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147-593: Some cartridges contain a single solid projectile known as a slug (sometimes fired through a rifled slug barrel ). The casing usually consists of a paper or plastic tube with a metallic base containing the primer . The shot charge is typically contained by wadding inside the case. The caliber of the cartridge is known as its gauge . The projectiles are traditionally made of lead , but other metals such as steel , tungsten and bismuth are also used due to restrictions on lead , or for performance reasons such as achieving higher shot velocities by reducing

294-453: A 1 ⁄ 12 pounder. Thus, a 10-gauge shotgun has a larger-diameter barrel than a 12-gauge shotgun, which has a larger-diameter barrel than a 20-gauge shotgun, and so forth. The most popular shotgun gauge by far is 12-gauge. The larger 10-gauge, once popular for hunting larger birds such as goose and turkey, is on the decline with the advent of the longer, "magnum" 12-gauge cartridges, which offer similar performance. The mid-size 20-gauge

441-553: A firearms certificate to possess, which is very strictly regulated. Legal uses in the UK include, but are not restricted to, practical shotgun enthusiasts as members of clubs and at competitions, such as those run by or affiliated to the UKPSA. Rifled barrels for shotguns are an unusual legal issue in the United States . Firearms with rifled barrels are designed to fire single projectiles, and

588-428: A rifle bullet . For example, the lightest common .30-06 Springfield rifle bullet weighs 150 grains (0.34 oz (9.6 g)), while the lightest common 12 gauge shotgun slug weighs 7 ⁄ 8 oz (383 gr (24.8 g)). Slugs made of low-density material, such as rubber, are available as less than lethal specialty ammunition . Shotgun slugs are used to hunt medium to large game at short ranges by firing

735-438: A slow match or a flintlock , though some muzzleloaders have primers like cap gun caps. This external powder was connected through a small opening at the rear of the gun barrel that led to the main charge within the barrel. As gunpowder will not burn when wet, this made it difficult (or even impossible) to fire these types of weapons in rainy or humid conditions. Modern primers, by contrast, are more specialized and distinct from

882-434: A slug , for hunting large game such as deer . As the shot leaves the barrel upon firing, the three-dimensional shot string is close together. But as the shot moves farther away, the individual pellets increasingly spread out and disperse. Because of this, the effective range of a shotgun , when firing a multitude of shot, is limited to approximately 20 to 50 m (22 to 55 yd). To control this effect, shooters may use

1029-426: A smoothbore barrel, as "shot" would be spread too wide by rifling. A rifled barrel will increase the accuracy of sabot slugs, but makes it unsuitable for firing shot, as it imparts a spin to the shot cup, causing the shot cluster to disperse. A rifled slug uses rifling on the slug itself so it can be used in a smoothbore shotgun. Early shotgun cartridges used brass cases, not unlike pistol and rifle cartridge cases of

1176-440: A 100 m (110 yd) and deer or wild boar with a minimum caliber 6.5 mm (0.26 in) and 2,200 J (1,600 ft⋅lbf) at 100 m (110 yd). Slugs fired from a single-barrel shotgun are allowed for hunting wild boar , fallow deer , and mouflon , although when hunting for wounded game there are no restrictions. The shot must be fired at a range of no more than 40 m (44 yd). The hunter must also have

1323-417: A 20 gr (1.3 g) bullet and making it the world's fastest and most powerful rimfire round in use today. The identifying feature of centerfire ammunition is the metal cup containing the primer inserted into a recess in the center of the base of the cartridge. The firearm firing pin crushes this explosive between the cup and an anvil to produce hot gas and a shower of incandescent particles to ignite

1470-408: A case properly from the chamber or by allowing it to jam the action. Nineteenth-century inventors were reluctant to accept this added complication and experimented with a variety of self-consuming cartridges before acknowledging that the advantages of brass cases far outweighed their one drawback. The three systems of self-contained metallic cartridge ignition which have survived the test of time are

1617-435: A cavity in the bottom of the slug, or it may fit over the slug and into external notches on the slug. With the first method discarding sabots may be added. And with the second, the stabilizer may act as a sabot, but remains attached to the projectile and is commonly known as an "Impact Discarding Sabot" (IDS). There are some types of all-steel subcaliber slugs supported by a protective plastic sabot (the projectile would damage

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1764-406: A constriction within the barrel of a shotgun called a choke . The choke, whether selectable or fixed within a barrel, effectively reduces the diameter of the end of the barrel, forcing the shot even closer together as it leaves the barrel, thereby increasing the effective range. The tighter the choke, the narrower the end of the barrel. Consequently, the effective range of a shotgun is increased with

1911-432: A cylinder bore choke. Likewise, shotguns intended primarily for use with slugs invariably also are found with a choke that is a cylinder bore. "Dram" equivalence is sometimes still used as a measure of the powder charge power in a cartridge. Today, it is an anachronistic equivalence that represents the equivalent power of a cartridge containing this equivalent amount of black-powder measured in drams avoirdupois. A dram in

2058-685: A cylinder bore, improved cylinder choke , rifled choke tubes, or fully rifled bores. Slugs differ from round ball lead projectiles in that they are stabilized in some manner. In the early development of firearms for the year 1875, smooth-bored barrels were not differentiated to fire either single or multiple projectiles. Single projectiles were used for larger game and warfare, though shot could be loaded as needed for small game, birds, and activities such as trench clearing and hunting. As firearms became specialized and differentiated, shotguns were still able to fire round balls though rifled muskets were far more accurate and effective. Modern slugs emerged as

2205-453: A firearm that is designed to fire a single projectile with a diameter greater than .50 inches ( 12.7 mm ) is considered a destructive device and as such is severely restricted. However, the ATF has ruled that as long as the gun was designed to fire shot, and modified (by the user or the manufacturer) to fire single projectiles with the addition of a rifled barrel, then the firearm is still considered

2352-412: A hardness greater than that of plain lead shot, and will deform less as well. Reducing the deformation will result in tighter patterns, as the spherical pellets tend to fly straighter. One improvised method for achieving the same effect involves pouring molten wax or tar into the mass of shot. Another is a partial ring cut around the case intended to ensure that the shot comes out tightly bunched along with

2499-587: A hardness under 100 HV1, but, even so, steel is known to wear the barrel excessively over time if the steel pellet velocities become too high, leading to potentially harmful situations for the user. As a result, the measurement of pellet velocity is also an additional obligation for cartridges in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges in both standard and high performance versions sold in Europe. The velocity of pellets must be below 425 m/s (1,390 ft/s), 390 m/s (1,300 ft/s) and 390 m/s (1,300 ft/s) respectively for

2646-448: A higher twist rate is required to achieve proper stabilization. Most saboted slugs are designed for rifled shotgun barrels and are stabilized through gyroscopic forces from their spin. The Brenneke slug was developed by the German gun and ammunition designer Wilhelm Brenneke (1865–1951) in 1898. The original Brenneke slug is a solid lead slug with ribs cast onto the outside, much like

2793-448: A hollow bulge, or rim, around the back end. This rim is filled during manufacture with an impact-sensitive primer. In the wet state, the primer is stable; a pellet of wet primer is placed in the shell and simply spun around to cover the full extremes of the rim. (For more on the exact process and one set of chemical compounds that have been used successfully, see U.S. patent 1,880,235 , a 1932 Remington Arms patent by James E. Burns.) In

2940-531: A low magnification telescopic sight are needed for accuracy, rather than the bead sight used with shot, and an open choke is best. Since most current production shotguns come equipped with sighting ribs and interchangeable choke tubes, converting a standard shotgun to a slug gun can be as simple as attaching clamp-on sights to the rib and switching to a skeet or cylinder choke tube . There are also rifled choke tubes of cylinder bore. Many repeating shotguns have barrels that can easily be removed and replaced in under

3087-439: A matchlock useless, but a wheel-lock that was loaded and waterproofed with a bit of grease around the flashpan could be fired under most conditions. The wheel-lock enjoyed only a brief period of popularity before being superseded by a simpler, more robust design. The "flintlock", like the wheel-lock, used a flashpan and a spark to ignite the powder. As the name implies, the flintlock used flint rather than iron pyrite. The flint

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3234-601: A mechanical impact. The primer in turn ignites the main propellant, just as with a shock-sensitive or external electric type. Among the advantages this brings is the ability, in an automatic weapon, to control the moment of cartridge ignition partially independently of the mechanical action of the gun. Historically this flexibility was employed by the German Luftwaffe in WW II, in the unusually efficient synchronization gear that enabled machine guns and autocannon to be fired through

3381-418: A minute with no tools, so many hunters simply use an additional barrel for shooting slugs. Slug barrels will generally be somewhat shorter, have rifle type sights or a base for a telescopic sight, and may be either rifled or smooth bore. Smooth-bore shotgun barrels are quite a bit less expensive than rifled shotgun barrels, and Foster type slugs, as well as wad slugs, can work well up to 75 yd (69 m) in

3528-478: A much faster lock time. It never became a popular sporting arms system and was discontinued by Remington as a result. Primer-actuated firearms use the energy of primer setback to unlock and cycle the firearm. John Garand developed the system in an unsuccessful bid to replace the M1903 bolt-action rifle in the early 1920s. Garand's prototypes worked well with US military .30-06 ammunition and uncrimped primers, but then

3675-476: A new .17 caliber cartridge based on the .22 WMR, the .17 HMR . The .17 HMR is essentially a .22 WMR cartridge necked down to accept a .17-caliber bullet and is used as a flat-shooting, light-duty varmint round. The .17 HMR was followed up by Hornady's .17 Mach 2, or .17 HM2 in 2003, which is based on a slightly lengthened and necked-down .22 Long Rifle cartridge. Both of these .17 caliber rimfire cartridges have had widespread support from firearms makers, and while

3822-524: A pan, called the " flash pan ", filled with loose powder which led into the touchhole. The flashpan usually was protected by a spring-loaded cover that would slide out of the way when the trigger was pulled, exposing the powder to the sparks. The wheel-lock was a major innovation — since it did not rely on burning material as a source of heat , it could be kept ready for extended periods of time. The covered flashpan also provided some ability to withstand bad weather. Wind, rain, and wet weather would render

3969-408: A poorly understood equivalence of the powder charge power in a cartridge. To further complicate matters, "dram" equivalence was only defined for 12 gauge cartridges, and only for lead shot, although it has often been used for describing other gauges of shells, and even steel shot loads. Furthermore, "dram" equivalence only came around about 15 years after smokeless powder had been introduced, long after

4116-414: A rifled Foster slug. There is a plastic, felt or cellulose fiber wad attached to the base that remains attached after firing. This wad serves as a gas seal, preventing the gasses from going around the projectile. The lead "ribs" that are used for inducing spin also swage through any choked bore from improved cylinder to full. The soft metal, typically lead, fins squish or swage down in size to fit through

4263-551: A rifled choke is often nearly as accurate as a rifled shotgun barrel dedicated for use with slugs. There are many options in selecting shotguns for use with slugs. Improvements in slug performance have also led to some very specialized slug guns. The H&R Ultra Slug Hunter, for example, uses a heavy rifled barrel (see Accurize ) to obtain high accuracy from slugs. Shotgun slugs are often hand loaded , primarily to save cost but also to improve performance over that possible with commercially manufactured slug shells. In contrast, it

4410-651: A shotgun allows selecting a desired shell to meet the need in a variety of situations. Examples include a less-lethal cartridge in the form of a bean bag round or other less lethal buckshot and slugs . A traditional rifle would offer greater range and accuracy than slugs, but without the variety of ammunition choices and versatility. The mass of a shotgun slug is kept within SAAMI pressure limits for shot loads in any given shotgun shell load design. Slugs are designed to pass safely through open chokes and should never be fired through tight or unknown barrels. The internal pressure of

4557-599: A shotgun and not a destructive device. In some areas, rifles are prohibited for hunting animals such as deer. This is generally due to safety concerns. Shotgun slugs have a far shorter maximum range than most rifle cartridges, and are safer for use near populated areas. In some areas, there are designated zones and special shotgun-only seasons for deer. This may include a modern slug shotgun, with rifled barrel and high performance sabot slugs, which provides rifle-like power and accuracy at ranges over 150 yards (140 m). Primer (firearm) In firearms and artillery ,

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4704-424: A single large projectile rather than a large number of smaller ones. In many populated areas, hunters are restricted to shotguns even for medium to large game, such as deer and elk , due to concerns about the range of modern rifle bullets. In such cases a slug will provide a longer range than a load of buckshot , which traditionally was used at ranges up to approximately 25 yd (23 m), without approaching

4851-422: A small quantity of pressure-sensitive explosive, often mercury fulminate . When crushed, the explosive would detonate, sending a stream of hot gas down through a hole in the nipple and into the touchhole of the gun to ignite the powder charge. In the process of firing, the cap generally split open and would fall off when the hammer was moved to the half-cock position for loading. The caplock system worked well, and

4998-425: A small, hollow horizontal cylinder (drum) screwed into the bored-out and tapped flash hole and carrying a "nipple" over which the cap could be fitted. A "hammer" which also had half-cock (for loading and applying the cap) and full-cock positions replaced the cock. When released by pulling the trigger, the hammer would strike the cap, crushing it against the nipple. The percussion cap was a thin metal cup that contained

5145-399: A smooth-bore barrel. For achieving accuracy at 100 yd (91 m) and beyond, however, a dedicated rifled slug barrel usually provides significant advantages. Another option is to use a rifled choke in a smooth-bore barrel, at least for shotguns having a removable choke tube. Rifled chokes are considerably less expensive than a rifled shotgun barrel, and a smooth-bore barrel paired with

5292-461: A spoon to pour the liquified wax containing part of the birdshot back into the shotshell, all while not overfilling the shotgun shell. Once the shell cooled, the birdshot was now held in a mass by the cooled paraffin, and formed a slug. No roll or fold crimp was required to hold the wax slug in the hull. These were often used to hunt deer during the Depression. Yet another expedient shotgun slug design

5439-585: A tighter choke, as the shot column is held tighter over longer ranges. Hunters or target shooters can install several types of chokes, on guns having selectable chokes, depending on the range at which their intended targets will be located. For fixed choke shotguns, different shotguns or barrels are often selected for the intended hunting application at hand. From tightest to loosest, the various choke sizes are: full choke, improved modified, modified, improved cylinder, skeet, and cylinder bore. A hunter who intends to hunt an animal such as rabbit or grouse knows that

5586-468: A useful method for remembering the diameter of numbered shot in inches is simply to subtract the shot size from 17. The resulting answer is the diameter of the shot in hundredths of an inch. For example, #2 shot gives 17−2 = 15, meaning that the diameter of #2 shot is 15 ⁄ 100 or 0.15 in (3.8 mm). B shot is 0.170 in (4.3 mm), and sizes go up in 0.01 in (0.25 mm) increments for BB and BBB sizes. In metric measurement, it

5733-507: A velocity of approximately 1,560 ft/s (480 m/s) with a muzzle energy of 2,363 ft⋅lbf (3,204 J). 3 in (76 mm) slugs travel at around 1,760 ft/s (540 m/s) with a muzzle energy of 3,105 ft⋅lbf (4,210 J). In contrast, a .30-06 Springfield bullet weighing 150 gr (9.7 g) at a velocity of 2,600 ft/s (790 m/s) achieves an energy of 2,250 ft⋅lbf (3,050 J). A 180 gr (12 g) bullet at 2,775 ft/s (846 m/s), which

5880-519: A way of improving on the accuracy of round balls. Early slugs were heavier in front than in the rear, similar to a Minié ball , to provide aerodynamic stabilization . Rifled barrels, rifled slugs and rifled choke tubes were developed later to provide gyroscopic spin stabilization in place of or in addition to aerodynamic stabilization. Some of these slugs are saboted sub-caliber projectiles, resulting in greatly improved external ballistics performance. A shotgun slug typically has more physical mass than

6027-548: Is (1,000 ft⋅lbf (1,400 J) for deer, 1,500 ft⋅lbf (2,000 J) for elk, and 2,000 ft⋅lbf (2,700 J) for moose). A slug also becomes increasingly inaccurate with distance; out to 300–1,000 yd (270–910 m) or more, with a maximum practical range of approximately 200 yd (180 m). In contrast, centerfire cartridges fired from rifles can easily travel at longer ranges of 1,000 yd (910 m) or more. Shotgun slugs are best suited for use over shorter ranges. The Taylor knock-out factor (TKOF)

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6174-453: Is a good choice when lead is not legal and cost is a consideration. It is argued that steel shot cannot safely be used in some older shotguns without causing damage to either the bore or to the choke due to the hardness of steel shot. However, the increased pressure in most steel cartridges is a far greater problem, causing more strain to the breech of the gun. Since tungsten is very hard, it must also be used with care in older guns. Tungsten shot

6321-451: Is a heavy projectile (a slug ) made of lead , copper, or other material and fired from a shotgun . Slugs are designed for hunting large game , and other uses, particularly in areas near human population where their short range and slow speed helps increase safety margin. The first effective modern shotgun slug was introduced by Wilhelm Brenneke in 1898, and his design remains in use today. Most shotgun slugs are designed to be fired through

6468-456: Is a small metal ring cast into the rim of the cartridge to provide strength. More powerful loads may use " high brass " shells, with the brass extended up further along the sides of the cartridge, while light loads will use "low brass" shells. The brass does not actually provide a significant amount of strength, but the difference in appearance provides shooters with a way to quickly differentiate between high and low powered ammunition. The base of

6615-440: Is a very common 30-06 Springfield load and not its true maximum potential, achieves 3,079 ft⋅lbf (4,175 J) of energy. Due to the slug's larger caliber and shape, it has greater air resistance and slows down much more quickly than a bullet. It slows to less than half its muzzle energy at 100 yd (91 m), which is below the minimum recommended energy threshold for taking large game. The minimum recommended muzzle energy

6762-518: Is also a very popular chambering for smaller-framed shooters who favor its reduced recoil, those hunting smaller game, and experienced trap and skeet shooters who like the additional challenge of hitting their targets with a smaller shot charge. Other less-common, but commercially available gauges are 16 and 28. Several other gauges may be encountered but are considered obsolete. The 4, 8, 24, and 32 gauge guns are collector items. There are also some shotguns measured by diameter, rather than gauge. These are

6909-464: Is approximately equal to the diameter of the projectile that is fired. For example, a shotgun is called "12-gauge" because a lead sphere that just fits the inside diameter of the barrel weighs 1 ⁄ 12 pound (38 g). This measurement comes from the time when early cannons were designated in a similar manner—a "12 pounder" would be a cannon that fired a 12-pound (5.4 kg) cannonball; inversely, an individual "12-gauge" shot would in fact be

7056-475: Is easy to remember that #5 shot is 3 mm; each number up or down represents a 0.25 mm change in diameter, so e.g. #7 shot is 2.5 mm. Number 11 and number 12 lead shot also exists. Shot of these sizes is used in specialized cartridges designed to be fired at close range (less than four yards) for killing snakes, rats and similar-sized animals. Such cartridges are typically intended to be fired from handguns, particularly revolvers. This type of ammunition

7203-509: Is effectively gauge n = 67.6 . By 1957 the ammo industry had the capability of producing a nontoxic shot, made out of either iron or steel. In 1976 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service took the first steps toward phasing out lead shot by designating steel-shot-only hunting zones for waterfowl. In the 1970s lead-free ammunition loaded with steel , bismuth , or tungsten composite pellets instead of more traditional lead-based shot

7350-403: Is fired. Many hunters hunt with shotgun slugs where rifle usage is not allowed, or as a way of saving the cost of a rifle by getting additional use out of their shotgun. A barrel for shooting slugs can require some special considerations. The biggest drawback of a rifled shotgun barrel is the inability to fire buckshot or birdshot accurately. While buckshot or birdshot will not rapidly damage

7497-460: Is generally plastic and serves to seal the bore and keep the slug centered in the barrel while it rotates with the rifling. The sabot separates from the slug after it departs the muzzle. Saboted slugs fired from rifled bores are superior in accuracy over any smooth-bored slug options with accuracy approaching that of low-velocity rifle calibers. A modern variant between the Foster slug and the sabot slug

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7644-641: Is generally used for shooting at snakes, rodents, birds, and other pest at very close range. The most common snake shot 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 ideally suited for use in revolvers and derringers , chambered for .38 Special and .357 Magnum . Snake shot may not cycle properly in semi-automatic pistols . Rifles specifically made to fire .22 caliber snake shot are also commonly used by farmers for pest control inside of barns and sheds, as

7791-530: Is loaded using a standard shotshell wad, which acts like a sabot. The diameter of the wad slug is slightly less than the nominal bore diameter, being around 0.690 in (17.5 mm) for a 12-gauge wad slug, and a wad slug is generally cast solely from pure lead, necessary for increasing safety if the slug is ever fired through a choked shotgun. Common 12 gauge slug masses are 7 ⁄ 8 oz ((383 gr (24.8 g)), 1 oz ((437.5 gr (28.35 g)), and 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 oz ((492 gr (31.9 g)),

7938-484: Is often alloyed with nickel and iron, softening the base metal. That alloy is approximately 1/3 denser than lead, but far more expensive. Bismuth shot falls between steel and tungsten shot in both density and cost. The rule of thumb in converting appropriate steel shot is to go up by two numbers when switching from lead. However, there are different views on dense patterns versus higher pellet energies. Larger sizes of shot, large enough that they must be carefully packed into

8085-564: Is only 11,500 psi (79 MPa) for 12 gauge 2.75 in (70 mm) and 3 in (76 mm) shells, including shotgun slugs, so the typical operating pressures for many shotgun shells are only slightly below the maximum permitted pressures allowed for the use of safe ammunition. This small safety margin, and the possibility of pressure varying by over 4,000 psi (28 MPa) with small changes in components, require great care and consistency in hand-loading. Shotgun slugs are sometimes subject to specific regulation in many countries in

8232-824: Is possible to reload slug shells with hand-cast lead slugs for less than $ 0.50 (c. 2013) each. The recurring cost depends heavily on which published recipe is used. Some published recipes for handloading 1 oz (437.5 gr (28.35 g) 12 gauge slugs require as much as 49 gr (3.2 g) of powder each, whereas other 12 gauge recipes for 7 ⁄ 8 oz (383 gr (24.8 g) slugs require only 25 gr (1.6 g) of powder. Shotguns operate at much lower pressures than pistols and rifles, typically operating at pressures of 14,000 psi (97 MPa) or less, for 12 gauge shells, whereas rifles and pistols routinely are operated at pressures in excess of 40,000 psi (280 MPa), and sometimes upwards of 60,000 psi (410 MPa). The SAAMI maximum permitted pressure limit

8379-499: Is produced by Federal and CCI, among others. For hunting, shot size must be chosen not only 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 performer, but environmental restrictions on the use of lead, especially with waterfowl, require steel , bismuth , or tungsten composites. Steel, being significantly less dense than lead, requires larger shot sizes, but

8526-409: Is similar, except that it has 00-SG, a small-game cartridge filled with 00 buckshot. Loads of 12-gauge 00 buckshot are commonly available in cartridges holding from 8 (eight) to 18 (eighteen) pellets in standard lengths ( 2 + 3 ⁄ 4 inches, 3 inches, and 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 ). Reduced-recoil 00 buckshot is often used in tactical and self-defense rounds, minimizing shooter stress and improving

8673-546: Is still the preferred method of ignition for hunters and recreational shooters who use muzzle-loading arms. A small number of caseless cartridges use no primer at all, but the primary propellant is ignited using an externally provided electric charge, such as with the Voere VEC-91 and the O'Dwyer VLe. This is not to be confused with an electrically ignited internal primer (see below). Chemical primers, advanced metallurgy and manufacturing techniques all came together in

8820-399: Is the cut shell. These are made by hand from a standard birdshot shell by cutting a ring around and through the hull of the shell that nearly encircles the shell, with the cut traditionally located in the middle of the wad separating the powder and shot. A small amount of the shell wall is retained, amounting to roughly a quarter of the circumference of the shotshell hull. When fired, the end of

8967-435: Is the improved cylinder, in a 28 inches (710 mm) barrel, making the shotgun suitable for use as a general all-round hunting shotgun, without having excess weight. Shotguns having fixed chokes intended for geese, in contrast, are often found with full choke barrels, in longer lengths, and are much heavier, being intended for fixed use within a blind against distant targets. Defensive shotguns with fixed chokes generally have

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9114-407: Is the most commonly sold size. The British system for designating buckshot size is based on the amount of shot per ounce. The sizes are LG (large grape – from grapeshot derived from musket shooting), MG (medium grape), and SG (small grape). For smaller game, SSG shot is half the weight of SG, SSSG shot is half the weight of SSG, SSSSG shot is half the weight of SSSG, and so on. The Australian system

9261-409: Is the wad slug. This is a type of shotgun slug designed to be fired through a smoothbore shotgun barrel. Like the traditional Foster slug, a deep hollow is located in the rear of this slug, which serves to retain the center of mass near the front tip of the slug much like the Foster slug. However, unlike the Foster slug, a wad slug additionally has a key or web wall molded across the deep hollow, spanning

9408-544: Is the weight, in fractions of a pound, of a pure lead round ball that is the same diameter as the internal diameter of the barrel; in Britain and some other locations outside the United States the term "bore" is used with the same meaning. This contrasts with rifles and handguns, which are almost always measured in " caliber ", a measurement of the internal diameter of the barrel measured in millimeters or inches and, consequently,

9555-503: Is used in the spotting rifles on the LAW 80 and Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon use a 9mm, .308 Winchester -based cartridge with a .22 Hornet blank cartridge in place of the primer. Upon firing, the Hornet case sets back a short distance, unlocking the action. Primer-actuated cartridges/piston primer cartridges use a primer in the form of a blank to contain the propellant within

9702-492: Is used. For hunting game, the range and penetration needed to assure a clean kill is considered. Shot loses its velocity very quickly due to its low sectional density and ballistic coefficient (see external ballistics ). Small shot, like that used for skeet and trap, will have lost all appreciable energy by around 100 yards (91 m), which is why trap and skeet ranges can be located in relatively close proximity to inhabited areas with negligible risk of injury to those outside

9849-402: The avoirdupois system is the mass of 1 ⁄ 256   pound or 1 ⁄ 16   ounce or 27.3 grains . The reasoning behind this archaic equivalence is that when smokeless powder first came out, some method of establishing an equivalence with common loads was needed in order to sell a box of cartridges. For example, a cartridge containing a 3 or 3 1/2 dram load of black-powder

9996-454: The primer ( / ˈ p r aɪ m ər / ) is the chemical and/or device responsible for initiating the propellant combustion that will propel the projectiles out of the gun barrel . In early black powder guns such as muzzleloaders , the primer was essentially the same chemical as the main propellant (albeit usually in a finer-powdered form), but poured into an external flash pan , where it could be ignited by an ignition source such as

10143-526: The rimfire , the Berdan centerfire primer, and the Boxer centerfire primer. A pinfire firearm cartridge is an obsolete type of brass cartridge in which the priming compound is ignited by striking a small pin which protrudes radially from just above the base of the cartridge. Invented by Casimir Lefaucheux in 1828, but not patented until 1835, it was one of the earliest practical designs of a metallic cartridge. However,

10290-558: The .22 in (5.6 mm) calibers and smaller eventually became obsolete. The .22 Long Rifle , also fired in pistols , is the most popular recreational caliber today because it is inexpensive, relatively quiet, and has very low recoil . While the rimfire priming method is limited due to the thin cases required, it has enjoyed a few resurgences recently. First, it was Winchester's .22 Magnum Rimfire, or .22 WMR in 1959, followed in 1970 by Remington's short-lived 5mm Rimfire , based on Winchester's magnum case. In 2002, Hornady introduced

10437-603: The .410 (10.4mm), .380 (9mm), and .22 (5.5mm); these are correctly called " .410 bore ", not ".410-gauge". The .410 bore is the smallest shotgun size which is widely available commercially in the United States. For size comparison purposes, the .410, when measured by gauge, would be around 67- or 68-gauge (it is 67.62-gauge), The .410 is often mistakenly assigned 36-gauge. The 36 gauge had a 0.506" bore. Reloading components are still available. Snake shot (AKA: bird shot, rat shot , and dust shot ) refers to handgun and rifle cartridges loaded with small lead shot . Snake shot

10584-404: The 19th century to create an entirely new class of firearm — the cartridge arm. Flintlock and caplock shooters had long carried their ammunition in paper cartridges , which served to hold a measured charge of powder and a bullet in one convenient package; the paper also served to seal the bullet in the bore. Still, the source of ignition was handled separately from the cartridge. With

10731-525: The 19th century, the percussion or caplock system was well established. It was adopted by both sides in the American Civil War , as it was simpler and more reliable than the flintlock. The main reason the caplock was so quickly adopted was its similarity to the flintlock and the ease of converting older arms to use percussion-cap ignition; usually, the same lock and barrel could be used with minor changes. The flashpan and frizzen were removed and replaced by

10878-488: The Brenneke and Foster designs use a spin-stabilization method of stabilization through the use of angled fins on the slug’s outer walls. The slight 750 RPM spin is enough to stabilize the slug because the slug’s center of pressure is so much further back than its center of mass . Saboted slugs are similar in shape to handgun bullets and airguns pellets. Their center of pressure is in front of their center of mass, meaning

11025-475: The Foster slug where lead fouling is often a problem, a wad slug typically causes no significant leading, being nested inside a traditional shotshell wad functioning as a sabot as it travels down the shotgun barrel. Accuracy of wad slugs falls off quickly at ranges beyond 75 yd (69 m), thereby largely equaling the ranges possible with Foster slugs, while still not reaching the ranges possible with traditional sabot slugs using thicker-walled sabots. Unlike

11172-406: The Foster slug which is traditionally roll-crimped, the wad slug is fold-crimped. Because of this important difference, and because it uses standard shotshell wads, a wad slug can easily be reloaded using any standard modern shotshell reloading press without requiring specialized roll-crimp tools. A plumbata slug has a plastic stabilizer attached to the projectile. The stabilizer may be fitted into

11319-514: The M15 cartridge would actually cycle the semi-automatic M1911 pistols action. Garden guns are smooth-bore firearms specifically made to fire .22 caliber snake shot, and are commonly used by gardeners and farmers for pest control . Garden guns are short-range weapons that can do little harm past 15 to 20 yards, and they are quiet when fired with snake shot, compared to a standard ammunition. These guns are especially effective inside of barns and sheds, as

11466-404: The additional challenge that the flintlock provides. The next major leap in ignition technology was the invention of the chemical primer, or "cap", and the mechanism which used it, called the "caplock". Percussion ignition was invented by Scottish clergyman Rev. Alexander John Forsyth in 1807 but needed further refinements before it was gradually accepted in the 1820s to 1830s. By the middle of

11613-434: The advent of chemical primers, it was not long before several systems were invented with many different ways of combining bullet, powder, and primer into a single package which could be loaded quickly from the breech of the firearm. This greatly streamlined the reloading procedure and paved the way for semi- and fully automatic firearms. This big leap forward came at a price. It introduced an extra component into each round –

11760-415: The animal will be encountered at a close range—usually within 20 m (22 yd)—and will be moving very quickly. So, an ideal choke would be a cylinder bore (the loosest) as the hunter wants the shot to spread out as quickly as possible. If this hunter were using a full choke (the tightest) at 20 m (22 yd), the shot would be very close together and cause an unnecessarily large amount of damage to

11907-550: The barrel without a sabot). Examples include Russian "Tandem" wadcutter-type slug (the name is historical, as early versions consisted of two spherical steel balls) and ogive "UDAR" ("Strike") slug and French spool-like "Balle Blondeau" (Blondeau slug) and "Balle fleche Sauvestre" (Sauvestre flechette) with steel sabot inside expanding copper body and plastic rear empennage. Made of non-deforming steel, these slugs are well-suited to shooting in brush, but may produce overpenetration . They also may be used for disabling vehicles by firing in

12054-439: The burning tip of the match was positioned so that the lock would bring it into contact with the touchhole. To fire the gun, it was aimed and the trigger pulled. This brought the match down to the touchhole, igniting the powder. With careful attention, the slow-burning match could be kept burning for long periods of time, and the use of the lock mechanism made fairly accurate fire possible. The next revolution in ignition technology

12201-480: The cartridge case - which had to be removed before the gun could be reloaded. While a flintlock, for example, is immediately ready to be reloaded once it has been fired, adopting brass cartridge cases brought in the problems of extraction and ejection. The mechanism of a modern gun not only must load and fire the piece, but also must remove the spent case, which may require just as many moving parts. Many malfunctions involve this process, either through failure to extract

12348-404: The cartridge is fairly thick to hold the large primer , which is longer than primers used for rifle and pistol ammunition. Modern smokeless powders are far more efficient than the original black powder , so very little space is actually taken by propellant; shotguns use small quantities of double base powders , equivalent to quick-burning pistol powders, with up to 50% nitroglycerin . After

12495-549: The cartridge rather than simply dumped or poured in, are called "buckshot" or just "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. Buckshot size is most commonly designated by a series of numbers and letters, with smaller numbers indicating larger shot. Sizes larger than "0" are designated by multiple zeros. "00" (usually pronounced "double-aught" in North American English )

12642-430: The choke to allow for an easy passage. The "Foster slug", invented by Karl M. Foster in 1931, and patented in 1947 ( U.S. patent 2,414,863 ), is a type of shotgun slug designed to be fired through a smoothbore shotgun barrel, even though it commonly labeled as a "rifled" slug. A rifled slug is for smooth bores and a sabot slug is for rifled barrels. Most Foster slugs also have " rifling ", which consists of ribs on

12789-431: The cock. Half-cock was a safety position, used when loading, storing or carrying a loaded flintlock. The "full-cock" position held the cock all the way back and was the position from which the gun was fired. The L-shaped "frizzen" was the other half of the flintlock's ignition system. It served as both a flashpan cover and a steel striking surface for the flint. The frizzen was hinged and spring-loaded so that it would lock in

12936-562: The danger of firing high velocity cartridges loaded with steel shot causing barrel wear has not been published and the US equivalent of CIP, SAAMI , does not have any such restrictive limitations on the velocity of commercial steel shot cartridges sold in the United States. Similarly, shotgun manufacturers selling shotguns in the United States select their own appropriate standards for setting steel hardness for shotgun barrels and for velocities of steel shot ammunition. Some indoor shooting ranges prohibit

13083-511: The dry state, the primer within the rim becomes impact-sensitive. When the rim is then crushed by the hammer or firing pin, the primer detonates and ignites the powder charge. Rimfire cartridges are usually single-use and normally cannot be reloaded. Also, since the rim must be thin enough to be easily crushed, the peak pressure possible in the case is limited by the strength of this thin rim. Rimfire cartridges originally were available in calibers up to 1 in (25 mm) caliber, however, all but

13230-414: The engine compartment or for defeating hard body armor. Another variant of a Great Depression–era shotgun slug design is the wax slug. These were made by hand by cutting the end off a standard birdshot loaded shotshell, shortening the shell very slightly, pouring the lead shot out, and melting paraffin, candle wax, or crayons in a pan on a stovetop, mixing the lead birdshot in the melted wax, and then using

13377-460: The explosive decomposes into gas. Cartridges for military use require stable priming formulations, so war reserves of small-arms ammunition will dependably function after years of storage. Some machine gun and autocannon cartridges (such as the MG 131 13mm and M61 Vulcan 20mm) utilize an internal electric primer that contains chemicals activated by an externally provided electric charge, as opposed to

13524-422: The gun (it can wear the rifling of the barrel with long-term repeated use), the shot's spread increases nearly four-fold compared to a smooth bore, and pellets tend to form a ring-shaped pattern due to the pellets' tangential velocity moving them away from the bore line. In practical terms, the effective range of a rifled shotgun loaded with buckshot is limited to 10 yd (9.1 m) or less. Iron sights or

13671-403: The gun with one hand while simultaneously aiming at the target and looking for the touchhole makes it very difficult to fire accurately. The first attempt to make the process of firing a small arm easier was the "matchlock". The matchlock incorporated a "lock" (so-called because of its resemblance to door locks of the day) that was actuated by a trigger , originally called a "tricker." The lock

13818-465: The high-tech, high-velocity .17 caliber jacketed bullets make the .17 Rimfire cartridges quite a bit more expensive than the .22 caliber versions, they are excellent for shorter-range shooting and still far less expensive than comparable centerfire cartridges. In 2013, Winchester released the .17 Winchester Super Magnum , which utilizes the larger case of the long-obsolete .25 Stevens allowing for velocities approaching 3,000 ft/s (910 m/s) with

13965-415: The hollow, which serves to increase the structural integrity of the slug while also reducing the amount of expansion of the slug when fired, reducing the stress on the shot wad in which it rides down a barrel. Also, unlike Foster slugs that have thin fins on the outside of the slug, much like those on the Brenneke, the wad slug is shaped with an ogive or bullet shape, with a smooth outer surface. The wad slug

14112-408: The hull separates from the base and travels through the bore and down range. Cut shells have the advantage of expedience. They can be handmade on the spot as the need arises while on a hunt for small game if a larger game animal such as a deer or a bear appears. In terms of safety, part of the shell may remain behind in the barrel, causing potential problems if not noticed and cleared before another shot

14259-468: The introduction of one-piece plastic wads in the late 1950s through the early 1960s, to add additional wad volumes, in order to maintain the same overall cartridge length. Dram equivalence has no bearing on the reloading of cartridges with smokeless powder; loading a cartridge with an equivalent dram weight of smokeless powder would cause a shotgun to explode. It only has an equivalence in reloading with black powder. Shotgun slug A shotgun slug

14406-434: The lead used will have minimal alloying elements such as antimony and be very soft. Spreader wads are wads that have a small plastic or paper insert in the middle of the shot cup, usually a cylinder or "X" cross-section. When the shot exits the barrel, the insert helps to push the shot out from the center, opening up the pattern. Often these result in inconsistent performance, though modern designs are doing much better than

14553-455: The legal right to use a rifle for such game in order to hunt with shotgun slugs. Ammunition which contains no fewer than five projectiles, none of which exceed 0.36 in (9.1 mm) in diameter, is legal with a Section 2 Shotgun Certificate. Slugs, which contain only one projectile and usually exceed 0.36 in (9.1 mm) in diameter, are controlled under the Firearms Act, and require

14700-557: The likelihood of a target being hit. A shotgun's shot spread refers to the two-dimensional pattern that these projectiles (or shot) leave behind on a target. Another less important dimension of spread concerns the length of the in-flight shot string from the leading pellet to the trailing one. The use of multiple pellets is especially useful for hunting small game such as birds, rabbits, and other animals that fly or move quickly and can unpredictably change their direction of travel. However, some cartridges only contain one metal shot, known as

14847-451: The main propellant charge and ignites it, and this, in turn, propels the projectile. Due to their small size, these primers themselves lack the power to shoot the projectile, but still have enough energy to drive a bullet partway into the barrel — a dangerous condition called a squib load . The first step to firing a firearm of any sort is igniting the propellant. The earliest firearms were hand cannons , which were simple closed tubes. There

14994-454: The main propellant they are designed to ignite. They are of two types, those using shock-sensitive chemicals, and those reliant on chemicals ignited by an electric impulse. In smaller weapons the primer is usually of the first type and integrated into the base of a cartridge. Examples include handgun cartridges , rifle cartridges , and shotgun shells . Larger artillery pieces in contrast typically use electric priming. In artillery

15141-400: The majority of cartridges and by the early 1980s, plastic hulls had become universally adopted. Modern shotgun cartridges typically consist of a plastic hull, with the base covered in a thin brass or plated steel covering. Paper cartridges used to be common and are still made, as are solid brass shells. Some companies have produced what appear to be all-plastic shells, although in these there

15288-556: The mass of the shot charge. Other unusual projectiles such as saboted flechettes , rubber balls , rock salt and magnesium shards also exist. Cartridges can also be made with specialty non-lethal projectiles such as rubber and bean bag rounds . 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 saboted slugs in rifled barrels . Most shotgun cartridges are designed to be fired from

15435-653: The military changed from a fast-burning gunpowder to a progressive-burning Improved Military Rifle (IMR) powder. The slower pressure rise made the primer-actuated prototypes unreliable, so Garand abandoned the design for a gas-operated rifle that became the M1 Garand . AAI Corporation used a primer piston in a rifle submitted for the SPIW competition. Other rifles to use this system were the Postnikov APT and Clarke carbine as described in U.S. patent 2,401,616 . A similar system

15582-514: The moving propellers of their fighter aircraft with a relatively small compromise in the guns' output of automatic fire. Other countries such as the Soviet Union relied on cruder mechanical systems, which reduced the rate of fire of their guns more severely. Electric priming was also used in the EtronX system developed and sold by Remington for some of its sporting rifles. It was sold as a firearm with

15729-491: The need for an equivalence had started to fade, and actual black-powder loaded shotshells had largely vanished. In practice, "dram" equivalence today most commonly equates just to a velocity rating equivalence in fps (feet-per-second), while assuming lead shot. A secondary impact of this equivalence was that common cartridges needed to stay the same size, physically, e.g., 2-1/2 or 2-3/4-inch shells, in order to be used in pre-existing shotguns when smokeless powder started being in

15876-568: The open or closed position. When closed, the striking surface was positioned so that the flint would strike at the proper angle to generate a spark. The striking flint would also open the frizzen , exposing the flashpan to the spark. The flintlock mechanism was simpler and stronger than the wheel-lock, and the flint and steel provided a good, reliable source of ignition. The flintlock remained in military service for over 200 years, and flintlocks are still made today for historical re-enactments and muzzle-loading target competition, and for hunters who enjoy

16023-422: The outside of the slug. Like the Brenneke, these ribs impart a rotation on the slug to correct for manufacturing irregularities, thus improving precision (i.e. group size). Similar to traditional rifling, the rotation of the slug imparts gyroscopic stabilization. Saboted slugs are shotgun projectiles smaller than the bore of the shotgun and supported by a plastic sabot. The sabot is traditionally designed to engage

16170-442: The pistol primers used on the early brass shotgun shells to a primer containing both the priming charge and an anvil, making the shotgun primer taller. Card wads, made of felt and cork, as well as paperboard, were all used at various times, gradually giving way to plastic over powder wads, with card wads, and, eventually, to all plastic wads. Starting from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, plastic hulls started replacing paper hulls for

16317-420: The place of black-powder. As smokeless powder did not have to be loaded in the same volume as black-powder to achieve the same power, being more powerful, the volumes of wads had to increase, to fill the cartridge enough to permit proper crimps still to be made. Initially, this meant that increased numbers of over powder card wads had to be stacked to achieve the same stack-up length. Eventually, this also led to

16464-399: The portion of the case forward of the cut, creating a 'cut-shell'. This can be dangerous, as it is thought to cause higher chamber pressures—especially if part of the cartridge remains behind in the barrel and is not cleared before another shot is fired. Shooting the softest possible shot will result in more shot deformation and a wider pattern. This is often the case with cheap ammunition, as

16611-481: The powder charge. Berdan and Boxer primers are used in centerfire cartridges; the primers differ in construction. Various priming mixtures have been used in different sized primers to effect prompt ignition of the powder charge. Particles with relatively high heat capacity are required to promptly ignite smokeless powder deterrent coatings. Some priming explosives decompose into incandescent solids or liquids. Inert ingredients may be heated into incandescent sparks when

16758-405: The powder comes the wadding or wad. The primary purpose of a wad is to prevent the shot and powder from mixing, and to provide a seal that prevents gas from blowing through the shot rather than propelling it. The wad design may also encompass a shock absorber and a cup that holds the shot together until it is out of the barrel. A modern wad consists of three parts, the powder wad, the cushion, and

16905-426: The primers are frequently a separate component, placed inside the barrel to the rear of the main propellant charge—but there are other examples of guns, including for example some automatic weapons, designed to shoot cartridges with integral electric primers. Upon being struck with sufficient force generated by the firing pin , or electrically ignited, primers react chemically to produce heat, which gets transferred to

17052-400: The protruding pin was vulnerable to damage, displacement and accidental ignition. Moreover, the pin had to be positioned carefully in a small notch when loading, making the pinfire's use in repeating or self-loading weapons impossible. The pinfire survives today only in a few very small blank cartridges designed as noisemakers and in novelty guns. Rimfire cartridges use a thin brass case with

17199-491: The rabbit, or, alternatively, a complete miss of the rabbit. This would waste virtually all of the meat for a hit, as the little amount of meat remaining would be overly-laden with shot and rendered inedible. By using a cylinder bore, this hunter would maximize the likelihood of a kill, and maximize the amount of edible meat. Contrarily, a hunter who intends to hunt geese knows that a goose will likely be approximately 50 m (55 yd) away, so that hunter would want to delay

17346-501: The range of a rifle. In Alaska, seasoned professional guides and wild life officials use pump-action 12 gauge shotguns loaded with slugs for defense against both black and brown bears under 50 yd (46 m). Law enforcement officers are frequently equipped with shotguns. In contrast to traditional buckshot, slugs offer benefits of accuracy, range, and increased wounding potential at longer ranges while avoiding stray pellets that could injure bystanders or damage property. Further,

17493-450: The range. Birdshots are designed to be used for waterfowl and upland hunting , where the game is agile small/medium-sized birds . Their sizes are numbered similarly to the shotgun gauges—the smaller the number, the larger the shot (except in the obsolete Swedish system, in which it is reversed). Generally birdshot is just called "shot", such as "number 9 shot" or "BB shot". To make matters more complex, there are small differences in

17640-504: The rifling in a rifled shotgun barrel and impart a ballistic spin onto the projectile. This differentiates them from traditional slugs, which are not designed to benefit from a rifled barrel (though neither does the other any damage). Due to the fact that they do not contact the bore, they can be made from a variety of materials including lead, copper, brass, or steel. Saboted slugs can vary in shape, but are typically bullet-shaped for increased ballistic coefficient and greater range. The sabot

17787-443: The same as common birdshot payloads. Depending on the specific stack-up, a card wad is also sometimes located between the slug and the shotshell wad, depending largely on which hull is specified, with the primary intended purpose of improving fold crimps on the loaded wad slug shell that serves to regulate fired shotshell pressures and improve accuracy. It is also possible to fire a wad slug through rifled slug barrels, and, unlike with

17934-419: The same era. These brass shotgun hulls or cases closely resembled large rifle cartridges, in terms of both the head and primer portions of the cartridge, as well as in their dimensions. Card wads, made of felt, leather, and cork, as well as paperboard, were all used at various times. Waterglass (sodium silicate) was commonly used to cement the top overshot wad into these brass casings. No roll crimp or fold crimp

18081-494: The shot can also be altered by changing the characteristics of the cartridge. A buffering material, such as granulated plastic, sawdust, or similar material can be mixed with the shot to fill the spaces between the individual pellets. When fired, the buffering material compresses and supports the shot, reducing the deformation the shot pellets experience under the extreme acceleration. Antimony-lead alloys, copper plated lead shot, steel, bismuth, and tungsten composite shot all have

18228-414: The shot cup, which may be separate pieces or be one part. The powder wad acts as the gas seal (known as obturation ), and is placed firmly over the powder; it may be a paper or plastic part. The cushion comes next, and it is designed to compress under pressure, to act as a shock absorber and minimize the deformation of the shot; it also serves to take up as much space as is needed between the powder wad and

18375-512: The shot to continue on in flight undisturbed. Shot cups, where used, are also almost universally plastic. The shot fills the shot cup (which must be of the correct length to hold the desired quantity of shot), and the cartridges is then crimped , or rolled closed. The only known shotgun cartridge using rebated rims is the 12 Gauge RAS12, specially made for the RAS-12 semi automatic shotgun. Shotgun cartridges are generally measured by " gauge ", which

18522-403: The shot. Cushions are almost universally made of plastic with crumple zones , although for game shooting in areas grazed by farm stock or wildlife biodegradable fiber wads are often preferred. The shot cup is the last part of the cartridge, and it serves to hold the shot together as it moves down the barrel. Shot cups have slits on the sides so that they peel open after leaving the barrel, allowing

18669-507: The shotshell load will actually be slightly higher than the equivalent mass slug projectile load, due to an increased resistance that occurs from a phenomenon known as shot setback. Common 12 gauge slug masses are 7 ⁄ 8 oz (383 gr (24.8 g), 1 oz (437.5 gr (28.35 g), and 1 + 1 ⁄ 8 oz (492 gr (31.9 g), the same weight as common birdshot payloads. A 1 oz (437.5 gr (28.35 g) 2.75 in (70 mm) Foster 12 gauge shotgun slug achieves

18816-493: The size of American, Standard (European), Belgian, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, British, and Australian shot. That is because some systems go by diameter in inches (American), some go by diameter in millimeters (European), and the British system goes by the number of lead shot per ounce. Australia has a hybrid system due to its market being flooded with a mixture of British, American, and European cartridges. For American shot,

18963-440: The snake shot will not shoot holes in the roof or walls, or more importantly injure livestock with a ricochet . They are also used for pest control at airports, warehouses, stockyards, etc. The standard definition of shotgun gauge assumes that a pure lead ball is used. The following formulas relate the bore diameter d n (in inches) to the gauge n : For example, the common bore diameter d n = 0.410 inches ( .410 bore )

19110-413: The snake shot will not shoot holes in the roof or walls, or more importantly injure livestock with a ricochet . They are also used for airport and warehouse pest control. Shot shells have also been historically issued to soldiers, to be used in standard issue rifles. The .45-70 "Forager" round, which contained a thin wooden bullet filled with birdshot, was intended for hunting small game to supplement

19257-467: The soldiers' rations. This round in effect made the .45-70 rifle into a small gauge shotgun , capable of killing rabbits, ducks, and other small game. During World War II, the United States military developed the .45 ACP M12 and M15 shot cartridge cartridges. They were issued to pilots, to be used as foraging ammunition in the event that they were shot down. While they were best used in the M1917 revolvers ,

19404-440: The speed of follow-up shots. Other rounds include: Most modern sporting shotguns have interchangeable choke tubes to allow the shooter to change the spread of shot that comes out of the gun. In some cases, it is not practical to do this; the gun might have fixed choke, or a shooter firing at receding targets may want to fire a wide pattern immediately followed by a narrower pattern out of a single barrelled shotgun. The spread of

19551-543: The spread of the shot as much as possible by using a full choke. By using a full choke for targets that are farther away, the shooter again maximizes the likelihood of a kill, and maximizes the amount of edible meat. This also maximizes the chances of a swift and humane kill as the target would be hit with enough shot to kill quickly instead of only wounding the animal. For older shotguns having only one fixed choke, intended primarily for equally likely use against rabbits, squirrels, quail, doves, and pheasant, an often-chosen choke

19698-570: The standard versions. Another disadvantage of steel pellets is their tendency to ricochet unpredictably after striking any hard surface. This poses a major hazard at indoor ranges or whenever metal targets or hard backstops (e.g. concrete wall vs. a dirt berm) are used. For this reason, steel shot is explicitly banned at most indoor shooting ranges. Any shooters who are considering buying ammo loaded with steel for anything other than hunting purposes should first find out if using it won't cause undue hazard to themselves and others. However, data supporting

19845-559: The traditional improvised solutions. Intentionally deformed shot (hammered into ellipsoidal shape) or cubical shot will also result in a wider pattern, much wider than spherical shot, with more consistency than spreader wads. Spreader wads and non-spherical shot are disallowed in some competitions. Hunting loads that use either spreaders or non-spherical shot are usually called "brush loads", and are favored for hunting in areas where dense cover keeps shot distances very short. Most shotgun cartridges contain multiple pellets in order to increase

19992-636: The use of lead, as well as lead-based and cheaper shotshell ammunition, to remain competitive worldwide. The C.I.P. enforces approval of all ammunition a manufacturer or importer intends to sell in any of the (mainly European) C.I.P. member states. The ammunition manufacturing plants are obliged to test their products during production against the C.I.P. pressure specifications. A compliance report must be issued for each production lot and archived for later verification if needed. Besides pressure testing, cartridges containing steel pellets require an additional Vickers hardness test . The steel pellets used must have

20139-417: The use of steel shot over concern of it causing a spark when hitting an object down range and causing a fire. Cartridges are loaded with different sizes of shot depending on the target. For skeet shooting , a small shot such as a No. 8 or No. 9 would be used, because range is short and a high density pattern is desirable. Trap shooting requires longer shots, and so a larger shot, usually # 7 + 1 ⁄ 2

20286-427: The world. Legislation differs with each country. Large game (including deer and wild boar) hunting is only allowed with large caliber rifles; shotguns are only allowed for small and medium-sized game, up to foxes and geese. However, when a shotgun has a rifled barrel, it is considered a rifle, and it becomes legal for hunting roe deer with a minimum caliber 5.56 mm (0.219 in) and 980 J (720 ft⋅lbf) at

20433-572: The wrong places, so they opt for composite pellets in all situations. The use of lead shot is banned in Canada and the United States when hunting migratory game birds, such as ducks and geese, forcing the use of non-toxic shot in these countries for waterfowl hunting (lead shot can still legally be used in the United States for hunting game other than waterfowl). This means that manufacturers need to market new types of lead-free shotgun ammunition loaded with alternative pellets to meet environmental restrictions on

20580-456: Was a common hunting field load, and a heavy full power load would have contained about a 4 to 4-1/2 dram load, whereas a cartridge containing only a 2 dram load of black-powder was a common target practice load. A hunter looking for a field or full power load familiar with black-powder shotgun loads would have known exactly what the equivalence of the cartridges would have been in the newly introduced smokeless powder. Today, however, this represents

20727-419: Was a simple lever which pivoted when pulled and lowered the match down to the touchhole. The match was a slow-burning fuse made of plant fibers that were soaked in a solution of nitrates , charcoal , and sulfur , and dried. This "slow-match" was ignited before the gun was needed, and it would slowly burn, keeping a hot ember at the burning end. After the gun was loaded and the touchhole primed with powder,

20874-430: Was a small aperture, the "touchhole", drilled in the closed end of the tube, leading to the main powder charge. This hole was filled with finely ground powder, which was then ignited with a hot ember or torch . With the advent of hand-held firearms, this became an undesirable way of firing a gun. Holding a burning stick while trying to pour a charge of black powder carefully down a barrel is dangerous, and trying to hold

21021-473: Was developed as a measure of stopping power for hunting game, however it is a rather flawed calculation. It is defined as the product of bullet mass, velocity and diameter, using the imperial units grains (equal to 64.79891 mg), feet per second (equal to 0.3048 m/s) and inches (equal to 25.4 mm): Some TKOF example values for shotgun slugs are: To compare with rifles, some TKOF example values for rifle cartridges are: Full-bore slugs such as

21168-407: Was held in a spring-loaded arm, called the "cock" from the resemblance of its motion to a pecking chicken. The cock rotated through approximately a 90-degree arc and was held in the tensioned, or "cocked" position by a trigger. Usually, flintlocks could lock the cock in two positions. The "half-cock" position held the cock halfway back, and used a deep notch so that pulling the trigger would not release

21315-508: Was introduced and required for Migratory Bird Hunting (Ducks & Geese). Lead shot in waterfowl hunting was banned throughout the United States in 1991. Due to environmental regulations, lead-loaded ammunition must be used carefully by hunters in Europe. For instance, in France, it cannot be fired in the vicinity of a pond . In fact, the laws are so complex that some hunters in Europe prefer not to risk getting into problems for firing lead pellets in

21462-416: Was the "wheel-lock". It used a spring-loaded, serrated steel wheel which rubbed against a piece of iron pyrite , similar to a modern lighter . A key was used to wind the wheel and put the spring under tension. Once tensioned, the wheel was held in place by a trigger. When the trigger was pulled, the serrated edge of the steel rubbed against the pyrite, generating sparks . These sparks were directed into

21609-582: Was used on these early brass cases, although roll crimps were eventually used by some manufacturers to hold the overshot wad in place securely. The primers on these early shotgun cartridges were identical to pistol primers of the same diameter. 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 cartridges using paper hulls were nearly always roll crimped, although fold crimping also eventually became popular. The primers on these paper hull cartridges also changed from

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