as well as cardboard, were used. Water glass (sodium silicate) was commonly used to cement the top excess plug into these brass sleeves. No roll crimp or fold crimp was used on these early brass cases, although some manufacturers eventually used roll crimps to hold the excess plug securely in place. The primers on these early shotshells were identical to pistol primers of the same diameter.

From the late 1870s paper hulls replaced brass hulls. Paper hulls remained popular for nearly a century, until the early 1960s. These paper-cased shotshells were almost always rolled, although fold-crimping eventually became popular as well. The primers on these paper-cased shotshells also changed from the pistol primers used on the early brass shotshells to a primer that contained both the primer and an anvil, unlike rifle and pistol ammunition, making the shotgun shell primer larger became. Cardboard wads made of felt and cork and cardboard were all used at different times, gradually giving way to plastic over powder wads, to cardboard wads, and finally through all plastic wads. From the early 1960s, plastic cases replaced paper cases for most shotgun shells, and by the 1980s plastic cases became more widely adopted.

Typical setup[ edit ]

Modern shotgun shells typically consist of a plastic case, the base of which is covered with a thin brass-plated steel cover. As previously mentioned, paper bowls were once common and are still made, as are solid brass bowls. Some companies appear to have made all-plastic shells, although these have a small metal ring molded into the rim of the shell for strength. Often the more powerful charges use “high brass” shells, with the brass being extended further up the sides of the shell, while lighter charges use “low brass” shells. The brass doesn’t really offer much strength, but the difference in appearance gives shooters a way to quickly distinguish between high and low power ammo.

A 1908 depiction of a shotgun, showing a primitive felt wad to separate the powder (left) and shot (right).

The base of the grenade is quite thick to accommodate the large shotgun primer, which is longer than primers used for rifle and pistol ammunition. Modern smokeless powders are far more efficient than the original black powder used in shotgun shells, so the powder actually takes up very little space. Shotguns use small amounts of double-base powders equivalent to fast-burning pistol powders with up to 50% nitroglycerin. After the powder comes the cotton or cotton wool. The main purpose of a wad is to keep the shot and powder from mixing and to provide a seal that prevents gas from blowing through the shot instead of propelling it. The wad design may also include a shock absorber and cup that holds the shot together until it comes out of the barrel.

A modern wad consists of three parts, the powder wad, sachet and shot cup, which may be separate parts or one piece. The powder plug acts as a gas seal (known as an obturation) and is placed firmly over the powder; it can be a paper or plastic part. Next is the cushion, which is designed to compress under pressure, acting as a shock absorber and minimizing shot deformation. it also serves to take up as much space as is needed between the powder wad and the shot. Cushions are almost universally made from plastic with crumple zones, although biodegradable fiberballs are often preferred for shooting game in areas grazed by farm animals or wildlife. The shot cup is the last part of the shell and serves to hold the shot together as it moves down the barrel. Shot cups are slotted on the sides so that they open after leaving the barrel and the shot can continue flying undisturbed. Shot cups, if used, are also almost universally made of plastic. The shot fills the shot cup (which must be the correct length to hold the desired amount of shot) and the shot shell is then crimped or rolled closed.

Sizes [edit]

Comparison of shotshells (from left to right): 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 16-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410 bore

default [edit]

gauge

(Number of

guide balls

in a pound) diameter of a sphere inch millimeter 10 0.775 19.7 12 0.729 18.5 16 0.663 16.8 20 0.615 15.6 28 0.550 14.0

Shotgun shells are generally measured by “gauge”, which is the weight in fractions of a pound of a round ball of pure lead that is the same diameter as the inside diameter of the barrel. In Britain and some other places outside the United States, the term “bore” is used with the same meaning. This is in contrast to rifles and handguns, which are almost always measured in “caliber”, a measurement of the inside diameter of the barrel in millimeters or inches and consequently roughly equal to the diameter of the projectile fired.

For example, a shotgun is called “12-gauge” because a lead ball that just fits inside the barrel’s inside diameter weighs 1⁄12 pounds (38 g). This measurement dates back to when early guns were similarly referred to – a “12-pounder” would be a gun that fired a 12-pound (5.4 kg) cannonball; Conversely, a single “12 gauge” shot would actually be a 1⁄12 pounder. Thus, a 10-gauge shotgun has a larger diameter barrel than a 12-gauge shotgun, which has a larger barrel diameter than a 20-gauge shotgun, and so on.

By far the most popular shotgun caliber is the 12 gauge. The larger 10 gauge, once popular for hunting larger birds like goose and turkey, has gained popularity with the advent of longer 12 gauge magnum shells that offer similar performance in decline. The medium-sized 20 gauge is also a very popular chambering for smaller-framed shooters who prefer its reduced recoil, those hunting smaller game, and experienced trap and skeet shooters who like the added challenge of shooting their targets with a to hit a lower shot load. Other less common but commercially available gauges are 16 and 28. Several other gauges may exist but are considered obsolete. The 4, 8, 24 and 32 caliber guns are collectibles. There are also some shotguns that are measured by diameter rather than gauge. These are .410 (10.4 mm), .380 (9 mm) and .22 (5.5 mm) calibers; These are correctly referred to as “.410 bore”, not “.410 gauge”.

The .410 bore is the smallest shotgun size commercially available in the United States. For size comparison purposes, the .410, when measured with the gauge, would be around 67 or 68 gauge (it’s 67.62 gauge). The .410 is often incorrectly assigned 36 gauge. The 36 gauge cartridge was actually a .360 diameter cartridge that was 1.5 in (38 mm) long and is now obsolete.

Other calibers[edit]

CCI .22LR Snake Shot loaded with #12 buckshot

Snake shot (AKA: bird shot, rat shot, and dust shot)[6] refers to pistol and rifle cartridges loaded with small lead shot. Snake shot is generally used for shooting at close ranges at snakes, rodents, birds and other vermin. The most common snakeshot cartridges are .22 Long Rifle, .22 Magnum, .38 Special, 9×19mm Luger, .40 Smith & Wesson, .44 Special, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt.

Commonly used by hikers, backpackers and campers, snake shot is ideal for use in revolvers and derringers chambered for .38 Special and .357 Magnum. With semi-automatic pistols, the snake shot may not work properly. Rifles made specifically to fire .22 caliber snake shots are also commonly used by farmers for pest control in barns and sheds, as the snake shots will not poke holes in the roof or walls or, more importantly, livestock with one injure ricochets. They are also used for pest control at airports and warehouses.[7]

Military issue .45 ACP M15 “firing shell” far right.

Shotgun shells were also historically issued to soldiers for use in standard rifles. The .45-70 “Forager” round, containing a thin wooden ball filled with birdshot, was intended for small game hunting to supplement soldiers’ rations. This round made the .45-70 rifle a small-gauge shotgun capable of killing rabbits, ducks, and other small game.

During World War II, the US military developed the .45 ACP M12 and M15 shotgun shells. They were issued to pilots to use as hunting ammunition in case they were shot down. While they were best used in the M1917 revolvers, the M15 cartridge would actually go through the M1911 semi-automatic pistol action.

Garden guns[edit]

Garden guns are smoothbore firearms specifically made to fire .22 caliber snake-headed bullets and are commonly used by gardeners and farmers for pest control. Garden guns are short-range weapons that can do little damage beyond 15-20 yards, and they’re quiet when fired with snake shot compared to a standard ammo. These cannons are particularly effective in barns and sheds, as the snake shot doesn’t blast holes in the roof or walls or, more importantly, ricochet around livestock. They are also used for pest control at airports, warehouses, stockyards, etc.[7]

Formula for shotgun gauge diameter[edit]

The standard definition of shotgun gage assumes a pure lead bullet is used. The following formulas relate the bore diameter d n (in inches) to the gauge n:

d n = 1.67 / n 3 = 4.66 / n 3 {\displaystyle d_{n}=1.67/{\sqrt[{3}]{n}}={\sqrt[{3}]{4 ,66/n}}}

n = ( 1.67 / d n ) 3 = 4.66 / ( d n ) 3 {\displaystyle n=(1.67/d_{n})^{3}=4.66/(d_{n})^ {3}}

For example, the common bore diameter d n = 0.410 inches (0.410 bore) is effectively n = 67.6 .

Lead free [ edit ]

By 1957 the ammunition industry was able to produce a non-toxic shot out of iron or steel.[10] In 1976, the Fish and Wildlife Service took the first steps towards phasing out lead shot by designating steel shot-only hunting areas for waterfowl. The 1970s saw the introduction of lead-free shotshells, loaded with steel, bismuth or tungsten composite pellets instead of more traditional lead-based pellets, and were required for migratory bird hunting (ducks and geese). Lead shot when hunting waterfowl was banned in the United States in 1991.[11] [12] Due to environmental regulations, leaded ammunition must be used carefully by hunters in Europe. For example, in France, it may not be fired near a pond. In fact, the laws are so complex that some hunters in Europe prefer not to risk problems if lead bullets are fired in the wrong places, and therefore opt for compound bullets in all situations. The use of lead shot is banned in Canada and the United States when hunting migratory wildfowl such as ducks and geese, forcing the use of non-toxic shot in those countries for waterfowl hunting (lead shot can still be used legally in the United States for hunting game other than waterfowl). This means manufacturers must market new types of lead-free shotgun ammunition loaded with alternative pellets to meet environmental regulations for lead use, as well as lead-based and cheaper shotgun shells to remain competitive globally.

The C.I.P. enforces the approval of all ammunition that a manufacturer or importer imports into any of the (mainly European) C.I.P. member states. The ammunition manufacturers are obliged to check their products against the C.I.P. pressure specifications. A compliance report must be prepared for each production lot and archived for later review if necessary.

Shotshells with steel pellets require an additional Vickers hardness test in addition to the pressure test. The steel pellets used must have a hardness below 100 HV1, but even then steel is known to wear down the barrel excessively over time if steel pellet velocities get too high, leading to potentially harmful situations for the user. Therefore, shot velocity measurement is also an additional requirement for 12, 16 and 20 gauge shotshells, both standard and high performance versions, sold in Europe. The speed of the pellets must be less than 425 m/s (1,390 ft/s), 390 m/s (1,300 ft/s) or 390 m/s (1,300 ft/s) for the standard versions. Another disadvantage of steel pellets is their tendency to bounce unpredictably after hitting a hard surface. This poses a major hazard on indoor shooting ranges or whenever there are metal targets or hard arrow stops (eg. For this reason, steel shot is specifically prohibited at most indoor shooting ranges. Any shooter considering using steel-loaded ammunition for purposes other than Buying hunting purposes should first find out whether the use does not pose an undue danger to yourself and others.

However, no data has been published demonstrating the hazard of firing high-velocity projectiles loaded with steel shot causing barrel wear, and CIP’s US equivalent, SAAMI, has no such restrictive velocity limitations on commercial steel-shot shells used in the United States sold . Similarly, shotgun manufacturers who sell shotguns in the United States select their own appropriate standards for specifying steel hardness for shotgun barrels and for velocities of ammunition loaded with steel shot shells.

Some indoor shooting ranges prohibit the use of steel shot out of concern that it will cause a spark if it hits an object in range and starts a fire.

Shot sizes [ edit ]

lead shot

Shotshells are loaded with different sizes of shot depending on the target. For skeet shooting, a small shot like a #8 or #9 would be used because the range is short and a high density pattern is desirable. Trap shooting requires longer shots, so a larger shot is used, usually a No. 7½. When hunting game, consideration is given to the range and penetration needed to ensure a clean kill. Due to its low cross-sectional density and its ballistic coefficient (see external ballistics), shot loses speed very quickly. Small shots, such as those used for skeet and trap, have all lost appreciable energy by about 100 yards (91 m), allowing trap and skeet bowls to be placed in relatively close proximity to populated areas with negligible risk of injury to those outside of that Range.

bird shot[edit]

“Birdshot” redirects here. For the 2016 Filipino film, see Birdshot (film)

12-gauge Bullet Shotgun.

Birdshots are designed for waterfowl and upland hunting where game is agile small/medium sized birds. Their sizes are numbered similarly to shotgun gauges – the smaller the number, the larger the shot (except in the outdated Swedish system, where it’s reversed). Generally, birdshot is just referred to as “shot”, e.g. B. “Number 9 shot” or “BB shot”.

There are small differences in the size of American, Standard (European), Belgian, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, British and Australian shots to add complexity. This is because some systems use diameter in inches (American), others use diameter in millimeters (European), and the British system uses lead shot per ounce. Australia has a hybrid system as its market is flooded with a mix of British, American and European shells.

For American shot, a useful way to remember the inch diameter of a numbered shot is to simply subtract the shot size from 17. The result is the diameter of the shot in hundredths of an inch. For example, shot #2 gives 17-2 = 15, which means the diameter of shot #2 is 15/100, or 0.15 inch. B shot is .170 inches, and sizes increase in increments of .01 for BB and BBB sizes.

Using metric measurements, it’s easy to remember that shot #5 is 3mm; each number up or down represents a change in diameter of 0.25 mm, e.g. #7 shot is 2.5mm.

US Size EU Size SW Size UK Size AU Size Nominal Diameter Pellets per oz (28g) Quantity per lb.[13] Lead Steel FF .230″ (5.84mm) 35 F .220″ (5.59mm) 27 39 TT .210″ (5.33mm) AAA .205″ (5.20mm) AAA .203″ (5th .16mm) 35 T AAA .200″ (5.08mm) 36 53 AA .191″ (4.93mm) 40 BBB AA .190″ (4.83mm) 44 62 550 BB A .180″ (4 .57 mm) 50 72 650 air rifle BBBB or

2/0

.177″ (4.50mm) B .170″ (4.32mm) 86 #1 BB BB .160″ (4.06mm) 72 103 925 #1 7 .158″ (4th .00 mm) #2 B or #1 .150 in. (3.81 mm) 87 125 1120 #2 6 .148 in. (3.75 mm) #3 .140 in. (3.56 mm) 108 158 1370 No .3 5 .138″ (3.50mm) #2 #2 .134″ (3.40mm) #4 .130″ (3.30mm) 135 192 1720 #4 4 #3 #3 .128 Inch (3.25mm) 140 #5 #4 #4 0.120″ (3.05mm) 170 243 2180 #5 3.00mm (3.00mm) #6 #5 #5 2.79mm (0.110″) 225 315 2850 #6 2.75mm (2 .108″) #5½ #5½ .107″ (2.72mm) 240 #6 #6 .102″ ( 2.59mm) 270 #7 .100″ (2.54mm) 291 423 #7 1 .098″ (2.50mm) #7½ .094″ (2.40mm) #7½ # 7 #7 .095″ (2.41mm) 350 490 3775 #8 #7½ .090″ (2.29mm) 410 686 5150 #8 00 . 089″ (2.25mm) #8 #8 0.087″ (2.21mm) 472 #8½ 0.085″ (2.15mm) 497 #8½ 0.083″ (2.10mm) #9 #9 .9 #9 .080″ (2.03mm) 585 892 7400 #9 000 .079″ (2.00mm) #10 .070″ (1.78mm) 848 #10 #10 . 070″ (1.78mm) 850 #10 . 069″ (1.75mm)

There is also #11 and #12 lead shot. Shot of these sizes is used in special shotshells that can be fired at close range (less than four metres) to kill snakes, rats and animals of similar size. Such grenades are typically intended to be fired from handguns, particularly revolvers.[14] This type of ammunition is manufactured by Federal and CCI, among others.

Birdshot selection [ edit ]

Wild Lead/Tungsten Steel Choke Gauge Turkey BB to 6 2 to 3 Full 10, 12, 16, 20 Geese 2 to 4 T to 3 Full Modified 10, 12, 16, 20 Duck High 2 to 4 BB to 2 Full Improved Modified , Modified 10, 12, 16, 20 Ducks, Low 4 to 6 1 to 4 Full, Improved Modified, Modified 10, 12, 16, 20 Squirrels 4 to 6 2 to 4 Full, Improved Modified, Modified 12, 16, 20, 28, .410 Rabbit 4 to 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 2 to 5 Modified, Improved Cylinder 12, 16, 20, 28, .410 Pheasant 4 to 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 2 to 6[15] Full, Improved Modified Modified, Improved Cylinder 12, 16, 20 Moorhuhn 5 to 8 3 to 6 Modified, Improved Cylinder 12, 16, 20 Quail, Pigeon 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 to 9 6 Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder 12, 16, 12, 28 Rail, Snipe , Woodcock 7 + 1 ⁄ 2 through 9 6 Modified Improved Cylinder 12, 16, 20

When hunting, the shot size must not only be chosen for the range, but also for the game. The shot must reach the target with enough energy to penetrate to a depth sufficient to kill the game. Lead shot is still the best ballistic performance, but environmental restrictions on the use of lead, particularly in waterfowl, require steel, bismuth, or tungsten composites. Steel, being significantly less dense than lead, requires larger shot sizes but is a good choice when lead is not legal and cost is an issue. It is argued that steel shot cannot be used safely in some older shotguns without damaging either the bore or the choke due to the hardness of steel shot. However, the increased pressure in most steel cartridges is a far greater problem, putting more stress on the gun’s breech. Because tungsten is very hard, it must be used with caution even in older guns. Tungsten shot is often alloyed with nickel and iron, softening the base metal. This alloy is about 1/3 denser than lead but far more expensive. Bismuth shot is between steel and tungsten shot in terms of density and cost. The rule of thumb when converting suitable steel shot is to go up two numbers when changing from lead. However, there are differing views on dense patterns versus higher pellet energies.

Buckshot[ edit ]

“Buckshot” redirects here. For the rapper of hip hop trio Black Moon, see Buckshot (rapper)

Larger sizes of shot, large enough that they must be carefully packed into the shell rather than simply dumped or poured in, are referred to as “buckshot” or simply “buck”. Buckshot is used for hunting medium to large game, as a tactical round for law enforcement and military personnel, and for personal self-defense. Shot size is most commonly denoted by a series of numbers and letters, with smaller numbers indicating a larger shot. Sizes greater than “0” are denoted by multiple zeros. “00” (usually pronounced “double-aught” in North American English) is the most commonly sold size.

The UK system for designating shot size is based on the amount of shot per ounce. The sizes are LG (large cluster – made from musket-shooting grapeshot), MG (medium cluster) and SG (small cluster). For smaller game, the SSG shot is half the weight of the SG, the SSSG shot is half the weight of the SSG, the SSSSG shot is half the weight of the SSSG, and so on. The Australian system is similar except that it has 00-SG, a small game cartridge filled with 00 shot.

Loads of 12 gauge 00 shot are commonly available in cartridges containing 8 (eight) to 18 (eighteen) pellets in standard shell lengths (2+3⁄4 inch, 3 inch and 3+1⁄2). 00 shotgun shells with reduced recoil are widely used as tactical and self-defense rounds to minimize stress on the shooter and improve the speed of follow-up shots.

US Size UK Size AU Size Nominal Diameter Pellets/oz (28g) Lead Steel Tri-Ball 12 [12 Gauge] 0.60″ (15.2mm) 1.4 Tri-Ball 20 [20 Gauge] 0.52 ” (13.2mm) 2.1 #0000 Buck

.375 inch [16] (9.525 mm) ~5.6 #000 buck

LG 0.36″ (9.1mm) 6.2 MG 0.346″ (8.79mm) 7 SG 0.332″ (8.44mm) 8 #00 Buck

00-SG .330″ (8.38mm) 8 #0 Buck

.32″ (8.1mm) 9 #1 Buck .30″ (7.6mm) 11 Special SG .298″ (7.57mm) 11 #2 Buck SSG .27″ (6.9mm) 14 SSG 0.269″ (6.83mm) 15 #3 Buck 0.25″ (6.4mm) 18 SSSG 0.244″ (6.3mm) 20 #4 Buck 0.240″ (6.10mm) 21 SSSSG 0.227 ( 5.77 mm) 25 F 0.22 inch (5.59 mm) 27 39 SSSSS or

AAAA

.213 (5.41mm) 30 AAA .203″ (5.16mm) 35 T .200″ (5.08mm) 36 53

Propagation and Patterning[edit]

Most modern sporting shotguns have interchangeable choke tubes to allow the shooter to change the spread of the shot that comes out of the gun. In some cases this is not practical; The gun may have a fixed choke, or a shooter shooting at receding targets may want to fire a wide pattern immediately followed by a narrower pattern from a single-barreled shotgun. The dispersion of the shot can also be changed by changing the characteristics of the grenade.

Narrower patterns[ edit ]

A buffering material such as plastic granules,[17] sawdust, or similar material can be mixed with the shot to fill the gaps between each pellet. When fired, the buffer material compresses and supports the shot, reducing the deformation experienced by the shot pellets under extreme acceleration. Antimony-lead alloys, copper-plated lead shot, steel, bismuth and tungsten composite shot are all harder than regular lead shot and are also less likely to deform. Reducing the warp results in tighter patterns as the spherical pellets tend to fly straighter. An improvised way to achieve the same effect is to pour melted wax or tar into the shot mass. Another is a partial ring cut around the case, intended to ensure the shot comes out tightly bundled along with the portion of the case before the cut, creating a “cut bowl”. This can be dangerous as it is believed to result in higher chamber pressures – particularly if part of the shell is left in the barrel and not removed before another shot is fired.

Wider patterns[ edit ]

Shooting the softest shot possible results in more shot deformation and a wider pattern. This is often the case with cheap ammunition as the lead used contains minimal alloying elements such as antimony and is very soft. Stray wads are wads that have a small plastic or paper insert, usually a cylinder or “X” cross-section, in the center of the shotcup. When the shot exits the barrel, the insert helps push the shot out of center and open up the pattern. Often these lead to inconsistent performance, although modern designs perform much better than the traditional improvised solutions. Intentionally deformed shot (hammered into an elliptical shape) or cubic shot will also result in a wider pattern, much wider than spherical shot, with more consistency than litter wads. Stray wads and non-spherical shot are not allowed in some competitions. Hunting loads using either spreaders or non-spherical buckshot are usually referred to as “brush loads” and are preferred for hunting in areas where dense cover keeps firing distances very short.

Distribution[ edit ]

Most shotgun shells contain multiple bullets to increase the chance of hitting a target. A shotgun’s shot spread refers to the two-dimensional pattern that these projectiles (or shots) leave on a target.[14] Another, less important, dimension of dispersion concerns the length of the shot cord in flight from the leading bullet to the trailing one. Using multiple pellets is particularly useful for hunting small game such as birds, rabbits and other animals that can fly or move quickly and change direction unpredictably. However, some shotgun shells only contain a metal shot known as a slug for hunting big game like deer.

When the shot leaves the barrel when shot, the three-dimensional shot strand is close together. However, as the distance of the shot increases, the individual pellets progressively spread and disperse. Because of this, the effective range of a shotgun when firing a multitude of shots is limited to approximately 20 to 50 m (22 to 55 yd). To control this effect, shooters can use a restriction in the barrel of a shotgun called a choke. The choke, whether selectable or fixed in a barrel, effectively reduces the diameter of the barrel end and forces the shot even closer together as it exits the barrel, increasing effective range. The tighter the choke, the narrower the barrel end. Consequently, the effective range of a shotgun is increased with a narrower choke because the shot column is kept narrower at longer ranges. Hunters or target shooters can install several types of chokes on rifles with selectable chokes depending on the range their intended targets are at. For fixed choke shotguns, different shotguns or barrels are often selected for the intended hunting use. From the tightest to the loosest, the different choke sizes are: full choke, improved modified, modified improved cylinder, skeet and cylinder bore.

A hunter who intends to hunt an animal such as a rabbit or grouse knows that the animal will be encountered at close range – usually within 20 m (22 yards) – and will be moving very quickly. So an ideal choke would be a cylinder bore (the loosest) since the hunter wants the shot to spread out as quickly as possible. If this hunter used a full choke (the narrowest) at 20 m (22 yd), the shot would be very close together and cause unnecessarily large damage to the rabbit, or alternatively miss the rabbit entirely. This would waste virtually all of the meat for one hit, as the small amount of meat left would become overly grist loaded and inedible. By using a cylinder bore, this hunter would maximize the chance of a kill and maximize the amount of edible meat. In contrast, a hunter who intends to hunt geese knows that a goose will likely be around 50 m (55 yd) away, so the hunter will want to delay the spread of the shot as much as possible by using a full choke . By using a full choke on longer range targets, the shooter again maximizes the chance of a kill and maximizes the amount of edible flesh. This also guarantees a quick and humane kill, as the target is hit with enough shot to kill quickly rather than just injuring the animal.

For older shotguns with only a fixed choke, primarily intended for the equally likely use against rabbits, squirrels, quail, pigeons and pheasants, a commonly chosen choke is the improved cylinder in a 28-inch (710mm) barrel The shotgun is suitable as a general all-round hunting shotgun without being overweight. In contrast, fixed choke goose shotguns are often found with full choke barrels in longer lengths and are much heavier, being intended for fixed use in a blind against distant targets. Defensive shotguns with fixed chokes generally have a cylinder bore choke. Likewise, shotguns designed primarily for slug use are also invariably found with a choke, which is a cylinder bore.

Dram Equivalency [ edit ]

The “dram” equivalency is still sometimes used as a measure of powder charge performance in a shotshell. Today it is an anachronistic equivalence that represents the equivalent power of a shotgun shell containing that equivalent amount of black powder, measured in drams avoirdupois.[21] A dram in the avoirdupois system is the mass of 1⁄256 pounds or 1⁄16 ounce or 27.3 grains. The reason for this archaic equivalence is that when smokeless powder first came to market, a method was needed to establish an equivalency with common shotgun shell loads in order to sell a case of shotgun shells. For example, a shotgun shell loaded with 3 or 3 1/2 drams of black powder was a common hunting field load, and a full-power, heavy load would have contained around a 4 to 4 1/2 dram load, while a shotgun shell loaded with only a 2 dram charge containing black powder was a common target practice charge. A hunter looking for a field or full power load familiar with black powder shotgun loads would have known exactly what the shotgun shell equivalency would have been in the newly introduced smokeless powder. Today, however, this represents a poorly understood equivalence of powder charge performance in a shotshell. To further complicate matters, the “dram” equivalence was only defined for 12-gauge shotgun shells and only for lead shot, although it is often used to describe other calibers shells and even shells loaded with steel shot. Furthermore, the “dram” equivalence did not appear until some 15 years after the introduction of smokeless powder, long after the need for an equivalence had subsided and the black powder-loaded shotgun shells had largely disappeared. In practice today, the “dram” equivalency most commonly corresponds to just a velocity rating equivalency in fps (feet per second) while assuming lead shot.

A secondary effect of this equivalence was that common shotgun shells had to remain physically the same size, e.g. B. 2-1/2 or 2-3/4 inch shells to be used in pre-existing shotguns when smokeless powder was used for loading shotgun shells instead of black powder. Since smokeless powder did not have to be loaded in the same volume as black powder to achieve the same performance, the volume of the wadding had to increase to fill the shotshell sufficiently so that proper crimps could still be made. Initially, this meant that an increased number of balls of overpowder had to be stacked to achieve the same stack length. Eventually, this also led to the introduction of one-piece plastic wads in the late 1950s-early 1960s to add additional charge volumes to maintain the same overall shotgun length.

Dram equivalence does not affect reloading shotshells with smokeless powder. Loading a shotgun shell with an equivalent dram weight of smokeless powder would cause a shotgun to detonate. It only has equivalence when reloading shotgun shells with black powder.

See also[edit]

What You Should Know About Shotgun Shells

A complete look at the facts and myths of shotgun shells

Imagine it’s 1880 and you live in New York City. Like most people, you don’t have running water in your home. If you want to contact your uncle in London, it will take at least two weeks before you get a letter to him. And the Parker Bros. and Westley Richards side-by-side shotguns use centerfire shells.

Now let’s jump back to the present. Indoor installations are everywhere, and you can connect to almost anyone, anywhere, in seconds. But shotguns, even the newest models, still use centerfire shells.

As much as the world has changed, isn’t it weird that we’re still cramming this ancient technology into our bird cannons?

Great-great-grandfather’s mussels

A box of Winchester shotgun ammo from the 1900’s has a lot in common with what we use today. Ancient shells came in a variety of gauges (12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, etc.) and lengths (e.g., 2½-inch, 2¾-inch, 3-inch).

Like modern shells we use today, ancient shotgun ammunition had six main components:

Base: The bottom of the shell. Holds the primer and helps the shell hold its shape and fit in the shotgun’s chamber. Most are brass, some aluminum. Housing: Rises from the base to hold powder, wadding and buckshot. Were first made of brass, then paper. Plastic replaced paper in the 1960s. Primer: The button-like tab on the bottom of the case. Contains a flammable substance that will ignite the powder. Gunpowder: The propellant. Inside the case, at the bottom of the shell. Old shotgun shells used “black powder”. Today they are “smokeless” powders (aka “nitro” powders). Wad: In the shell between powder and shot. First of fibers. Mostly plastic these days. Shot: The pellets are released when the weapon is fired. Available in different sizes (e.g. 8, 6, 4). The lower the number, the bigger the shot. Usually made of lead, but can also be made of steel, bismuth or other metallic materials.

How everything comes together

First, the shell is loaded into the chamber of your shotgun.

When the gun is fired, a firing pin hits the primer. The primer ignites the powder.

As the powder burns, it releases gases that create pressure and propel the cotton ball forward (and grenade and shotgun backward).

The cotton ball dampens the force released by the powder. It also seals the barrel bore so all that force is pushing against the shot.

Eventually, both the shot and the cotton ball exit the barrel muzzle. While the bundle typically falls 15-20 yards from the gun, the shot can travel well over 100 yards.

Read: Beginner’s Guide to Buying Shotgun Shells

The facts to the detriment

As previously mentioned, shotgun shells vary in gauge and length. They also differ in the amount of powder and grist they contain.

The amount of shot in a shell is called a “charge”. Loads are categorized in ounces (oz.).

12-gauge, 2¾-inch bowls often come in 1⅛-oz. charges. They contain 1⅛ ounces of grist.

20-gauge, 2¾-inch bowls often come in 7/8-oz. charges. They contain 7/8 ounces of grist.

Unfortunately, the amount of powder in a shotgun shell is not expressed so directly. Instead of using weight, shell makers express powder amounts in terms of velocity. Basically, the higher the speed of a grenade, the more powder it contains.

Quiz: Who Holds More Powder?

12-gauge, 2¾-inch shell loaded with 1⅛ oz. shot and at a speed of 1200 FPS (feet per second).

12-gauge, 2¾-inch shells loaded with 1⅛ oz. Shot and at a speed of 1400 FPS.

The answer is: the second. It requires more power and more powder to shoot the same amount of shots at a higher speed (FPS). Manufacturers also categorize the strength of the shotgun shells with names such as “Target”, “Game”, “Field” or “Heavy Field”.

“Target” loads are usually the weakest

Next comes the “game” load

“Field” charges follow

“Heavy Field” charges (aka “Duck and Pheasant” charges) are the strongest

Big enough is enough

When it comes to snow geese decoy spreads, bigger is always better. But when it comes to shotgun ammo, that’s not the case. Because of recoil, “just big enough” is the goal when buying grenades.

You don’t need to put high-velocity, high-power shells in your gun to take down clay pigeons and marsupials. Instead, grenades that produce a maximum of 1200 FPS and are loaded with the following amounts of lead will usually knock down what you shoot at (that is, if you can shoot).

Clays: ⅞ oz.

Woodcock, Quail, Grouse, and Pigeon: ¾-1 oz.

Wild Pheasants: 1 ⅛ oz.

Preserve Pheasants: 1 oz.

high brass BS

“High Brass” shells are something to watch out for. Most shotgun shells are available in low or high brass versions. “Low Brass” and “High Brass” refer to the height of the metal base at the bottom of the bowl. People assume that high brass grenades are stronger and better. Ammo manufacturers know this, so they charge more for this quality ammo.

But here’s the truth: Not all high brass shells are different from their low brass counterparts. Some manufacturers use the extra brass to trick you into paying more for less shell. Also, high brass shells that push more lead at higher speeds are probably stronger than you need. Why pay extra for it? They won’t make you a better shooter.

If you’re having trouble smashing clay or taking down birds instead, stick to lower speed, low brass shells and spend your money on practice rounds at a local club.

Understanding Different 12-Gauge Shotgun Load Types

12 gauge shotgun loading types

The 12 gauge shotgun is one of the most versatile firearms you can own. It has many shot load options. How do you know which 12 gauge ammo shot patterns are best for you? With options ranging from hundreds of tiny beads to a single heavy bullet, there’s a lot you can do with your 12-gauge shotgun.

Understand the different 12 gauge ammo shot patterns. Your applications will make you more productive in the field.

birdshot

Perhaps the most common type of 12-gauge shotgun load, birdshot comes in a variety of sizes. A variety of 12 gauge ammunition firing patterns allow hunters to target small to medium sized game. With Birdshot, the larger the number, the smaller the pellet. You get more pellets in a single charge. A #9 shot will hold more pellets. However, a #1 shot lasts less.

#9 shot

At just 0.08 inches in diameter per pellet, the #9 shot is one of the smallest sizes you will find. Big birds are not good for this load. Clay pigeons are better targets. It is useful as a snake shot and for getting rid of small birds. This shot is used for pest control.

Buying Guide: Federal 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 9 Shot

#8 1/2 shot

This shot is .085 inches in diameter per bullet. Let’s compare it to #9. It adds a bit more weight to each pellet. This makes it useful for target shooting and trap shooting at slightly longer distances.

Buying Guide: Winchester 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 8-1/2 Shot

Birdshot #8 and below

#8 shot

The #8 shot offers more power per shot and remains popular in skeet shooting. Some of the smallest wildfowl make excellent shots. Rabbits, squirrels and pigeons are good too. You have to be close to do any real damage. Animals shot with this shot are full of many small pellets. This makes cleaning and eating difficult.

Buying Guide: Federal 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 8 Shot

#7 1/2 shot

Sometimes referred to as a “pigeon shot,” this is one of the smallest legitimate hunting loads. With 0.1 inch diameter pellets, this load can be used on pigeons, pheasants and ducks. This assumes they are in close proximity. It is a versatile load used for smaller game and traps when needed.

Buying Guide: Winchester 12 Gauge 2-3/4″ 7-1/2 Shot

#7 shot

With good range and limited flesh damage, #7 is an ideal load for pheasants, grouse, and pigeons. It’s one of the biggest. Ideal for trap shooting. It is used in shotgun competition.

Buying Guide: Winchester 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 7 Shot

Birdshot #6 For hunting medium-sized birds

#6 shot

Shot #6 allows you to start hunting medium-sized and even larger birds. It is the smallest charge used for pheasant or duck when distance is a factor. It almost always is. At 0.11 inches in diameter, this is pretty much the middle ground for Birdshot. It can be used effectively on a variety of game from squirrels to turkeys. If you can bang the turkey in the head.

Buying Guide: Fiocchi 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 6 Shot

Birdshot #5 and below

#5 shot

The #5 is considered the ideal load size for pheasant hunting. It offers excellent penetration on these tough birds. The pellet diameter is 0.12 inch. This gives the charge enough power to be an effective duck shot. Ideal for shots that require longer range.

Buying Guide: Fiocchi 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 5 Shot

#5-6-7 shot mix

This is an interesting charge that mixes shots #5, 6, and 7 in one grenade. It is mainly advertised to turkey hunters. It is best suited for hunting in the open field where firing distance can be difficult to estimate. They are usually loaded into larger three-inch shells.

Buying Guide: Federal 12-Gauge 3″ 5-6-7 shot

#4 shot

A #4 shot has a pellet diameter of .13, giving each pellet greater power and penetration. It’s great as a turkey load. Many people like to use it for a variety of wild birds. It is considered effective for home defense. The No. 4 can deliver effective performance without penetrating walls.

Buying Guide: Winchester 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 4 Shot

Birdshot #3 & below

#3 shot

This ammunition is excellent for multiple applications. Hunters will find it effective for a wide variety of upland wildfowl. It can be considered for waterfowl. The pellet is 0.14 inch and can be used for geese. The number 3 might be too small for some.

Buying Guide: Fiocchi 12-Gauge 3″ 3 Shot

#2 shot

The #2 is a heavy bullet and has effective penetration at 40 yards. It’s a popular load for goose hunters. The pellet size is 0.15 inch. That gives enough power for geese. It is effective for long-range shots at ducks and other waterfowl.

Buying Guide: Winchester 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 2 Shot

#1 shot

The #1 shot has a bullet diameter of 0.16 inches, giving it effective power to knock down geese and other large birds. It’s rarer and some manufacturers don’t even make it. It can be an effective strain for large waterfowl.

Buying Guide: Fiocchi 12-Gauge 3-1/2″ 1 shot

BB Shot: 12 gauge ammo shot pattern

You may think that “BB” means a small toy gun for children. A 12-gauge shotgun loaded with BB shot measures .18 inches. It is an effective hunting load. It is mainly used for geese and large ducks. BB loaded shotgun shells are popular for larger game at longer ranges. There are the smaller “B” pellets at 0.17 inches. The “BBB” pellets are slightly larger at 0.19 inches.

Buyer’s Guide: Hornady 12-Gauge 3″ BB Shot

Buckshot: 12 gauge ammo shot pattern

The Buckshot uses larger and fewer metal pellets. Harvesting deer and larger game is its primary function. The 12 gauge ammo shot patterns are great for a home defense load.

#4 buck

With a pellet diameter of .244 inches, the #4 shot is popular for medium sized game. It’s great for deer and coyotes. Home defense is a good excuse to buy this 12 gauge ammo shot pattern and size. There is a good balance of power and penetration.

Buying Guide: Fiocchi 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ #4 Buck

#1 buck

With #1 Buckshot, you start getting into seriously heavy gear. The pellets measure 0.3 inches. Deer hunting is their main use. A properly placed load of #1 shot from the desired distance will have no problem dropping a full grown buck.

Buying Guide: Winchester 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ #1 Buck

#00 buck

The #00 Buckshot or “Double Eight” is an effective cartridge that can be used for deer hunting. It excels at larger game including heavy hogs and even big game animals found in the western United States. The #00 shot typically houses about eight .32″ bullets and provides reliable penetration and energy transfer.

Buying Guide: Federal 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 00 Buck

#000 buck

3-inch 12-gauge cartridge loaded with #000 shot holds about eight or ten .36-inch bullets. The effects on a deer or game are devastating. It’s not strong enough to use on big game like moose and bear. This makes it unethical to hunt larger game.

Buying Guide: Federal 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ 000 Buck

Slugs: 12 gauge ammo shot pattern

A shotgun or bullet is a solid piece of lead. This makes it the strongest ammunition for 12 gauge shotguns. There is no spread, making it difficult to place properly. White-tailed deer are their most common game. You can use snails for pigs and black bears.

Buying Guide: Hornady 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ Lead Slug

Drawn snail

A rifled slug has spiral grooves on the body of the projectile. This gives it a spin to increase accuracy. Bullets are great for long-range shots. Rifle bullets will not outperform a real gunshot. The benefit of rifled slugs is better accuracy in a smoothbore barrel.

Buying Guide: Remington 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ Rifled Slug

sabot snail

A sabot is thinner and longer. The snail is wrapped in a shell called a sabot. This ensures a seal between the projectile and the barrel. Sabot slugs don’t have a gun. Most often they are used in shotguns with rifled barrels.

Buying Guide: Hornady 12-Gauge 2-3/4″ Sabot Slug

Now you understand the basics of 12 gauge ammunition firing patterns and loads. You can choose the right option for your specific needs. If a nervous squirrel or buck shows up, be prepared for any game!

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