The world of shotgun shooting proves to be a vast one. Different shotgun shooting disciplines, like bird hunting, big game hunting, and clay target shooting all require slightly different equipment and focuses to be more successful. One of the branches on this topic tree is shotgun ammunition, as there are so many different gauge sizes, shell sizes, pellet sizes, etc. which sometimes makes it hard to dissect what your intended shooting discipline requires. In this article, we are going to touch on what the specifications on shotgun ammunition boxes mean and when it is best to use specific ones.

LOAD SPECIFICATIONS

Different shotgun ammunition manufacturers have different packaging and branding on their boxes of shotgun shells; however, they all outline some key specification that the ammunition possesses. The most common values outlined on a box include gauge size, shell length, shot size, shell weight, and velocity however, there are some manufacturers that also include the dram equivalent value as well.

SHOTGUN GAUGE SIZES

The most common shotgun caliber sizes are 12Ga, 20Ga, 410Ga, however there are also some less common shotgun calibers such as 10Ga, 16Ga, and 28Ga. The size of the gauge works inversely as the smaller the Gauge size the larger the bore of the shotgun.

SHELL LENGTH

The three main sizes that you see today are 2-3/4 inch, 3 inch, and 3-1/2 inch. This is the physical overall length of the shell. The longer the shell the more powder capacity it has which increases the velocity and lethal distance but also increases the recoil. An advantage to shorter shell lengths, like 2-3/4 inch and 3 inch, is that tubular magazines in semi-autos and pump actions can physically fit more as opposed to 3-1/2 inch.

SHOT (PELLET) SIZE

The size of the shot contained in each shell is measured by the diameter of each pellet. Similar to the gauge size, the smaller the number the larger the pellet size which relates to capacity that each shell can contain. The smaller the pellets the more pellets the shell has. Different sizes are used for different disciplines (target shooting versus hunting) and within those disciplines specific shot sizes are preferred over others – for example waterfowl hunting versus upland bird hunting.

SHOT LOAD WEIGHT

The box outlines the overall weight of shotgun ammunition which the most common are 7/8oz, 1oz, 1-1/8oz, and 1-1/4oz. This directly affects the number of pellets in the shell and also influences the pattern density, effective range, and recoil levels. To help better understand this, a standard 1-1/8 oz shotgun shell with #9 shot will contain approximately 650 pellets. For comparison’s sake, that same weight of shotgun shell with #6 shot will contain approximately 250 pellets and approximately 150 pellets if it were #4 shot. This helps prove the fact that the larger the pellet size the smaller the quantity of pellets that can physically fit inside the shell.

VELOCITY

This is the speed at which the pellets leave the muzzle of the shotgun. Higher velocity shot shells are used for engaging targets at further distances, like waterfowl hunting or high tower clay targets. Higher velocities are typically seen in 3 and 3-1/2 inch shells due to the higher powder capacity.

DRAM EQUIVALENT

This specification can be a little harder to understand but the basic background is that throughout history, shotshells were packed with black powder, measured in drams—16 of which made an ounce. As smokeless powder emerged, shotshell loaders needed a way to relate black powder amounts to the new substance.

Today, amidst a variety of modern powders, dram equivalent serves as a general approximation. For instance, a common 12-gauge dram equivalent for skeet loads hovers around 3-¾, while some newer heavy loads contain approximately 4-½ dram equivalents. 

APPLICATIONS FOR DIFFERENT SHELL TYPES

Birdshot Shotgun Shells

Length Range: 2-3/4 inch to 3-1/2 inch

Shot Size Range: #2 - #9

Intended Uses:

• Small game/birds and clay target shooting.
• The smaller pellets allow for higher volume to be loaded within each round for a wider spread pattern and less damage to smaller game targets.

 

Buckshot Shotgun Shells

Length Range: 2-3/4 inch to 3-1/2 inch

Shot Size Range: 00 - Size 4

Intended Uses:

• Purpose built for medium to large game and personal defense.
• The increase in pellet size provides better stopping power but still offers a good pattern spread within medium ranges.

 

Slug Shotgun Shells

Length Range: 2-3/4 inch to 3-1/2 inch

Shot Size Range: 7/8oz, 1oz, and 1-1/8oz

Intended Uses:

• Purpose built for medium to large game and personal defense.
• The single projectile, typically made of solid lead, copper, or steel, will offer greater accuracy at further distances compared to bird shot and buck shot size pellets.

Understanding these points will allow you to dive deeper down the rabbit hole of shotgun shells to make you a more knowledgeable and successful shotgun shooter.

Sources/Credits: 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors. "Types of Shotgun Shells: Birdshot vs Buckshot vs Slugs"

This information has been brought to you in thanks from Korth Group Ltd. – Outdoor Education.

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