shotgun types: what's the difference?

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gaseousclay

New member
could someone please explain to me the differences in shotguns and their uses? while researching shotguns i've come across several different types ranging from your standard single-barrel pump shotgun (10, 12, 16, 20 & 28 ga) to double barrel, semi-auto and O/U. are standard shotguns typically used for hunting only or is it all personal preference? are shotguns like O/U better for sport shooting? I guess i'm trying to wrap my head around the many varieties of shotguns out there and educate myself a little more about their usage.
 
O/U might have an advantage for some shooting games like skeet because you can have two different chokes. Pumps are popular because they are inexpensive. Semi-auto shotguns probably see the widest range of uses. Because they often have no rear sight, the fit of the stock is more important for a shotgun than it is for a rifle. Wikipedia would be a good place to start reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotgun
800px-Shotgun-shot-sequence-1g.jpg
 
Shotgun size

Gauge or bore diameter:
Shotguns are like buckets, the bigger they are the more than can carry; but, they can get too big and cumbersome. At one time there were huge shotguns, mounted to boats, used by market hunters to kill many waterfowl with one shot -- they have been prohibited for some time. There are still 8-ga industrial "shotguns" like Winchester's Ringblaster and Remington's MasterBlaster. The 12-ga shotgun is considered by many as the largest practical shotgun, and the 12-ga is the most popular gauge. With the requirements for non-toxic shot for migratory birds (and other applications), some look to the 10-ga for additional capacity; but, many folks consider it too big a bucket to be used. A 12-ga 3-1/2-inch super-mag is a substantial shell.

Smaller gauge guns can be used for the same reason you'd want a smaller bucket -- you're interested in lighter load. If you're are going to be hunting small birds all day why break a sweat carrying a gun that's overkill for your target and heavy? Also, some competition rules require smaller guns (20 and 28-ga and .410-bore) in some events. Many folks mistakenly buy a smaller gun, typically a 20-ga, thinking it will be easier to learn with, or have less recoil. Punishing recoil, or kick, is typically the result of shooting a gun that is too light, doesn't fit the shooter properly and/or isn't correctly mounted by the shooter.

In today's market, there are countless 12-ga loads available for all applications. Some replicate the old loads once found only in 20, 16 and 10-ga guns. If you are going to have only one shotgun, or are buying your first one, IMHO you'll regret selecting anything other than a 12-ga.
 
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Shotgun types

There are two basic types of shotguns:
Single shots and repeaters.

Single shots (SS) are typically of the break-open type. The SS can be a bargain basement cheapest gun in the hardware store or one specialized for trap shooting costing $10,000+.

Repeaters are usually pump action (PA), semi-automatic (SA), or double barrel (SxS and O/U). There are bolt action repeaters, but their slow operation makes them unpopular despite their low price. Repeating shotguns are also found in lever action and revolving cylinder configurations. The new carbine version of the .45LC/.410-bore Judge revolver being the latest version of an unorthodox repeating shotgun.

Pumps are the most popular type of repeating shotguns because of their low cost. Many PA's are dedicated to police, military and self-defense use. For target and hunting applications, most folks prefer a semi-auto gun if their budgets permit. The SA's use firing energy to cycle the action in much the same way the pump gun operates. Some favor the pump over semi-auto because they consider the SA's less reliable. SA's capture the firing energy several ways: as gas pressure or as mass inertia are the two most popular. Target shooters tend to prefer the heaver gas guns with their smoother swing and lighter recoil. Some field shooters prefer the lighter inertia guns. Both systems are available in contemporary configurations superior to the guns available 25 or 30 years ago. Remington's famous Model 1100 gas gun, of the early 1960's, has been benched by the new generation of Beretta gas guns. And, the Benelli internal inertia system makes the old reciprocating barrel guns seem like dinosaurs.

The double barrel side-by-side shotgun dates back to black powder days. Many of use are familiar with cap or flint lock SxS's. The modern hammer-less cartridge gun is the latest incarnation of the SxS. There are many folks who claim nothing handles as sweetly as a classic SxS. While the balance of a double gun may be much nicer than a stick gun (SS, pump or SA) some complain that the foregrip is too fat (and gets hot) and the sighting plane is so wide that it blocks seeing rising targets. The double gun is inherently more reliable than the a pump or auto. On the down side are limited shell capacity and cost. Where target and field shooters may be happy with two shots, those with fighting shotguns want as many shots as possible. If you have the funds, $100,000 can easily go into a luxury custom SxS.

The over/under shotgun is the newest sporting shotgun configuration. It incorporates the advantages of the SxS and eliminates the most common complaints. The main down-side is cost. Why do most competitive shooters select O/U shotguns -- because they shoot higher scores with them, it's that simple. The same applies to field shooting. Since competitive shooting can quickly become a costly pastime, most comp shooters are also reloaders. Shooting a double gun makes harvesting hulls much easier than with an auto or pump.
 
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Shot applications

As shotgun targets vary from large mammals to small birds, so do the loads vary from a single heavy slug to specialized "dust" shot for ornithological collectors. It is this versatility that makes shotguns the first choice of many shooters. Shotguns can replace handguns and rifles in many situations; but, pistols and rifles are hard pressed to be used for wing shooting.

The larger the target, the larger the load's pellet size. And, the larger the pellet size, the greater its effective range -- see the chart, above, provided by noyes.

Shotguns are required in some jurisdictions for deer hunting where conventional center-fire rifles are considered to have too much range for public safety. For deer hunting, loads with buck shot or single slugs are used. The same loads are appropriate for predator control. Fighting shotguns are typically loaded with large size buck shot loads, too. In some cases smaller buck shot is used where over penetration is a concern.

Unfortunately there is some confusion is shotgun pellets size designation -- some sizes overlap. Shot comes in "standard" Birdshot and Buck shot. Standard #4 shot is not the same as # 4-Buck shot.
Buck Shot sizes:
#0000 "quadruple-ought" (.38-inch dia.),
#000 "triple-ought"(.36-inch dia.),
#00 "double-ought"(.33-inch dia.),
#0 "ought"(.32-inch dia.),
#1-Buck (.30-inch dia.) Not the same as standard #1 birdshot,
#2-Buck (.27-inch dia.) Not the same as standard #2 birdshot,
#3-Buck (.25-inch dia.) Not the same as standard #3 birdshot, and
#4-Buck (.24-inch dia.) Not the same as standard #4 birdshot.

Standard Birdshot sizes:
FF (.23-inch dia.), F (.22-inch dia.), TT (.21-inch dia.), T (.20-inch dia.),
BBB (.190-inch dia.), BB (.180-inch dia.), B (.170-inch dia.),
#1 (.160-inch dia.) Not the same as #1-Buck shot,
#2 (.150-inch dia.) Not the same as #2-Buck shot,
#3 (.140-inch dia.) Not the same as #3-Buck shot,
#4 (.130-inch dia.) Not the same as #4-Buck shot ,
#5 (.120-inch dia.), #6 (.110-inch dia.), #7 (.100-inch dia.), #7-1/2 (.095-inch dia.), #8 (.090-inch dia.), #8-1/2 (.085-inch dia.), and #9 (.080-inch dia.)

Initially the shot sizes applied to lead pellets, now the same sizes apply to non-lead shot, too. For a given pellet size, steel shot does not have the same energy as its lead counter part. Shooting steel shot requires larger pellets for the same target. For pest control, small game, birds and target shooting, standard size birdshot is used. Below is a general idea of the appropriate lead/lead-equivalent and steel birdshot sizes for various targets, YMMV:
Pheasant and turkey: #4 to 6 (#2 or 3 steel)
Geese: #BB to 2 (#TT to 1 steel)
Ducks, high: #2 to 4 (#BB to 2 steel)
Ducks, low: #4 to 6 (#2 to 4 steel)
Quail and dove: #7-1/2 to 8
Rabbit and squirrel: #6 to 7-1/2
Clays: #7-1/2 to 9
 
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Zippy did a good job covering the spectrum of shotgun action types and usage .... But to give you a little more on a couple of issues - and then I'd urge you to go back and read Zippy's responses a couple more times - because what you've asked does not deserve a simple one sentence response.

Fit - is a really big deal. You eye is the rear sight of the shotgun - and how you look down the rib, shoulder the gun - the length of pull, the weight of the gun, the angle of the comb and where you face meets it ....are all big deals. And all that stuff will probably affect whether the muzzle moves up or down a little as you mount the gun. 90% or more of the gun stores out there - have no idea of the concept !! ( and sometimes I think its 99.99 % ) !!

Not all shogun mfg's approach the "fit" issue the same - so you have different angles on the combs ( some are parallel to the rib), different lengths of pull, some have plam swell grips, some have shims to adjust the stock to receiver angles, some have adj comb inserts - some have no adjustability --..and the list goes on and on ....

At some point - it comes down to "what you want to do with a shotgun ?" - and " budget ". This, and other forums, debate price and quality on any number of guns ( and I have my preferences / and bias). Like in handguns and all products today - there is some junk - and some good quality stuff - and some very high end shotugns ( from $ 8,000 - $ 40,000 ). In terms of quality in shotguns - you often get what you pay for ( better steel, better fit and finish, stronger components especially in receiver to barrel connection, hammers, springs, etc ) ....and that means higher prices on more "durable" guns usually.

Picking an action type - for general usage shotguns ( pump guns $ 200 -
$ 800 ) ( semi-autos $ 750 - $2,000 ) ( Over Unders $ 1,500 - $3,000 ) ...are probably realistic budget numbers. The question is though - will a $500 gun give you trouble free shooting / for 1,000 shells a year, how about 5,000 shells a yr, how about 10,000 shells a yr ...and how about for 5 yrs, or 10 or even 20 or 50 yrs .....and what does it take to buy a gun that meets that criteria ( so its not just about action type )...

To suggest a "benchmark" gun in each action type --- and then you can judge for yourself, "Fit", finish, etc ..../and others might have different guns they consider a "benchmark gun" - but here are mine that I think are fair representations of the "action type" ...

a. Pump Gun - Browning BPS Hunter model, 28" barrel, 12ga $ 525 new ..
b. Semi Auto - Beretta 391 Urika synthetic, 28" barrel, 12ga $ 1,200 new
c. Over Under - Browning Citori Lightning model 28" barrel, 12ga $ 1,750 new

http://www.browning.com/products/ca...type_id=461&content=citori-lightning-firearms

http://www.browning.com/products/ca...d=012&type_id=211&content=bps-hunter-firearms

http://www.berettausa.com/products/al391-urika-2-synthetic/

From there ....guys like Zippy and others on this forum can tell you about their specific specs on what they consider a good Trap Gun, a good Skeet gun, a good Sporting Clays gun , a good Defensive Tactical gun ...a good all around shotgun ...

and we debate the pros and cons of that stuff all the time on here ....and somedays there is a consensus -- and sometimes there isn't .../but that's why we enjoy the shotgunning hobby ...and why we hang out here ...

welcome - and get out to your local gun club ....and shoot some clay targets ---and have some fun figuring this stuff out.
 
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