[2ndamd]

Two tumbs up for this show. It was a Modern Marvels show that was featuring the shotgun. It had a ton of good information on it. But, it was amazing to watch how versatile these peices of equipment are. You can hunt rabbits to Moose with one gun and still have the most effective weapon on the two legged battlefield.

I did not know Germany were such cry babies about the shotgun being used in WW1.:banghead: Heck, they were using poisonous gas in the trenches.

Wow! What a weapon the shotgun is!:D

Anybody else see this Modern Marvels show?

[blutarsky]

just looked at the schedule and it looks like it airs again at 4pm eastern (just under 3hrs from now) on the history channel -- thanks for the heads-up, i'll have to tune in and have it on in the background while working.

[VincentWhytt]

I saw it today, though I've seen it a few times before then. Quite interesting, in my opinion. Seeing it surprised me, as the History Channel's line up has been polluted with crap like "Ice Road Truckers" and "The Boneyard" lately. I wish they aired more of their "Tales of the Gun" series, but oh well. They still have quite a bit of excellent programming.

[Nomad101bc]

You can always buy "tales of the gun" for a fairly affordable price. The seasons been out for sale for quite some time now.

[1 old 0311]

It was a good watch.

[The Deer Hunter]

Aye, I also recall how they said if you were captured with a shotgun or any shells for a "trenchsweeper" you would be put to death expediantly by the German army.

[MCgunner]

Don't get TOO amazed by the shotgun. It won't take a mulie across a canyon. I'm glad I was hunting with my 7 mag that day. :D And, common wisdom is that the average engagement range in military battles is 300 yards at which the shotgun is useless..

Yeah, but you're right, they are VERY versatile. I reach for my shotgun when I want versatility. They're great hiking companions for a long gun for that reason. I really like doubles, adds to the versatility.

Of course, mostly what I do with my shotguns is hunt birds. That's what shotguns are really about. I prefer rifles for small game (shotguns are cheating) or even pistols and rifles or handguns for big game. Shotguns are about moving targets to me. I've killed dozens of deer in my life, but never with a shotgun. Most fell to a .257 Roberts, a few to a 7 mag, some to a .308 Winchester, five to a contender in .30-30, one to a .30-30 Savage M340 rifle, three to a .357 magnum (one from a carbine), and one to a sporterized SKS. All my hogs have been shot with a rifle. Never shot anything bigger than a sandhill crane with a shotgun. Actually some of those cranes were bigger than some of the deer around here, LOL!

[The Deer Hunter]

common wisdom is that the average engagement range in military battles is 300 yards at which the shotgun is useless..

I think its also common wisdom that not everyone has shotguns too..

:neener:

[hapuna]

Don't get TOO amazed by the shotgun. It won't take a mulie across a canyon. I'm glad I was hunting with my 7 mag that day. And, common wisdom is that the average engagement range in military battles is 300 yards at which the shotgun is useless..

300yds might be true in Iraq or Afghanistan but do you remember Viet Nam? I don't think there were many 300 yd. shots there.:)

[Geno]

Well, the thread's topic is "shotguns", not rifles.

A shotgun has more power than any firearm I have seen, for close range shooting, save for a .50 BMG. The 12 gauge can out-penetrate anything save for it. A 12 gauge slug can take out both of a car's doors, take a home's door right off of the hinges, and blast a hole through any wall save for concrete.

I have for many years referred to the 12 gauge slug as the "poor man's .50 BMG". And when the chips are down, someone is kicking on your front door, nothing brings greater comfort that a 12 gauge with buckshot, unless it's an LEO protecting your behind with his 12 gauge with buckshot. For some reason every LEO's cruiser has a shotgun.

By the way, I too watched the broadcast...it was a good view.

[VincentWhytt]

You sure about that penetration, Doc? I'd imagine a .308 or 30-06 would outpenetrate a 12 gauge slug. At close range I'm sure the slug would do more damage, but I don't think it could penetrate barriers better than a high powered rifle. I could be wrong, but it just seems unlikely.

[Geno]

Absoluetely positive. I bought a video in which the researcher video recorded the penetration tests through all form of targets. A 12 gauge slug out penetrates anything but a .50 BMG. I am certain a 10 gauge would do better than a 12, but you see the point. Specifically they did try all form of pistols, rifles, etc.

Edit to add: I am looking for the video. It's pretty cool. I have posted the name before. Here are these titles:

1) Deadly Weapons: Firearms and Firepower, ANITE Productions.

2) Deadly Effects: Wound Ballistics, ANITE Productions.

Doc2005

[sm]

Don't personally own a TV so therefore did not see the show.

Shotguns were also used to shoot grenades while in the air, before they reached the trenches.

Aerial Gunners learned to lead targets (planes) by shooting skeet.

Shooting from moving vehicles, at both stationary and moving targets were taught as well.


Side note:
As a kid, I watched Mentors, both ladies and gents, shoot a firebomb with a bone stock shotgun to prevent firebombs from reaching the front porch, roof or other structure during civil unrests.

Just another reason why I and others prefer a more traditional bone stock shotgun, gun fit, correct basic fundamentals , and "shotguns are pointed - not aimed".
Versatile , when a gun and shotgunner are set up as such...

;)

[Oldnamvet]

I only saw part of it but in the short segment I saw, there was a "hollywood" move of the cowboy on the sidewalk doing the one-handed pump of a shotgun. Just holding the shotgun by the forearm with the left hand and jacking it up and down to pump it is a little too much macho stuff for me. I'll try to find time to see all of it next time around.

[axeman_g]

it was a nice program to watch. The doughboy with the '97 and bayonet was fun. Seeing him blast down a trenchline... eery.

The use by CSA cavalry in their hit and run tactics... great example.

Then talked about modern shotties... showed Saiga 12s in action.

Nice show...I or course liked the discussion on the Browning A5 as the first commercially succesful semi... as well as being a work of art and genius. Which it is.:)