shot guns tell me about them and the shells.?

Question

Tell me about the different kinds of shells and if there are certian shells that cannot be used in some shotguns. Also in general what you would use some of the types of shells for. I am not a hunter and just learning more about firearms. My experiences are very limited to revolvers and old m16 and playing with friends shotguns. Short of different styles and sizes do not know much about them.

Answer 1

First off, it's very responsible of you to try to learn as much as you can about guns before you get involved with them.

Go here:http://www.remington.com/safety/
That will tell all about shotguns and shotshells and safety. I'll try to spell it out a little here too.

Your common types of actions are break actions which most are double barrel, pump or slide actions, and semi-auto. Common gauges are 10, 12, 16, 20, 28, and .410 bore from biggest to smallest. The smaller the number, the larger the diameter. .410 however is measured in inches and not gauge. It would be the equivalent of 67 gauge. 12 and 20 gauge are by far the most common with the 12 being ahead of the 20. 12 gauge shotguns are do-all shotguns capable of most hunting and shooting situations.

The standard length of a shot shell is 2 3/4" but there is also 3" and 3 1/2" magnums. You can't shoot longer shells in guns chambered for shorter shells. For example, you can't shoot 3" magnums in a 2 3/4" chambered shotgun. You can however shoot 2 3/4" and 3" shells in a gun made for shells up to 3 1/2" magnums. You can go smaller but not bigger.

Shotshells either shoot shot or a solid slug or sabot. Shot is the many tiny pellets. There's birdshot and buckshot. Buckshot is used for big game and home defense/law enforcement. The shot is either lead or steel or some other sort of non-toxic material such as tungsten. The shot comes in different numbered sizes. Like with the gauges, the smaller the number, the larger the shot or individual pellets. Slugs are like bullets. They are solid pieces of lead that may be copper plated depending on the design. Sabots are solid projectiles also but they are smaller in diameter and are surrounded by plastic to center the bullet. Once in flight the plastic falls away.

Most shotguns have a smooth bore barrel and a screw in choke tube. The choke tube is like a spray nozzle for your garden hose. It determines the spread of the shot (the many small pellets fired from a shell) by tapering down and constricting the shot. Cylinder is when there is no choke. It provides the widest pattern and is for up close hunting. Improved cylinder choke has a little more constriction and is also best for close range hunting like if you're hunting over pointers. Modified chokes give a medium constriction and allows the shot to stay together a little longer and give is more range. This is common for a lot of uses. Full choke has the most constriction and is for long range hunting and shooting. Those are the basic chokes but there are many more that provide patterns for specific needs.

To shoot slugs you either need a rifled barrel or a rifled choke tube to put a spin on the slug.

Before I make this any more long, check out that website that will tell you everything.

Answer 2

dont play with guns! the smaller the shot number 8-000 the bigger the pellets inside. also there are different size shells in lengeth. 2 3/4 is standard thru mags of 3'' or 3 1/2. only use the mags in shot guns set up for mag rounds. check the model specs to see if you can fire the big dogs.

Answer 3

The first answer basically got it right.

Answer 4

yeah, screw everybody else and listen to the first guy. he knows exactly what he's talkin about.