Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Learning the Basics
• Part 2 of 3: Choosing the Right Ammunition
• Part 3 of 3: Choosing a Choke
• Tips
• Warnings

With a wide selection of shotgun ammunition, it has become an indispensable tool for sports and hunting. Having studied all the available types, types and symbols of ammunition, you will be able to choose the right casings for a successful shot. Read on to learn more about primers, shotgun casings, bullet cores and chokes.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Learning the Basics

1. 1 Distinguish between two main types of shotgun cases. With a shotgun, you can shoot "bullet cartridges" or "bullets." Shot cartridges are plastic sleeves with small metal balls. They only need to be fired from a shotgun with a smooth-bore barrel. The bullet, long enough, solid, is loaded into a plastic sleeve.
   • The types of shot that are loaded into casings also differ, so it is important to know what the difference is. For small animals and small targets, bird shot is used, and for larger targets and animals, buckshot is used. Buckshot is a larger fraction.
   • Bullets can be used for rifled and smooth-bore weapons.
2. 2 Buy casings that fit your rifle in caliber. Shotguns come in a wide variety of calibers, so the caliber of the shotgun and the ammunition must be the same. For a 12 gauge shotgun, you should use 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 20 gauge, and so on.
   • If you try to fire a 12-gauge shotgun with a 20-gauge cartridge, it will get stuck in the middle of the barrel. This can be quite dangerous, so it is important to make sure that regardless of the type of cartridge you are purchasing the correct caliber.
3. 3 Decide on the length of the sleeves you are going to use. A long case has more powder and more shot or a larger bullet. As long as the gauge is respected, any length will work, but depending on your purpose, you can buy long or short cases. The most commonly sold 12 gauge cases are available in three sizes:
   • Standard sleeves 2 3/4 "
   • Liners magnum 3 "
   • Liners super-magnum 3 1/2 "
4. 4 Make sure the chamber is the same length or longer than the casings you have chosen. Do not insert 3 or 3 1/2 "sleeves into the 2 3/4" chamber or 3 1/2 "sleeves into the 3" chamber.
5. 5 Remember the fraction number. The shot number will be written on the ammunition box and indicates the size of the shot in the cases. The larger the number, the smaller the fraction.
   • The diameter of a small fraction is .17 minus the fraction number. Shot # 4 .13 inches in diameter. If you are going to hunt, it is not necessary to know the exact diameter of the shot, it is more important to know whether a longer case or a smaller case is suitable for you.
   • Buckshot is a more complicated thing. The number of zeros increases in the buckshot designation. 000 are called "triple zero". The shot in this case is .36 "in diameter, and in the double zero, the shot is .33" in diameter. For more difficult tasks, there is buckshot # 4 with a fraction of 24. And again, the exact size of the shot is not as important as it is how long the sleeve should be.
6. 6 Understand bullet sizes. The power of the bullet is determined, as well as the power of the charges with the shot. It is divided into standard, magnum and super magnum. Magnum and Super Magnum are always loaded with heavier bullets.
   • Some bullets have special rifling for smoothbore rifles. These grooves are specially made to prevent possible damage when fired through a choke muzzle.
   • A sub-caliber cartridge is like a capsule in which there is a cartridge that is smaller than the caliber of the barrel.A sub-caliber cartridge is a plastic shell that detaches after the cartridge has left the muzzle. They usually shoot more accurately than rifled cartridges, although they need a rifled barrel for an accurate shot.

Part 2 of 3: Choosing the Right Ammunition

1. 1 For target shooting, use a fine shot. It is foolish and completely useless when practicing shooting sports, to shoot at targets with expensive steel cartridges of the super-magnum class or large shots, when there is more than enough small shot. It's a time-honored rule of thumb - always use the least amount of ammo to reach your target. This also applies to hunting and shooting sports.
2. 2 Decide on the size of your target. Large cartridges have more penetration through the target, so they are used for large animals. Small cartridges are handy for small game.
   • Small game such as birds and field rodents can be easily shot with the small # 8 rounds. Despite this, some hunters prefer long cartridges because they can shoot game from a farther distance, which reduces the amount of shot that will need to be removed from your food later.
   • Large animals such as pheasants, turkeys or rabbits should be hunted with longer rounds such as # 6 or # 4.
   • Buckshot is suitable for large animals. Deer and coyotes must be shot with at least # 4.
   • Bullets are used only for defense, for tactical purposes and for large-scale sports hunting. If you are going to hunt bears, elephants or rhinoceroses, only then you need bullets.
3. 3 Try different cartridge sizes to find out what works best for you. Move back to the distance from which you plan to shoot and shoot with one cartridge at a sheet of paper large enough so that all, or almost all, traces of the shot remain on it. Depending on the type of rifle case you are using, for a shot from 35 meters, you need a shot with a diameter of about 20-40.
   • Examine the resulting sample. Are the entrances large? Will it be difficult to hit a moving target? How big was the shot? Is there enough fraction to kill, break the target? Is the target still uniform? Are there any gaps in the target that might cause you to miss the target?
   • To zero in with bullets, step back to the desired distance and make three, five shots at a sheet of paper; let's say 45 meters for rifled bullets and 90 meters for sub-caliber bullets. Both types of bullets have a rather weak velocity component, they fly in an arc and are not very suitable for long-range shots. Choose bullets that hit the target well enough and deal enough damage to it.

Part 3 of 3: Choosing a Choke

1. 1 Memorize the main types of chok. Most chokes are removable, as modern barrels have a thread on the end and can be screwed on or removed if desired. The most common types of choke are:
   • The cylinder, which has no restrictions, the fraction flies out freely, but not heap. Useful for close range shooting.
   • Skeet chok is suitable for target shooting sports.
   • Full narrowing choke. It narrows strongly and with a good shot, the shot flies out very tightly. At the same time, when soft lead is used, the shot does not fly so heap.
2. 2 Depending on your goals, determine the acceptable dispersion of the fraction. The scattering of a shot means how much it spreads out during flight. The degree of dispersion varies depending on whether the choke is bolted to the barrel. The narrower the choke, the more lead will hit the target. The more lead is charged, the stronger the damage.
   • Basically it all depends on your practice and your shooting technique. If you are a marksman with serious hunter ambition, a narrow choke is a good choice to count a clean hit. If you're a beginner, you probably don't need a choke.
3. 3 Find the optimal choke and cartridges. Try shooting your rifle with different types and lengths of cartridges along with different chokes.Depending on your goals, correctly adjust the scope and determine the best ratio of the degree of dispersion of the shot and the accuracy of the shot.
   • If you have a shot that is not the right size or does not carry the required destructive power, use a tiger or free choke respectively.
   • If the shot is too scattered, you may be trying to push too soft lead through a hole that is too small. Sometimes, when fired from a long distance, less lead and a looser choke allow you to be more accurate.

Tips

• Do not shoot steel or other carbide cartridges through the full restriction choke. So, you will most likely damage it.
• If you do not know from what distance you will shoot, usually small shots are fired from 35 meters, and buckshot from 18-22 meters.
• When hunting ducks and other waterfowl, you should always use non-toxic (non-lead) shot.

Warnings

• Whenever you pick up a gun, follow the rules for the safe handling of firearms.
• Children are advised to shoot only at birds and targets. High-speed rounds and buckshot have a strong recoil. So if you hold the gun incorrectly, you can injure your shoulder.