There are a lot of different types of slug. 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, is approximately equal to th… The standard shotgun chamber size is 2 3/4 inches for all gauge shotguns. 20 gauge shells are commonly available in both 2 3/4″ and 3″ lengths. There are laws around the use of lead shot which should be researched and obeyed. Shotgun choke is the constriction at the muzzle end of the gun that tightens the pattern of pellets. Express 410 Gauge - 3" - Supreme Game Shotgun Cartridges - 19gr - 6 Shot - Fibre x250 £ 96.65 RRP £ 0.00 Diameter in mm: Pellets per oz. We are the original gun news source. But, the variety of that ammo might be confusing, especially if you’re new to shotguns. Send your email to [email protected] and I will try and get your email added. Never fear, because we’re going to help you understand everything you need to know about shotgun ammunition.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-gunnewsdaily_com-box-3-0')}; Join 70,000 Readers For Our Weekly Discounts, A shotgun shell is a “a self-contained cartridge typically loaded with multiple metallic ‘shot’, which are small, generally spherical projectiles.”. It’s also important to point out that you should never fire a gauge different than that of your shotgun. If it said 24 grams on the box, the cartridges would still contain number 7.5 shot but in less volume – 24 grams vs 28 grams. Share. Get in touch with the manufacturer, ask a competent gunsmith or have a look at the gun its self – on some guns it’s stated on the barrels. It’s designed to fire through a smooth bore and is shaped more like a bullet with a smooth outer surface. And P.S. This shotgun’s maximum shell length is 2 ¾ inches. The next most popular sizes are 28 gauge and .410 bore. Modern fibre wads can still throw great patterns and being more environmentally friendly, for us it’s a no brainer. This may have been true at one point in the history of shotguns, but not any more. I enjoyed your article tremendously. Thank you. As the largest shotgun stockists in the South East, you can rely on us for high performance shotgun cartridges for your clay and game shoots. These ribs allow a small amount of rotation as the slug moves down the barrel.if(typeof __ez_fad_position != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-gunnewsdaily_com-banner-1-0')}; They also reduce friction in the barrel, increasing the slug’s velocity. For clays you might want number 7.5 shot whereas for pheasants you may want number 5 or 6 shot. If you were at the clay ground shooting with a 12g cartridge containing 28 grams of number 7.5 shot and the velocity of the cartridge was 1,350 fps, the required lead would be different to the same cartridge with a velocity of 1,550 fps. I use the terms "shotgun cartridge" and "shotshell" interchangeably.Dimensions on the shotgun pages are a mixture of metric and imperial measurements. Because the shot is travelling towards the target at 200 feet per second faster compared with the first cartridge! Nice piece. Good article, the only thing that I would have to say on this is that the high and low brass does matter… kind of. The shot is the part of the cartridge that ends up (hopefully) hitting the target. : 1) Super-Magnum = 3½” length2) Magnum = 2¾” and 3″ length, or is it just 3″ length? Please let me know in the comments below. As mentioned above, number 7.5 shot is fairly typical for clays. Modern 12-gauge shotshells come in 2 ½-, 2 ¾-, 3-, and 3 ½-inch lengths, all holding different amounts of powder. This heat then ignites the powder. The usual problem is with 12-bore shotgun cartridge sizes: a 2½in (65mm) chamber will fit a 3in (76mm) cartridge, but it won’t do it any good. Life-long Second Amendment Supporter. Having a basic understanding of how cartridges are made, how different cartridges can impact your performance in the field and how to select the correct cartridge for the correct scenario you are one step closer to being the best shot you can be. When the gun is fired the cartridge will open and reach it’s true length and if the chamber isn’t big enough, the pressure will be too great and the gun could explode in your face. Most modern shotguns have a chamber size of 3″ (or 76.2mm) so can accommodate any of these cartridge lengths. Shot size and volume. The typical #4 buckshot has 21 pellets of 6mm shot and a #000 cartridge has around 6 to 8 pellets of 9mm shot. Bismuth shot is more forgiving to older guns being as soft as lead but is much more expensive than steel shot but again, consult with your gunsmith to find the right cartridge for your gun if you do have a need to use a lead alternative cartridge.