Misplaced Pages

#165834

93-512: For maximum versatility the M30 Luftwaffe Drilling featured two side-by-side 12 gauge shotgun barrels on top and a 9.3x74mmR rifle barrel below. The left-hand barrel was left unchoked for shooting slugs and the right barrel was choked for shooting birdshot . They were manufactured by the German firm J. P. Sauer und Sohn GmbH . The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling ("Drilling" meaning "triplet")

186-453: 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

279-434: 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

372-426: 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

465-459: A 4-bore express rifle often used a 1,500-grain (3.43 oz; 97.20 g) bullet wrapped in paper to keep lead buildup to a minimum in the barrel. In either case, assuming a 4-ounce (110 g) mass for a 4-bore rifle bullet from this table would be inaccurate, although indicative. Birdshot A shotgun cartridge , shotshell , or shell is a type of rimmed , cylindrical (straight-walled) ammunition used specifically in shotguns . It

558-426: A bore diameter (in inches) of approximately d n = 2 3 4 π 1   l b / n 0.4097   l b / i n 3 3 {\displaystyle d_{n}=2{\sqrt[{3}]{{\frac {3}{4\pi }}{\frac {1\mathrm {~lb} /n}{0.4097\mathrm {~lb/in^{3}} }}}}} Explanation: This simplifies to

651-406: 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

744-433: 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

837-413: 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

930-587: 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

1023-406: 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

SECTION 10

#1732851241166

1116-408: 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

1209-958: A specialist in rare and custom bores. The 14 gauge has not been loaded in the United States since the early 20th century, although the 2 + 9 ⁄ 16 -inch (65 mm) hull is still made in France. The very small 24 and 32 gauges are still produced and used in some European and South American countries. Punt guns , which use very large shells, are rarely encountered. Also seen in limited numbers are smoothbore firearms in calibers smaller than .360 such as .22 Long Rifle (UK No. 1 bore) and 9mm Flobert rimfire (UK No. 3 bore), designed for short-range pest control and garden guns . The No. 2 bore (7 mm) has long been obsolete. All three of these rimfires are available in shot and BB-cap. The 10 gauge narrowly escaped obsolescence when steel and other nontoxic shot became required for waterfowl hunting , since

1302-437: A standard ammunition. These guns are especially effective inside of barns and sheds, as 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

1395-586: 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

1488-468: 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

1581-453: 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

1674-456: 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

1767-518: 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

1860-464: 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

1953-536: Is choked for birdshot . This setup is common for Drillings , this allows the weapon to fire three shots without either opening the breech or lowering the weapon from the shoulder. Gauge (firearms) The gauge (in American English or more commonly referred to as bore in British English) of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the inner diameter (bore diameter) of the barrel . Gauge

SECTION 20

#1732851241166

2046-428: Is commonly abbreviated as "ga.", "ga", or "G". An n -gauge diameter means that a ball of lead (density 11.34 g/cm or 0.4097 lb/in ) with that diameter has a mass equal to ⁠ 1 / n ⁠ part of the mass of the international avoirdupois pound (approx. 454 grams), that is, that n such lead balls could be cast from a pound weight of lead. Therefore, an n -gauge shotgun or n -bore rifle has

2139-410: Is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound, e.g., a one-twelfth pound lead ball fits a 12-gauge bore. Therefore with a 12-gauge, it would take 12 balls of lead of the same size as the 12 gauge shotgun's inner bore diameter to weigh 1 pound (454 grams). The term

2232-437: Is due to the larger swept volume of the overbored barrel. Once only found in expensive custom shotguns, overbored barrels are now becoming common in mass-marketed guns. Aftermarket backboring is also commonly done to reduce the weight of the barrel and move the center of mass backward for a better balance. Factory overbored barrels generally are made with a larger outside diameter, and will not have this reduction in weight—though

2325-476: 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

2418-641: 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

2511-432: Is limited, as this table assumes the use of round ball, rather than conical bullets; for example, a typical 4-bore rifle from circa 1880 used a 2,000-grain (4.57 oz; 129.60 g) bullet, or sometimes slightly heavier, rather than using a 4-ounce (110 g) round lead ball. (Round balls lose velocity faster than conical bullets and have much steeper ballistic trajectories beyond about 75 yards or 69 metres) In contrast,

2604-484: 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

2697-499: 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

2790-616: Is related to the measurement of cannons , which were also measured by the weight of their iron round shot ; an eight-pounder would fire an 8 lb (3.6 kg) ball. Gauge is commonly used today in reference to shotguns , though historically it was also used in large double rifles , which were made in sizes up to 2 bore during their heyday in the 1880s, being originally loaded with black powder cartridges. These very large rifles, called " elephant guns ", were intended for use primarily in Africa and Asia for hunting large dangerous game. Gauge

2883-409: 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

M30 Luftwaffe Drilling - Misplaced Pages Continue

2976-497: Is the 12 gauge, particularly in the United States. The 20-gauge shotgun is the next most popular size, being favored by shooters uncomfortable with the weight and recoil of a 12-gauge gun, and is popular for upland game hunting . The next most popular sizes are the .410 bore and the 28 gauge. The least popular sizes are the 10 gauge and the 16 gauge, while far less common than the other four gauges, they are still commercially available. Shotguns and shells exceeding 10 gauge, such as

3069-637: Is the bore size, right side is the case length The table below lists various gauge sizes with weights. The bores marked are found in punt guns, obsolete, or rare weapons only. However, 4 gauge was sometimes found used in blunderbuss guns made for coach defense and protection against piracy. The .410 and 23 mm are exceptions; they are actual bore sizes, not gauges. If the .410 bore and 23 mm diameters were measured using more traditional means, they would be equivalent to 67.62 gauge (.410 bore) and 6.278 gauge (23 mm), respectively. Note: Use of this table for estimating bullet masses for historical large-bore rifles

3162-435: 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

3255-407: 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

3348-489: 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,

3441-405: Is typically loaded with numerous small, spherical sub- projectiles called shot . Shotguns typically use a smoothbore barrel with a tapered constriction at the muzzle to regulate the extent of scattering . 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

3534-492: 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

3627-495: The M1917 revolvers , 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

3720-402: 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

3813-426: 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

M30 Luftwaffe Drilling - Misplaced Pages Continue

3906-604: 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

3999-444: The 1970s lead-free ammunition loaded with steel , bismuth , or tungsten composite pellets instead of more traditional lead-based shot 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

4092-513: The 8 gauge, 6 gauge, 4 gauge, and 2 gauge are historically important in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in mainland Europe . Today, they are rarely manufactured. These shells are usually black powder paper or brass cartridges, as opposed to modern smokeless powder plastic or wax cartridges. The 18, 15, 11, 6, 3, and 2 gauge shells are the rarest of all; owners of these types of rare shotguns will usually have their ammunition custom loaded by

4185-748: The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling during hunting trips with Göring at the Carinhall. The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling saw use by the German Luftwaffe in World War II, primarily during the North African campaign , where it was used as a survival weapon by some Luftwaffe aircrews. It was also used for trap shooting , which was an exercise used by aircrew to sharpen the eyesight and reflexes of Luftwaffe pilots during obligatory training. Its powerful 9.3x74mmR cartridge , ballistically similar to .375 Flanged Nitro Express ,

4278-687: The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling was not routinely issued to Luftwaffe pilots. The head of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring , was an avid hunter who often hosted guests at his elaborate hunting lodge, the Carinhall . The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling was possibly ordered through the Luftwaffe by Göring, to be used as gifts for visiting dignitaries, Knight's Cross holders, Luftwaffe aces, Wehrmacht generals, Nazi officials, and other guests who were invited to his hunting lodge. Luftwaffe general and flying ace Adolf Galland recalled that he and several of his squadron mates were gifted

4371-424: 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 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

4464-415: 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

4557-420: The bore diameter of a shotgun is not a simple process, as it must be done away from either end. Shotgun bores are commonly "overbored" or "backbored", meaning that most of the bore (from the forcing cone to the choke) is slightly larger than the value given by the formula. This is claimed to reduce felt recoil and improve patterning. The recoil reduction is due to the larger bore producing a slower acceleration of

4650-404: 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

4743-549: 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 )

SECTION 50

#1732851241166

4836-562: 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

4929-568: The early 20th century. Drillings had existed earlier, but prior to the introduction of affordable and reliable cast steel gun barrels in the late 19th century they were either prohibitively expensive or too heavy and unwieldy to see much use. The M30 Luftwaffe Drilling was stored in an aluminium chest on board the aircraft, containing the weapon disassembled into barrel assembly and stock, a sling and cleaning kit, 20 rounds of 9.3x74mmR ammunition, 20 12-gauge slug shells and 25 12-gauge birdshot shells. The whole chest weighed 15 kilograms (32 lb), and

5022-408: The factory barrels will be tougher, since they have a normal barrel wall thickness. Firing slugs from overbored barrels can result in very inconsistent accuracy, as the slug may be incapable of obturating to fill the oversized bore. The six most common shotgun gauges, in descending order of size, are the 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge , 28 gauge, and .410 bore . By far the most popular

5115-422: The following formula for the internal diameter of the barrel of an n -gauge shotgun: d n = 1.67 / n 3 {\displaystyle d_{n}=1.67/{\sqrt[{3}]{n}}} in inches, or d n = 42.4 / n 3 {\displaystyle d_{n}=42.4/{\sqrt[{3}]{n}}} in millimeters. Likewise, given the diameter in inches,

5208-464: The gauge n : For example, the common bore diameter d n = 0.410 inches ( .410 bore ) 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

5301-480: The gauge is n = 4.66 / d n 3 {\displaystyle n=4.66/d_{n}^{3}} The gauge of firearms is determined by: 1 pound/gauge = weight of lead sphere. Caliber of the bore is then measured. Since shotguns were not originally intended to fire solid projectiles, but rather a compressible mass of shot, the actual diameter of the bore can vary. The fact that most shotgun bores are not cylindrical also causes deviations from

5394-401: The ideal bore diameter. The chamber of the gun is larger, to accommodate the thickness of the shotshell walls, and a "forcing cone" in front of the chamber reduces the diameter down to the bore diameter. The forcing cone can be as short as a fraction of an inch, or as long as a few inches on some guns. At the muzzle end of the barrel, the choke can constrict the bore even further, so measuring

5487-629: The larger shell could hold the much larger sizes of low-density steel shot needed to reach the ranges necessary for waterfowl hunting. The move to steel shot reduced the use of 16 and 20 gauges for waterfowl hunting, and the shorter, 2 + 3 ⁄ 4 -inch (70 mm), 12-gauge shells as well. However, the 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 -inch (89 mm) 12-gauge shell, with its higher SAAMI pressure rating of 14,000 psi (97 MPa) compared to standard 2 + 3 ⁄ 4 -inch (70 mm) and 3-inch (76 mm) 12-gauge shells with their lower pressure rating of 11,500 psi (79 MPa), began to approach

5580-434: 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

5673-429: The lever for opening the breech. With the selector in the forward position, the 100 m (110 yd) V-notch rear sight is raised and the forward trigger engaged. In this mode, the front trigger fires the rifle barrel while the rear trigger fires the left shotgun barrel, which is choked for Brenneke slugs . Sliding the selector back retracts the rear sight and makes the front trigger fire the right shotgun barrel, which

SECTION 60

#1732851241166

5766-558: 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

5859-400: 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

5952-559: 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

6045-452: The military iteration of the M30 was produced from 1941 to 1942. They were procured outside of normal military channels. The military versions were made to the same standards of fit and finish as the commercial version, making the M30 extremely expensive. The M30 was a combination gun of common drilling type with two shotgun barrels over a rifle barrel, which became popular with European hunters in

6138-491: 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

6231-469: The performance of the 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 -inch (89 mm) 10-gauge shells with a pressure rating of 11,000 psi (76 MPa). Newer nontoxic shots, such as bismuth or tungsten -nickel-iron alloys, and even tungsten- polymer blends, regain much or all of the performance loss, but are much more expensive than steel or lead shot. However, laboratory research indicates that tungsten alloys can actually be quite toxic internally. Legend: left side

6324-442: 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

6417-420: 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

6510-402: 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

6603-405: 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

6696-491: 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

6789-450: 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

6882-419: 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

6975-495: 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

7068-414: 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

7161-513: 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

7254-419: The shot, and the patterning improvements are due to the larger muzzle diameter for the same choke constriction, which results in less shot deformation. A 12-gauge shotgun, nominally 18.5 mm (0.73 in), can range from a tight 18 mm (0.71 in) to an extreme overbore of 20 mm (0.79 in). Some also claim an increased velocity with the overbored barrels, up to 15 m/s (49 ft/s), which

7347-403: 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

7440-493: 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,

7533-414: 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

7626-399: 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

7719-440: 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

7812-543: 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

7905-571: 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

7998-559: 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

8091-418: 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

8184-512: 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 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

8277-465: Was a Drilling-type Combination gun produced by JP Sauer & Sohn, it was the most finely finished and luxurious survival rifle ever issued by a military force. The commercial quality of the M30 Drilling, the fact that its container and accessories were packed without military acceptance proofs, its limited production and high manufacturing costs, led many historians and arms collectors to conclude that

8370-456: 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

8463-535: Was best suited for Sub-Saharan African plains hunting, even though it was mostly used by pilots flying over North Africa , where dangerous fauna are less common. Various reasons have been provided for this gratuitous cartridge, one of which being a mistaken assumption that there were big cats in the region where these firearms would be used. Another reason given is Hermann Göring's personal fondness for hunting, especially for luxurious rifles. The original production model had been marketed to hunters starting in 1930, and

8556-415: Was intended to be retrieved from the aircraft after it crashed rather than taken as the crew bailed out. The weapon has two hammerless shotgun barrels with a single rifle barrel underneath, firing two 12 gauge or 16 gauge shotgun shells (16 gauge seems to have only been used on the commercial version) alongside a single 9.3×74mmR rifle round. The M30 has two triggers and a sliding selector directly behind

8649-582: 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

#165834