Need a Guide to Shotgun Ammunition

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The Glockodile

The Glockodile

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Don’t have one yet!

I know enough of the basics as far as shell lengths, various sized shot, and slugs (and some of the favored sizes for various purposes)...

...but what are “Magnum” rounds?

+P equivalents?

If there’s a guide you could direct me to, that would be great...
 
Magnum shot shells in my corner of the world refers to chambers cut for longer than usual shells, such as 3" or longer in a 12 gauge.
Longer shell= more room for shot and powder=more payload and recoil.
 
One nugget of info many don't understand. The advertised length of the shells is AFTER they are fired. A 2 3/4" shell will be approximately 2 1/2" before firing. And due to different methods of crimping them they may not all be the same length. All of these shells are 2 3/4".

This is important because a 3" shell will fit in a 2 3/4" chamber and fire. But since there is no extra space in the chamber for the crimp to go it ends up in the barrel and increases pressure. Potentially resulting in a burst barrel.

IMG_1595.JPG

Another term you often run into is "high brass" shells. The one on the left is a 2 3/4" magnum load. Notice how the brass comes up higher than the other loads. MOST of those are "magnum", but not necessarily.
 
And just when you've started to understand this, let's throw dram equivalent into it. It's generally understood that in 12 ga, anything over 3 1/4 dram eq. would be considered a magnum load. (Ducks geese, deer slugs.) Ones that just say Max. Dr. Eq. usually mean 4 Dram Eq. OUCH!
More often these days the box will list the payload (1 oz., etc.) and FPS. (1290 or another number) You may encounter boxes that still list Dram Equivalent, so it's handy to know it.
A 1oz. load at 1290 FPS is a standard 1 oz. Trap or Skeet load.
 
My current shotgun is chambered for 12 ga Magnum ammo, however I avoid the stuff like the plague because I don't see any advantage in suffering the extra recoil generated----it simply ceases to be enjoyable----and for what end? Maybe maybe long shots on geese or turkey with steel, but I prefer not taking long shots at all.
What about slugs? Brutal recoil=slower follow ups and I doubt the unfortunate critter at the other end is going to notice any difference.

It simplifies life and lowers the cost of ammo and I'm good with that.
 
John Joseph said:
My current shotgun is chambered for 12 ga Magnum ammo, however I avoid the stuff like the plague because I don't see any advantage in suffering the extra recoil generated----it simply ceases to be enjoyable----and for what end?
Click to expand...

That guy in the video up there - he's in the latter half of the 6'_" height range - the "Magnum" rounds really bounced his shoulder.
 
To figure out regular lead shot caliber, subtract the shot size from 17, and that will be the caliber.

So shot size 8 subtracted from 17=.09 caliber, shot size 4 subtracted from 17=.13 caliber, and so on.

Same for the numbered steel shot sizes.
 
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jmr40 said:
One nugget of info many don't understand. The advertised length of the shells is AFTER they are fired. A 2 3/4" shell will be approximately 2 1/2" before firing. And due to different methods of crimping them they may not all be the same length. All of these shells are 2 3/4".

This is important because a 3" shell will fit in a 2 3/4" chamber and fire. But since there is no extra space in the chamber for the crimp to go it ends up in the barrel and increases pressure. Potentially resulting in a burst barrel.

View attachment 1016852

Another term you often run into is "high brass" shells. The one on the left is a 2 3/4" magnum load. Notice how the brass comes up higher than the other loads. MOST of those are "magnum", but not necessarily.
Click to expand...
I'm still waiting to see a picture of a 2 3/4" chambered shotgun barrel that was damaged from shooting a 3" shell. They won't eject is the real problem, at least in a standard 870 shotgun. Feel free to ask me how I know.
 
What's good "plinking" ammunition, though?

In line with the shotgun being a "defensive weapon," what's good to practice with?

#4 buckshot in 2.75 inch cartridges?
 
If you're looking for "defensive" practice ammo, you might as well get plenty of whatever you intend to defend yourself with. If you need practice just learning to use the shotgun, then whatever's cheapest.

Meaning, it's universally recommended to practice with what you carry. Holds true in your case too though. But if you're also wanting to blast away for the fun of it, it doesn't need to be fancy.
 
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Im also lost and on increased difficulty :D In Europe we obviously use metric system, but in case of shotgun shells... its combined. Also only term "buckshot" is commonly used, slug not so often and i think i never see birdshots in stores.
But as far i understand - trap and skeet shots are birdshots. And they also cost more than 9x19 per piece. Slug cost more than .223 (1,7x).
So i ended up shooting 7,62x39

Its just confusing, i found out that trap shots have 2000 J muzzle energy, but thats kinda all and since most of gun content on youtube is from US, its just guess how effective it cant be on everything else than on asphalt targets
 
Idahou said:
Its just confusing, i found out that trap shots have 2000 J muzzle energy, but thats kinda all and since most of gun content on youtube is from US, its just guess how effective it cant be on everything else than on asphalt targets
Click to expand...

By “asphalt targets” I assume you mean what we call clay birds.

Birdshot loses velocity fairly quickly, and at 100 meters will not be lethal. However, a load of birdshot at house defensive distances, say 4 meters or less, can be quite lethal, as the shot pattern hasn’t expanded very much.
 
Idahou said:
Im also lost and on increased difficulty :D In Europe we obviously use metric system, but in case of shotgun shells... its combined. Also only term "buckshot" is commonly used, slug not so often and i think i never see birdshots in stores.
But as far i understand - trap and skeet shots are birdshots.
Click to expand...

Trap and skeet are usually shot with No. 7.5 or No. 8 shot. Buckshot is much larger despite the "number" for the buckshot being smaller. That is, No. 1 buckshot is 7.62mm while No. 7.5 shot is 2.41mm. The chart below from @Riomouse911 is a good one.

Riomouse911 said:
Here is the National Shooting Sports Federation primer on shotguns. Loads of good info here-

https://www.letsgoshooting.org/articles/shotgun-shells-explained-the-new-shooters-dictionary/

A shot size chart:

View attachment 1016827
Click to expand...
 
Just got my first shotgun.

A Benelli M4 with a "field stock."

I am now officially in abject tactipoverty.

It didn't fit me well at all, so I had to swap it out with the pistol - gripped version.

Got some other parts on order...

Just realized that during pew pew pew games, this thing may be difficult to speed - load... There's no heat shield.
 
CopperFouling said:
Nice shotgun. I've wanted one of those for years.
Click to expand...

I've held off on getting one for ages myself.

It doesn't quite give you the same level of feel / quality as a SIG Masterworks Pistol (from Germania!!!), or even a Guccified AR-10...

...but it does seem pretty nice for what it is.

Just a little bit of buyer's remorse :rofl:

The Turkish (Panzer) clones are probably just as good, given how we play with our toys...
 
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