How much do shotgun shells weigh?

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

I'm considering buying my first shotgun as an addition to my 72 hour kit and for other general/nonspecific use. But I'm concerned about the weight of the ammunition.

So, if I wanted to throw a box or three of 12 guage shells into my pack, how much would they weigh me down?

 

[esheato]

It depends on what and how much shot the cartridges have.

One ounce of lead is 437.5 grains while an 1 1/8 oz. is 492.2 grains. For basic field loads figure 185 grains for the hull, primer, wad and powder.

If you reload you know that there are 7,000 grains to the pound so it's fairly easy to compute.

185 grains *25 shells = 4625 grains + 12305 grains = (492.2 grains * 25 shells)

Total Weight: 16,930 grains or 2.4 pounds per box of field loads (1 1/8 oz. lead)

Although I would believe that the bulk of the shells would be more problematic.

Ed

 

[carebear]

3"x4"x4"-ish? Close to 50 cu.in. per box of 25. You can get almost 4 times the number of .308 rifle rounds in the same space.

 

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

Thanks fellas. That's exactly what I wanted to know.