Shotgun

:This article is about the firearm. For alternative meanings of shotgun, see: Shotgun (disambiguation).

Ammunition

The extremely large caliber of shotgun shells has led to a wide variety of different ammunition. Standard types include:

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• Shot is the most commonly used round, filled with lead or lead substitute pellets. Shot shells are described by the size of the pellets within. Size Eight is the smallest size used normally for hunting, and is used on small birds like doves. Size Two is the largest shot used for hunting normally, for large birds such as Canadian Geese. Steel shot is gauged differently, from 7 (smallest) to F (largest), since the lighter weight of steel requires larger pellets to achieve the same stopping power.
• Buckshot has become a less popular round over the last few decades, except for home defense. It is a shot round with pellets large enough to take down large game such as deer. The role of buckshot in hunting has been taken over by more efficient slug rounds. Buckshot is described by pellet size, from #4 (smallest) to #000 (largest). #000 and #00 are referred to as 'triple aught buck' and 'double aught buck' respectively. In the common 12-gauge/2-7/8" length shells, #00-Buck consists of 9 balls of roughly .30 caliber.
• Slug rounds are rounds that fire a single solid slug. They are used for hunting large game. Modern slugs are highly accurate, especially when fired from special rifled slug barrels.

Specialty ammunition

The ubiquitous nature of the shotgun has led to the development of a large variety of specialty shells, primarily for law enforcement. Types include:

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• Gas shells spray a cone of gas for several meters. These are primarily used by riot police. They normally contain pepper gas or tear gas. Other variations launch a gas grenade-like projectile.
• Bean Bag rounds fire a nylon bag filled with tiny shots. The 'punch' effect of the bag is useful for knocking down aggressors and are used by police to subdue violent suspects. These rounds are sometimes used by wildlife officials to non-lethally subdue wild animals. Also known under the copyrighted name of flexible baton rounds.
• Flechette rounds contain hundreds of aerodynamic darts or needles instead of a shot. They are designed to penetrate armor and inflict painful wounds. American troops during the Vietnam War packed their own flechette shotgun rounds, under the name beehive rounds. Flechette rounds have been banned by numerous treaties for use in warfare.
• Fireball or Dragon's Breath rounds fire a zirconium based incendiary mixture, resulting in a large fireball. These rounds are banned in many locations, presumably due to fear they can be used as a terror weapon.
• Disintegrator or Hatton rounds are designed to blow out deadbolts, door locks and door hinges without risking the lives of those beyond the door. These rounds are packed with a mixture of dense metal powder (often lead) and wax, which can destroy a lock then immediately disperse. They are used by SWAT teams to quickly force entry into a locked room. Amongst police, these rounds are nicknamed 'master keys', and their use is known as 'avon calling'.
• Cubic shot is lead shot with a cubic rather than spherical shape. This makes the shot tumble as it flies through the air, resulting in a much wider dispersion than spherical shot. Cubic shot is used for "brush loads", used for hunting game in heavy cover where shots taken at fast moving game at short range.
• Flare rounds are sometimes carried by hunters for safety and rescue purposes. They are available in low and high altitude versions. Some brands claim they can reach a height of up to 600 feet (180 m).
• Bird bombs are low-powered rounds that fire a firecracker that is fuzed to explode a short time after firing. They are designed to be used for scaring animals, such as birds that congregate on airport runways.
• Fire Sirens are small, weighted whistles that, when fired, produce an incredibly loud sound. Ear protection is recommended for this shot.
• There are many other types of specialty ammunition available, including standard ammo variations such as explosive or armor-piercing rounds.