The shotgun shells, are also called the shotgun cartridges are similar to other firearm in some of the basic components but the overall construction and use are different. All the modern firearm cartridges have the case that will have primer at the base that will ignite the charge of gunpowder inside, which will propels a projectile down the barrel of firearm at great speed.
While almost all the centerfire and rimfire rifle and also the handgun cartridges have the brass case, bullet, shotgun and powder shell that lots of several components. Whether you are buying the 12 gauge shotgun shells or any other shell, this guide will help you for sure.
What Are The Components Of The Typical Shotgun Shell?
Depending upon the reason why you will use the shotgun, like hunting, self defense, sporting uses, you can differentiate the shotgun ammunition in three categories like birdshot, slugs and the buckshot. These shells will differ in the nature and features of projectiles they will have, but the main components are quite same and they are as follows-
- Outer hull, mainly made with plastic with the brass or steel rimmed base
- The wad or shot cup over the powder
- Primer inserted in the metallic base for igniting powder charge
- Charge of gunpowder containing in metallic base
- Shotgun pellets, buckshot or slug
Depending upon the design and the performance of the shell, there are also synthetic buffering material that is mixed with the buckshot or the birdshot pellets and there are also not only specialised shot cup for helping control the dispersion of shot as it will leave the barrel.
What Is The Shotgun Hull Is Made Up Of?
In the earlier days, the shotguns were called as the fowling pieces and they were black powder firearms loaded from muzzle. In the last 19th century, with the ever growing demand of self-contained metallic cartridges, the shotgun shell was invented. Full brass shotgun hulls are still available for the vintage guns but they are very expensive and need to have specialised items to reload.
Most of the birdshots and buckshots shells are crimped at the nose enclosing the shot payload while slug have the open nose with the rolled over edge. Some of the buckshots and slug rounds have the open nose with the rolled over edges.
How Do The Shotgun Shells Really Work?
When the primer of the shotgun shell contained in the shotgun’s chamber is struck by the firing pin or striker and the impact-sensitive chemical contained in the primer ignites, and flames flows through the flash hole in the gun base of shell in the powder charges that ignites the shell.
The powder charges burns extremely rapidly that pushes it against wad or shot cup that pushes against the shot or slug contained in the forward part of the shotgun hell.
There are different shotguns, shells and chokes generally produce dramatically different results. So, you need to be sure right shotgun shells for desired use and pattern the shotgun with the ammunition you are intending for using.
