CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

SHOTGUN AMMUNITION

Shotgun ammunition is very different than either pistol or rifle ammunition. We now know that shotgun shells do not have ­calibers but rather gauge and bore sizes. You may hear experienced shooters ask about “shotgun calibers,” but it’s good to know the correct ­nomenclature.

The composition of shotgun ammunition is unique:

1. Shell: The outer container for all the parts below. Often made of plastic or paper, it is reloadable. Modern shotgun ammo is all centerfire, not rimfire.
2. Primer: Has the same function as in a pistol or rifle primer, but there are specific shotgun shell primers.
3. Powder: The primary energy source that is ignited after the primer is struck by the firing pin.
4. Shot: Small, round, BB-like projectiles, often made of lead or steel. The number of these BBs in a single shell can range from six to over thirteen hundred.
5. Wad: A plastic or fiber part that separates the shot from the powder. The wad forms a seal in the barrel so that the hot gases can uniformly push the shot through the barrel when fired.

Shot Size

Shot size is designated by numbers from #2 to #9. Unlike with gauge, the larger the shot-size number is, the larger the diameter of the shot (BBs) is.

Load

There’s also a “load” measurement where various amounts of shot (measured in weight, by the ounce) can be loaded into a shell.

Length

Shells also differ in lengths: 2¾ inch, 3 inch, and 3½ inch. It is very important that you purchase the right-length shells for your shotgun. Remember to check the barrel and frame for the gauge and shell length. If that information is not visible for any reason, consult your owner’s manual, or bring your shotgun to a professional for evaluation.

Type

There are three types of shotgun ammunition: birdshot, buckshot, and slugs.

Birdshot, buckshot, and slugs.

Birdshot is used in all shotgun sports, including trap, skeet, sporting clays, and 3-gun competitions, as do other shotgun sports (3-gun also uses buckshot and slugs).

Buckshot is similar to birdshot, except that the BBs are larger. Nomenclature for buckshot is typically “00 buckshot” (pronounced “double-aught buckshot”) or “000 buckshot” (“triple-aught buckshot”). There are other types of buckshot, but these are the two main sizes. Buckshot is very common as a home defense round due to the larger-size BBs and their ability to knock a person down .

Finally, slugs are simply large bullets. A slug is a precision round, and, if you are shooting a slug, you want to bring in all the rifle fundamentals, such as focusing on your front sight post as you squeeze the trigger. Some shotgun barrels have rifling (like pistol and rifle barrels). which aid in putting spin on a slug to help remain stability in flight.

Shotgun rounds come in both low- and high-velocity (recoil) varieties, and in many gauges, so finding the correct ammo, shotsize, shotgun, and choke can be a challenge. The “correct” setup is subjective and depends on how you’re using the shotgun. Since this book is designed to give you only a high-level overview of marksmanship and how to handle and use firearms safely, I’ll refer you to the those who specialize in hunting, skeet shooting, home defense, or other particular gun activities for further guidance on your particular setup.

Chapter Summary:

• The shotgun shares all the same major assembly groups: stock, action, barrel.
• Action types include break-action, pump-action, and semiautomatic.
• Ammunition components are shell, primer, powder, shot, and wad.
• Chokes are used to change the restriction of shot as it leaves the barrel. Different shotgun activities require different-sized chokes.
• Patterning a shotgun is important because it enables you to see the shot distribution at a certain distance. This helps you learn how your shotgun shoots with differing combinations of ammo, choke, and distance.
• Ammunition types are birdshot, buckshot, and slugs.