HATS OFF TO THE TOP SCATTERGUN: 12 GAUGE
The 12 gauge shotgun is certainly the most popular gauge selection out on the market and afield.
Here is why this utilitarian gauge is so popular today.
The 12 gauge shotshell has quite a long timeline. Case in point, John Moses Browning created the Winchester Model 1897 pump action shotgun. This shotgun firing an actual self contained 12 gauge shotshell in either solid brass or cardboard hulls set the world on fire for popularity. The above image is a sampling of what was available way back in history. Pump action shotguns even today are top sellers for the hunting and self defense circles.
Through out the years the 12 gauge shotgun hull has gone through many changes. In the early days, 2.5″ length shells were quite normal. Well with shotgun shells, just like everything else, we just have to make them bigger! Enter the 2 3/4″ shells that are the standard today. Below is an image of an old school cardboard hull shotshell that has been opened up to show the wads and the cavities where the shot payload and also the powder charge are located.
Need more payload? Well back in 1935 Winchester decided to offer some longer loads to their load line. The Winchester Super-X and Winchester Super-Speed packed 1 5/8 ounces in the 3″ Magnum shells. This was specifically for their Winchester Heavy Duck Model 12 Shotgun. A star was born!
The 3″ magnum shells became the go-to for long range shotgun hunting applications. Other manufacturers took note and also chambered their shotguns for the longer chamber (always check shotgun chamber lengths usually marked on the barrels before firing for safety!).
When waterfowl and turkey hunters really wanted to reach out the 3.5″ load was invented back in 1988. Packing a whopping load of 2 ounces on average or slightly less the long shotshell is quite a hard kicking monster. Out of a autoloading shotgun some recoil is lessoned but out of a single shot shotgun it will certainly let you know it went off. My Henry Arms Single Shot Turkey Gun certainly will wake you up with the heavy 3.5″ loads!
What about big game? Shotgun slugs are certainly the name of the game. The old lead rifled Foster style slugs out of a smoothbore shotgun were the staple of deer hunting in shotgun only states for years. Sabot slugs came about and dethroned the old slugs and utilized a rifled shotgun barrel for better accuracy. Technology once again improved and big game hunters certainly took note! Below is an image of a box of 1990’s vintage Remington Slugger Foster style lead slugs.
In this modern age most shotgun shell hulls are made of plastic. They are water tight, and hold up well to carrying in your pocket over a long period of time. They also are the choice shell to reload many times for the home handloader. The Federal Classic Magnum 2 3/4″ shotshells below packed with 1 1/2 ounces of lead #5 shot have been my favorite for squirrel and pheasant hunting for years.
From birdshot for small birds to even buckshot pellets for big game and home intruders the 12 gauge shotshell packs quite a punch for any application. It is indeed the universal “almost do-it all” load. That is why it is the number one shotgun gauge for now and many decades to come.