About This Quiz
These famous firearms have been used for centuries all over the world. How much do you know about shotguns?A 12-gauge shell contains 1/12 of a pound of lead, thus the naming convention.
That enormous force is useful for both hunting and self-defense.
This is the smallest version of a common shotgun shell that you can buy.
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Yet they deliver about 75 percent of the lead load of a 12-gauge shell, making 20-gauges powerful but easier on your body.
These bigger shells don't add much value for performance … but they will increase recoil (and pain).
The wad keeps the gunpowder at the base of the shell, where the primer can ignite it.
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A tighter pattern is often more effective, particularly for more distant targets.
The best shotguns create a uniform shot pattern at this range.
The less-lethal loads pack a horrible sting but are less likely to kill people.
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These huge pellets are about as big as shotgun pellets get.
It is a lot of large lead to throw at any target.
They are oriented so that the shot converges at a point about 40 yards in front of the muzzle.
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Shot size is not relevant. What matters is weight and velocity.
The higher the trigger pull weight, the harder it is to fire a shot.
The base is mostly for traditional looks; all-plastic shells don't require those bases.
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These are like fireworks for your shotgun and must be used in locations with low possibility of wildfire.
The tighter pattern is best for knocking down a large bird like a turkey.
The shorter barrel means much less accuracy, particularly because the choke is near the end of the barrel.
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Without the rifling, the slugs would be far less accurate.
These shotguns, although lighter than 12-gauges, have a high level of stopping power.
Especially in areas where there are a lot of people, the shorter range can prevent accidental shootings and save lives.
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The shorter barrel is easier and faster to swing around in a frantic and cramped scenario.
10-gauge versions are less common because they are heavier and more unwieldly, but they also pack a huge punch.
A side-by-side or over-under can carry one shell for each barrel.
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These large, heavy loads are meant for bigger targets, such as deer or coyotes.
Magnum shells typically throw shot at the same speed as a regular shell.
They don't hit a target with more energy but they do have more shot, and as a result, they have better pattern density.
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Some special slugs even have their own rifling right on the slug to make them more accurate.
The bigger, heavier shot travels farther and goes straighter.
The velocity is virtually the same; it's just that the payload from a 20-gauge is lighter.
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