Combat Effectiveness of 12 Gage Shotguns

Bruce, IMO Hamilton meant damage beyond the ordinary.

One company of 32 men firing one volley meant 32 projectiles towards the enemy using a standard musket ball. Using the B&B load meant one volley= 128 projestiles.
 
I don't know of any use of shotguns by formed units since WW I. But they sure used them then. If you like the shotgun, you will appreciate this report by Jan Stevenson:

"Trench raiding was what the gun was intended for, hence the name. But it could be quite devastating against the massed infantry attacks characteristic of the Great War. Paul Jenkins recalled one incident when the '97s were used to give concentrated fire across a section of front after the rifles and machineguns had done their best."

"When those shotguns got going - with nine .34 calibre buckshot per load, six loads in a gun, 200-odd men firing, plenty more shells at hand - the front ranks of the assault simply piled up on top of one another in one awful heap of buckshot-drilled men."
 
Shotguns use since WWI

I personally know that shotguns were used in Vietnam by formed units. Nothing like walking point with an Ithaca Model 37 loaded with fleschettes. I think there was an article in American Rifleman a couple of months ago about military use of shotguns - from WWI to today.:D
 
I've always considered the range of 12 gage shotgun to be about 60 yards, with full choke and 28" barrell. Will admit that longest big game shot I've taken has only been about 50 yds, but have taken small game out to 72 yds. Don't use 00, only use 0 or 1B.
I've tried slugs out to 70 yds. but having to compensate for the drop was not worth the hassle.
 
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