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The Multi Purpose Shotgun

Browning BPS (pump) - http://www.browning.com/

Fabarm Gold (semi-auto) - http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/




Intro

The advantage with a shotgun is the wide range of loads available to shoot. The choice of load will depend on the game to take down, different sizes of pellets for small game and slugs or buckshot for larger game.

Small game
 Important parameters are: barrel , choke, alloy of pellets, pellet size, cup/wads. Using the right pellet alloy will prevent them from deforming by the extreem initial acceleration. Larger pellets will retain their energy better at longer distances but with a low pellet cloud density, smaller pellets loose their energy quicker but create a high pellet cloud density. Harmony between the parameters is important and can be found by trying different shot sizes, different velocities and different chokes

  • Rifle: a pump or semi-auto, 12 gauge
  • Barrel: smoothbore 22"-26" with rib and tapped for a choke system
  • Choke: Full, Improve Modified, Modified, IC, Skeet, Cylinder. Find out which combination of ammunition and choke give the best patterns
  • Sights: the bead and iron sights for turkey
  • Ammunition: find out which is in harmony with the choke and game

More info:
  • Tailor your shotshells to the game you hunt
  • Don't choke over chokes

    L    arger game
     With the use of shotgun slugs it is possible to take down larger game. Recent developments in design have made the slug more accurate. It is now possible to shoot groups of 2 to 4 inches at 100 yards with 438 grain (1 oz) slugs depending on your rifle, barrel, choke, type of slug, sights and shotshell manufacturer. Since all factors have to be in harmony you will have to do some research on your own to determine the right combinations.
    • Rifle: a pump or semi-auto, 12 gauge
    • Barrel: smoothbore 22"-26", tapped for a choke system
    • Choke: Rifled, IC, Skeet, Cylinder
    • Sights: iron sights or a scope
    • Ammunition: find out which one is in harmony with your shotgun

    The difference between Rifled Slugs and Sabot Slugs is the accuracy. The ballistic trajectory is more or less the same (because of the difference in muzzle velocity, 1760 fps for rifled slugs and 1450 fps for sabots). If you are interested in ballistics and are working on a PC you can download a free ballistics program from Håvard Skevik.

    Mount on sights are available from different manufacturers and are easy to install.
    Remington sights

    More info:
  • Getting the most from slug guns
  • Accessories transform shotguns into effective slug guns
  • The accuracy revolution in slug guns
    		•
    Pellet sizes

    click on picture for chart

    Remington field shot


    Remington buck shot


    Federal Barnes sabot slug


    Federal rifled slug


    Remington sabot slug


    Rottweil Brenneke slug

    (cut-away display)

    Hornady 12 Ga XTP slug


    The TACTICAL shotgun

    More info:
  • The Tactical Shotgun
  • Some Thoughts on the Combat Shotgun
  • LESSON #24: WHAT ABOUT A SHOTGUN?


    • Chokes
     Another advantage is the versatility of a choke system. A choke, the constriction of the muzzle, controls the spread of the shot and enables you to fine-tune your gun and ammunition. You can also use a rifled choke on a smoothbore barrel to take advantage of sabot-slugs and give them the necessary spin.

    Browning's different chokes




    P    atterns
     Percentages obtained with various chokes in a 30 inch circle at 40 yards.

    Full
    Imp.Modified
    Modified
    Imp.Cylinder
    Cylinder
    65-75%
    55-65%
    45-55%
    35-45%
    25-35%

    More info:
  • Don't choke over chokes
    •  

     

    What is gauge?
     Gauge is the number of spherical lead balls, with the diameter of the bore, that make 1 pound (453.6 grams).

    Euh.... as you can see in the calculations below, I'm European.


    Density lead 11.35 g/cm3
    pound 453.6 g
    volume of 1 pound 39.96 cm3
    volume=4/3 * pi * r^3
    So the radius of a 12 gauge (# balls = 12) equals

    (39.96 / 12*(4/3)*pi)^(1/3) = 0.9264 cm

    the diameter is twice the radius

    d = 1.853 cm

    and 2.54 cm = 1 inch

    so your pipe diameter equals 1.853/2.54 = 0.729 inch


    Energy
    Below is a table which gives you the energy of the projectile related to its weight and velocity. Energies mentioned can be used for shot and slugs if the muzzle velocity is used.
    1000 fps
    1100 fps
    1200 fps
    1300 fps
    1400 fps
    1500 fps
    1600 fps
    1700 fps
    1800 fps
    1 oz
    972
    1176
    1400
    1643
    1905
    2187
    2489
    2810
    3150
    1 1/4 oz
    1215
    1470
    1750
    2054
    2382
    2734
    3111
    3512
    3937
    1 1/2 oz
    1458
    1764
    2100
    2464
    2858
    3281
    3733
    4214
    4725
    1 3/4 oz
    1701
    2059
    2450
    2875
    3335
    3828
    4355
    4917
    5512

    Typical velocity for 1 oz birdshot is around 1200 fps, delivering 1400 foot pounds at the muzzle.

     More ballistic info:
  • Remington Ballistics
  • Winchester Ballistics

  • Fiocchi


    And because I just like graphics more then numbers here is the graph made with the numbers from the table.

  •  

    •  
     

    Game
    Possible game for a 12 gauge shotgun with choke system
     
    Game
    LEAD Shot#
    Choke
    moose deer hog roe
    Slug
    Rifled, Cyl, Imp.Cyl, Mod
    deer hog roe
    000, 00, 0
    Cyl, Imp.Cyl, Mod
    turkey
    4 - 6
    Full, Extra Full
    pheasantrabbit
    4 - 7.5
    Imp.Cyl, Mod, Imp.Mod.
    grousequaildove
    6 - 8
    Imp.Cyl, Mod
    Game
    STEEL Shot#
    Choke
    duck
    1 - 6
    Imp.Cyl, Mod, Imp.Mod.
    goose
    T, BBB, BB, 1, 2
    Imp.Cyl, Mod, Imp.Mod.





    Guns
     Since the loading of pictures takes too much time I've brought the pictures of several shotguns into another page.

    A few Pump Shotguns A few Semi-auto Shotguns

     

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    Nov 04 2003