|
Handy trivia: Subtract the shot size from 17 and you get the diameter of the pellet in hundredths of an inch. No 7 1/2 is specified at .095" for example. That does not apply to buckshot, No 4 Buck is not the same as No 4 shot.
I don't know the history, but for some odd reason, No 7 1/2 is a common shot size but you hardly ever see straight No 7s. When I was young, the old timers would reminisce about the "Pigeon Load" of 3 1/4 DE + 1 1/4 oz of No 7 which had not been readily available for many years. I had to special order some with No 7 1/2 for my Uncle because he thought Express loads kicked and Walmart or even target loads lacked range.
I do remember when No 8 1/2 came out. It was based on calculations that it would take no more hits to break a target than No 8 but would put more pellets in the pattern.
|