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Why so many shot sizes?

Because it's hard to kill a deer with #8birdshot, and 00buck is a little much for dove. ;) :mrgreen:

Seriously tho, it's because guns and their ammo are a tool designed to fulfill a specific objective, just like any other tool. They are all specific to a particular task.
 
GunnyGene said it perfectly... to go over every possible combination of shot size, type, accompanying components, shell lenths and their particular uses would probably fill a small pamphlet - maybe even a book.
 
I get that but why so many where the next size is barely bigger than the last and going on in very small steps?
 
For the same reason that there is regular (87) Midgrade (89) and Hi test/premium (92) gasoline.

Just because they are slightly different, they are still going to be standardized.
 
Wrenches said:
I get that but why so many where the next size is barely bigger than the last and going on in very small steps?
Click to expand...

Like the difference between #7 1/2 and #8? Has to do with the number of pellets you can jam into the shell. With the above comparison you get an extra 60pellets/ounce in #8 over 7 1/2. Which means a better chance of hitting that dove(denser shot cloud). At longer ranges, you usually want a slightly larger pellet size to have sufficient energy to penetrate. So again it boils down to using the best tool to achieve the goal. Pellet size is not the only factor to consider.

Edit: PS: Using the larger pellets for longer range also means you have to consider a heavier load - say 1 1/8 oz as compared to a 7/8oz load, which leads to perhaps needing more powder to get the equivalent muzzle velocity and energy, which leads to maybe a 3" shell instead of a 2 3/4", which leads to more recoil, which leads to more time to get back on target for a second or third shot. Simple, huh. ;) :mrgreen:

See this to compare, and recommended loads for various game. http://www.shotgunworld.com/amm.html
 
Just be careful to avoid the extra lethal ones

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/us/st ... =rss&_r=2&

The gunman then perched himself above an atrium where he fired down on people who had been eating breakfast, officials said, adding that he used shotgun shells that had roughly a dozen large ball-bearing-like shots in them, increasing their lethal nature.

“When he discharged, the pieces of lead would spread the farther they went,” the one official said. “It is similar to weapons used in bird shooting but on a more serious scale. These were not bullets but many small pieces of lead flying through the air.”
 
bolivianram said:
Just be careful to avoid the extra lethal ones

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/us/st ... =rss&_r=2&

The gunman then perched himself above an atrium where he fired down on people who had been eating breakfast, officials said, adding that he used shotgun shells that had roughly a dozen large ball-bearing-like shots in them, increasing their lethal nature.

“When he discharged, the pieces of lead would spread the farther they went,” the one official said. “It is similar to weapons used in bird shooting but on a more serious scale. These were not bullets but many small pieces of lead flying through the air.”
Click to expand...

Gotta keep it simple for the masses. :roll: Saying he was (imho) firing 3" 00 buck in a 12 gage Remington 870 would just confuse the idjits and result in blank stares.
 
So which Remington 870 was that again??
Model 870™ Express® Tactical Magpul®
Model 870™ Express® Tactical with BLACKHAWK! Spec Ops II
Model 870™ Express® Super Mag Turkey/Waterfowl
Model 870™ SPS™ Super Mag Turkey/Predator w/Scope
Model 870™ Express® Tactical A-TACS Camo
Model 870™ Express®
Model 870™ Express® Combos
Model 870™ Express® Shurshot™ Synthetic Cantilever
Model 870™ Express® Shurshot™ Synthetic Turkey
Model 870™ Express® Slug
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum Combo
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum Synthetic
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum Turkey Camo
Model 870™ Express® Super Mag Waterfowl Camo
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic 18"
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic 7-Round
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic Deer
Model 870™ Express® Turkey
Model 870™ Express® Tactical
Model 870™ Express® Tactical Grey
Model 870™ Express® Turkey Camo
Model 870™ Special Purpose Marine Magnum™
Model 870™ SPS™ Shurshot™ Synthetic Super Slug
Model 870™ SPS™ Shurshot™ Synthetic Cantilever
Model 870™ SPS™ Shurshot™ Synthetic Turkey
Model 870™ TAC Desert Recon
Model 870™ Wingmaster®
Model 870™ Wingmaster® Classic Trap

"and two twelve packs of shells also please"

Can no-one do research any more.

AND To the issue of AR 15s - it appears at this time that no AR 15s were used by the gunman THOUGH he probably wanted to use an AR 15 and we reserve the right to mention AR 15 automatic military assault weapons at will and with no reason but to be certain that they are included in each article concerning this and any other crime story published by this paper - including jaywalking!!

SHEESH!!
 
mingaa said:
So which Remington 870 was that again??
Model 870™ Express® Tactical Magpul®
Model 870™ Express® Tactical with BLACKHAWK! Spec Ops II
Model 870™ Express® Super Mag Turkey/Waterfowl
Model 870™ SPS™ Super Mag Turkey/Predator w/Scope
Model 870™ Express® Tactical A-TACS Camo
Model 870™ Express®
Model 870™ Express® Combos
Model 870™ Express® Shurshot™ Synthetic Cantilever
Model 870™ Express® Shurshot™ Synthetic Turkey
Model 870™ Express® Slug
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum Combo
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum Synthetic
Model 870™ Express® Super Magnum Turkey Camo
Model 870™ Express® Super Mag Waterfowl Camo
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic 18"
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic 7-Round
Model 870™ Express® Synthetic Deer
Model 870™ Express® Turkey
Model 870™ Express® Tactical
Model 870™ Express® Tactical Grey
Model 870™ Express® Turkey Camo
Model 870™ Special Purpose Marine Magnum™
Model 870™ SPS™ Shurshot™ Synthetic Super Slug
Model 870™ SPS™ Shurshot™ Synthetic Cantilever
Model 870™ SPS™ Shurshot™ Synthetic Turkey
Model 870™ TAC Desert Recon
Model 870™ Wingmaster®
Model 870™ Wingmaster® Classic Trap

"and two twelve packs of shells also please"

Can no-one do research any more.

AND To the issue of AR 15s - it appears at this time that no AR 15s were used by the gunman THOUGH he probably wanted to use an AR 15 and we reserve the right to mention AR 15 automatic military assault weapons at will and with no reason but to be certain that they are included in each article concerning this and any other crime story published by this paper - including jaywalking!!

SHEESH!!
Click to expand...

I don't know which he bought, but probably the cheapest one he could get off the shelf. I'd bet money the media (if they bother at all) would pick one of the following because they sound scary (have those words in them):

Model 870™ Express® Tactical with BLACKHAWK! Spec Ops II
Model 870™ Express® Tactical A-TACS Camo
Model 870™ TAC Desert Recon
Model 870™ SPS™ Super Mag Turkey/Predator w/Scope
Model 870™ Special Purpose Marine Magnum™ (because they'd think it was for the Corps, and Marines are really scary dudes). ;)
 
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