HATS OFF TO THE TOP SCATTERGUN: 12 GAUGE

AmSJ ^ | 3/17/2025 | E Nestor

[w1n1]

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! Read the rest of this top scattergun 12 gauge.

[packagingguy]

You’ll need a shotgun to shoot down drones in the future.

[pingman]

“Big bada-boom!”- Leeloo

[sjmjax]

May need to bring back a modern version of the punt gun!

[onona]

10 gauge

[Georgia Girl 2]

My Dad won a lot of turkey shoots with his Browning pump when we were kids. My Mom never bought a Thanksgiving turkey at the store until I was out of college.

One year I came home from school and there was a white turkey on a tether walking around our backyard. My Dad had won it at the turkey shoot over the weekend. He picked the turkey up during his lunch hour and brought it home. I think it went to the processor the next day.

[Robert357]

Yes a 12 gauge is popular. However, one might want to look into historic gauges, .410, 28, 20, 16 and 12. History has made the 28 and 16 all but disappear from modern firearm sales and .410 is either considered a youth or novelty loading.

So the question is why does the 20 gauge have such a following if it is less powerful than a 12 gauge. The answer is that it can do most of what a 12 gauge does.

Yes, I own multiple 12 gauge shotguns and multiple 20 gauge shotguns. They each have their different use.

[LegendHasIt]

Yeah, I have been wanting to build a breech loading, magazine fed ‘punt type gun’ mounted on a pintle for my front yard ever since drones became widespread. I’ll never do it now that I’m old and lazy, but it is a fun dream.

[T.B. Yoits]

You’ll need a shotgun to shoot down drones in the future now.

What is anyone waiting for?

[LegendHasIt]

I bet that 28 gauge would have enjoyed a renaissance if the ATF had let Taurus sell its 28 Ga Judge pistol in the US.

[T.B. Yoits]

[T.B. Yoits]

[T.B. Yoits]

[Sirius Lee]

[Magnum44]

A shot gun pattern is good to what? 50? 75 yards? maybe you get lucky at 100 yards. I agree that would be a way to take down drones, but you would have to get them to want to get close to you. Likely whatever gun/bomb/etc they carry can be used at a greater distance. If they are just doing recon, they could be much farther.

I think anything outside of 75 yards you need a precision shot. It would likely be tough. Small, moving, target. And you might not even be aware of it until its too late.

Drone defense (for the little people) is going to be a challenge for some time to come.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The reason for the multiplicity of gauges was the limitations of pre-smokeless and early smokeless ammo. Today with modern powders and wads you can pretty much dial in the results you want one gauge. The 20 is popular since it is lighter and easier to carry for longer hunts and smaller individuals.

28 gauge and .410 are great fun to shoot, and also used in organized skeet competition.

16 gauge has a cult following, and is most often found in lighter upland guns. I consider it the .41 Magnum of shotguns, not as well known as its big brother, but fitting a nice niche.

[redfreedom]

“A shot gun pattern is good to what? 50? 75 yards?”

I have my own shooting range and have done quite a bit of testing various loads in a 12 gauge. The concern is self defense ammo and which is best at what range.

For double aught, 30 yards will print all the pellets on a person size target. At 50 yards most will show. 75 yards is iffy. The best 00 Buck appears to be military or law enforcement grade. Off the shelf Winchester is not as good.

For high velocity #4 pheasant, this stuff will spray any target with accuracy up to 50 yards. The difference is penetration. I’ve never tried this stuff beyond 50.

That’s my experience with a semi auto magazine fed 12 gauge that will accept a 20 round drum.

[Magnum44]

Yeah, I was trying to be generous in my estimates. I think a bird shot would take most small drones, but those could pretty much only do recon. The larger ones that can carry deadly heavier payloads and my take something more than just a 7 1/2 shot pellot to bring it down.

For civilian defense, this is a tough problem. One that is being thought about, but family budget solutions are not really out there yet. Just being situationally aware and having warning of a drone being nearby or incoming is technically expensive.

[packagingguy]

An Old School Solution to a Very Modern Threat: Shotguns vs Drones

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/an-old-school-solution-to-a-very-modern-threat-shotguns-vs-drones-44817970

Benelli’s Anti-Drone M4 Shotgun (+Tungsten Ammo): A.I. Drone Guardian

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/benelli-s-anti-drone-m4-shotgun-tungsten-ammo-a-i-drone-guardian-44819440

US Air Force buys Skynet shotgun shells that can down a drone using a NET

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4313466/US-Air-Force-buying-net-releasing-bullets-trap-drones.html

Shotguns are the only viable defense available to the regular public.

[Magnum44]

Very nice. Thank you for the links. I had not seen these.