There are a lot of variables to consider here. Different types of shotgun ammunition vary widely, as one shell may fire a single slug or over 2, shot pellets. But at its core, the winner of the 12 Gauge vs. A 12 gauge shotgun load is heavier and delivers more power than 20 gauge ammo does. As a result, a 12 gauge is typically better equipped to take larger game. You do sacrifice some things for that power 12 gauge shotguns have more recoil than 20 gauge and the firearm itself is more of a burden to carry.
A 9mm pistol intuitively has a bore diameter of 9mm. Shotgun gauges follow the same logic. If we applied caliber conventions to a shotgun, then a 12 Gauge would be. If a Bore were actually a Gauge, then its bore would share the approximate diameter of a. Here are the different gauges available on the market, in order of largest to the smallest caliber. A 12 Gauge shotshell has a significantly larger capacity than a 20 Gauge. But this is not always the case — 12 Gauge shotshells do tend to offer a faster average muzzle velocity.
Muzzle energy is simply a factor of muzzle velocity and projectile weight. Take a look at this chart where we compare very similar shells by Winchester and Federal. The shells primarily differ in terms of their projectile weights — not their velocities — but that alone accounts for a staggering difference in how much energy either one can put out. Hunters and homeowners frequently put it to use just as effectively. In practice we see either shell capable of reaching the same distances as effectively as the other.
Yet the 12 Gauge has a trick up its sleeve. While many hunters know a little bit about shotgun gauges, I think that most people would likely agree the subject can be really confusing.
The end result is something of a convoluted mess that the average hunter can really struggle to make heads or tails out of. Not surprisingly, there are even more misunderstandings and misconceptions regarding shotgun gauges than most other subjects concerning firearms and ammunition. Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. Thanks for your support.
Additionally, I recorded an entire podcast episode on this exact subject. Apple Google iHeart Spotify Stitcher. To really understand the naming convention of shotgun gauges, we need to head back to the days of black powder.
Back then, cannons were named in accordance with the mass of the projectile they shot, not by their bore diameter. For instance, a 12 pound cannon aka a 12 pounder shot a round ball that weighed approximately 12 pounds.
The same principle applied to 8 pounders, 6 pounders, 4 pounders, etc. Shoulder fired weapons that fired projectiles weighing less than 1 pound used a closely related system.
Large bore black powder rifles were named in this manner and this also is where the system for measuring shotgun gauges comes from. This is also true with a 10 gauge or 10 bore ball compared to a 12 gauge or 12 bore round ball.
In short, the smaller the gauge of a shotgun, the larger the bore diameter. This is why a 10 gauge shotgun has a larger diameter than a 12 gauge shotgun, which has a larger diameter than a 20 gauge shotgun, etc. A different way of saying the same thing would be to describe shotgun gauges in terms of the number of lead balls of a certain diameter necessary to weigh 1 pound.
There is one exception to this rule: the. If it were named like all the other popular shotgun bores, it would be approximately 67 gauge. Just reference the chart below for the nominal bore size of 10 gauge, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, and. Those numbers are great for making an overall comparison between the various shotgun gauges.
However, the actual diameter of the bore will sometimes vary. Remember: gauge size only describes the bore diameter of a shotgun. In addition to gauge, shotgun shells also come in varying lengths with different loads of powder, shot weight, shot size, and shot composition. For example, take a look at the photo below of a box of 20 gauge shotgun shells.
Winchester markets this particular ammunition for upland bird hunting, sporting clays, skeet, and trap. The shell lengths and gauges listed below are standardized by SAAMI and are therefore the most widely available and easy to find. Sizes other than those listed below are sometimes available in limited numbers. Look on the barrel or chamber of your shotgun to determine the proper length shell it can use. A shotgun with a longer chamber can generally safely use smaller shells, but the opposite is not true.
Aside from shotgun slugs, shotgun shells are loaded with a large number of pellets. The exact number of pellets depends on their size and composition as well as the weight of pellets loaded into the shell. To determine the size of birdshot, just subtract the shot size from. This is not the case with other types of shot like BB and buckshot.
That being said, while there are exceptions, those other shot sizes larger than. Reference the table below to see the diameter of some of the most common shot sizes as well as the approximate number of lead pellets of that size that weigh one ounce.
As you can see, the number of individual pellets in an ounce decreases as the pellets increase in size. Some boxes of shotgun shells state the composition of the pellets.
For instance, lead free, non-toxic shot is mandated for waterfowl hunting in North America. Of the materials commonly used to produce shot, lead is the most dense with a handful of exceptions, like tungsten. This means that a given number of individual lead pellets will weigh more than the same number of pellets of the same diameter made out of some other material. A dram is a unit of mass from the British Avoirdupois weight system that still remains in varying degrees of use in some of the former colonies.
Back in the days of black powder, drams were commonly used to measure the amount of black powder in a particular load. Most people probably know that there are 16 ounces in a pound. Well, there are 16 drams in an ounce. So therefore, there are drams in a pound.
Additionally, many gun enthusiasts know that there are 7, grains in a pound. This means that there are For that reason, companies are making the transition away from listing dram equivalents on shotgun shells and instead publishing the actual velocity of the load like on the boxes below.
Lets be clear here: dram equivalents should only be used for a general comparison between two different shotgun loads. ONLY reload shells in accordance with the data supplied by a good reloading manual. When comparing shotguns and shotgun ammunition, few topics are as complex as 12 gauge vs. Comparisons for rifle or handgun cartridges have a generally-universal set of characteristics to compare; yes, there are variables, but not as many.
With shotgun ammunition, you have slugs, shot size, shell length, and other variables that add complexities to an already complex subject. Despite the complexities, you can make fair comparisons between gauge and gauge calibers and ammo.
This should allow you to make a clear decision on your firearm choice. The 20 gauge shotgun is a popular choice for small game hunters and sports shooters. Hunters and trap shooters understand that the lower the number, the larger the caliber in a gauge-designated shotgun.
Gauge in determined by the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel that it would take to weigh one pound. In a gauge, which has a diameter of. With 20 gauge, which as a. This is a precaution against loading gauge shells into a gauge shotgun. If this happens and a gauge shell is loaded behind the gauge, it can cause both shells to fire, leading to serious injury. For this reason, you will see that all gauge shells, regardless of the load, will be yellow.
As rifling was developed and the bores of long guns became smaller, the shotgun became its own separate entity. Common guns could no longer shoot both shot and bullets. Although they were used by both sides during the Civil War, the shotgun became especially useful in the trench warfare of World War I.
Today, shotguns are largely a specialty weapon among the military. Their most common purpose is a hunting tool. However, many of us rely on shotguns for home defense and many others are passionate about shotgun shooting sports like trap and skeet.
The most popular shotgun caliber, by far, is the gauge. But the gauge, which is smaller and lighter, certainly has its uses among hunters and people concerned with home-defense.
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