What Are the Different Shotgun Cartridges?

Shotguns are one of the most common firearms in the world. Casual sportsmen use them for hunting and target shooting. Law enforcement and the military use them for self defense and riot control. Because of this variety, shotguns can fire many different cartridges--or shells--to meet these needs, from common shot shells to specialty shells that contain unusual projectiles.

Birdshot

Birdshot shells contain many small metal balls--or shot. The amount of shot depends on the shotgun's gauge or barrel diameter. As the name implies, birdshot is used to hunt birds as the small shot has little penetrating power.

Buckshot

Buckshot shells contain larger shot. Buckshot has a greater range and more penetrating power than birdshot and is typically used for hunting or self-defense.

Slugs

Slug shells contain a single, large bullet-like projectile. Although slugs make shotguns more like rifles, slugs are not as accurate. Because of their stopping power, slugs are typically used to hunt large game. However, they are also effective for self-defense shooting.

Sabot

A sabot shell is a two-stage shotgun shell. The projectile is contained in a special casing that allows the projectile to fly farther with greater accuracy. After a shell is fired, the casing falls away after a certain distance, and the projectile continues to the target. A sabot shell contains either a slug or several small needle-like projectiles called "flechettes."

Specialty

Several types of specialty shotgun shells have been created to meet unusual needs. For example, the military uses shotgun shells firing different types of small grenades.

Law enforcement uses non-lethal shells firing a variety of projectiles that include bean bags, tear gas pellets, rubber slugs--even pyrotechnic and taser payloads. These types of shells are typically used for riot and animal control.

References

• The Shotgun Encyclopedia; John Taylor; 2002.
• Remington Shotshell Ammunition