12 gauge projectile help

Mosin-Marauder · October 28, 2014, 05:51 PM

I watch a lot of the iraqveteran8888 videos and see a lot on their shotgun videls they say stuff like No.8 shot and No._ shot and so on and so forth. What do all the "shots" and stuff mean? Like all the different "buck shots" and slugs and stuff? I only own one shotgun but I've always been curious as to what they mean. Is there like a list of all the pertinent shots and projectIle types and what they mean? Sorry for the rather vague/ stupid question.
Thanks!
-Mo.

Blindstitch · October 28, 2014, 06:50 PM

Shot is the size of pellets or balls. The higher the number the smaller the pellet.

Trap is 7 and 8
Smaller birds 6 and 7
larger small birds 6 and 4
Geese I believe are 4 and 2.

Then we run into buck shot. I think there are 3 of those.

Blindstitch · October 28, 2014, 06:51 PM

Guess there were more than I thought.

Virginian · October 28, 2014, 07:29 PM

Look up shotgun on wikipedia. Lots of good info.

skizzums · October 28, 2014, 09:36 PM

only thing missing from the chart is 0000 buck which is .375

Dreaming100Straight · October 28, 2014, 11:25 PM

Besides shot, a common shotgun projectile is a slug.

jrothWA · October 30, 2014, 10:22 PM

subtract the shot number from 17 and that's the measurement in 0.001" of an inch.

e.g.: 17-5 (shot size) = .120" diameter.
17 - 8 = .110"

Buckshot is different, #4 = .24" diameter
["double ought"] "00" = .33" diameter

Not sure if the steel shot follows the lead shot rule.

bamaranger · November 2, 2014, 12:05 AM

"Slugs" have become sort of diversified too. A traditional "Foster" slug is a thimble shaped piece of lead, solid nosed and hollow based, just under bore diameter. (.69 cal?) In 12 ga/2-3/4 shells they typically weigh 1 oz, although some of the old 7/8 oz slugs are likely out there, and the 3 and 3.5 mag slugs can be a bit heavier. Velocity in the neighborhood of 1250 fps. Slugs turn a shotgun in a single projectile weapon, and add a bit of range and penetration and are useful on soft skinned deer/hog/black bear sized game. They are serious bad news on human targets too.

Then there's "Brenneke" slugs, which are a sort of improved Foster. The Brenneke's use a wad arrangement in the base, and I believe they are hardened lead as opposed to the dead soft lead of Fosters. Not sure on that.

The more recent slugs are "sabotted", meaning the projectile is encased in a synthetic cup which discards after leaving the muzzle. The projectiles can be varied in their shape, and some even use a handgun or muzzleloader slug in the cup. Since these slugs are very sub caliber in relation to the bore, they are lighter and faster. The sabot is often used in conjuction with rifled shotgun barrels to give near rifle like accuracy.

Shotguns need a sight system beyond the classic single bead, to really get full benefits of slugs.

October 28, 2014, 05:51 PM	#1
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	12 gauge projectile help I watch a lot of the iraqveteran8888 videos and see a lot on their shotgun videls they say stuff like No.8 shot and No._ shot and so on and so forth. What do all the "shots" and stuff mean? Like all the different "buck shots" and slugs and stuff? I only own one shotgun but I've always been curious as to what they mean. Is there like a list of all the pertinent shots and projectIle types and what they mean? Sorry for the rather vague/ stupid question. Thanks! -Mo. __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

October 28, 2014, 09:36 PM	#5
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	only thing missing from the chart is 0000 buck which is .375 __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

October 30, 2014, 10:22 PM	#7
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	A simple way to detrmine shot size... subtract the shot number from 17 and that's the measurement in 0.001" of an inch. e.g.: 17-5 (shot size) = .120" diameter. 17 - 8 = .110" Buckshot is different, #4 = .24" diameter ["double ought"] "00" = .33" diameter Not sure if the steel shot follows the lead shot rule.

November 2, 2014, 12:05 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,300	While we're at it "Slugs" have become sort of diversified too. A traditional "Foster" slug is a thimble shaped piece of lead, solid nosed and hollow based, just under bore diameter. (.69 cal?) In 12 ga/2-3/4 shells they typically weigh 1 oz, although some of the old 7/8 oz slugs are likely out there, and the 3 and 3.5 mag slugs can be a bit heavier. Velocity in the neighborhood of 1250 fps. Slugs turn a shotgun in a single projectile weapon, and add a bit of range and penetration and are useful on soft skinned deer/hog/black bear sized game. They are serious bad news on human targets too. Then there's "Brenneke" slugs, which are a sort of improved Foster. The Brenneke's use a wad arrangement in the base, and I believe they are hardened lead as opposed to the dead soft lead of Fosters. Not sure on that. The more recent slugs are "sabotted", meaning the projectile is encased in a synthetic cup which discards after leaving the muzzle. The projectiles can be varied in their shape, and some even use a handgun or muzzleloader slug in the cup. Since these slugs are very sub caliber in relation to the bore, they are lighter and faster. The sabot is often used in conjuction with rifled shotgun barrels to give near rifle like accuracy. Shotguns need a sight system beyond the classic single bead, to really get full benefits of slugs.

October 28, 2014, 06:50 PM	#2
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	Shot is the size of pellets or balls. The higher the number the smaller the pellet. Trap is 7 and 8 Smaller birds 6 and 7 larger small birds 6 and 4 Geese I believe are 4 and 2. Then we run into buck shot. I think there are 3 of those.

October 28, 2014, 06:51 PM	#3
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,692	Guess there were more than I thought.

October 28, 2014, 07:29 PM	#4
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	Look up shotgun on wikipedia. Lots of good info. __________________ What could have happened... did.

October 28, 2014, 11:25 PM	#6
Dreaming100Straight Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2013 Posts: 1,235	Besides shot, a common shotgun projectile is a slug.