What's difference between 4 , 6, 8 , 12 and 20 gauge?

[Dawido]

What difference in 4,6,8,12, 20 gauge shotguns?

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Different sizes.With .410 being the skinniest.

Here is all the gauges that still in use around the world.

https://blogmedia.wideners.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/WRS-Shotgun-Gauges-Web.jpg

[Fajita Jim]

4 gauge shotguns are hand cannons. I have shot one once. I won't again.

[permanent name]

Depends on what era and in what context.

On the modern American market, it's the number of pellets per shot. In the 1960s it was the gauge of the pellets, with 20 being very large gauge and something like 00 being a fine mist of lead, each pellet less than a cm in size.

In some places in Europe it's a size gauge, and some use reverse and some use the other way around. In others it's the number per shot.

In some African nations it's the size of the shell that goes in, which is full of pretty much anything you find laying around. Bigger is often better, but certain trees and shrubs are known for making especially good ammunition for certain calibers. Some rivaling lead musket balls. This is way, way cheaper than lead ammunition and typically both more effective and also more frightening.

[Pieshaman]

Publicado originalmente por permanent name:

Depends on what era and in what context.

On the modern American market, it's the number of pellets per shot. In the 1960s it was the gauge of the pellets, with 20 being very large gauge and something like 00 being a fine mist of lead, each pellet less than a cm in size.

In some places in Europe it's a size gauge, and some use reverse and some use the other way around. In others it's the number per shot.

In some African nations it's the size of the shell that goes in, which is full of pretty much anything you find laying around. Bigger is often better, but certain trees and shrubs are known for making especially good ammunition for certain calibers. Some rivaling lead musket balls. This is way, way cheaper than lead ammunition and typically both more effective and also more frightening.

excuse me but I not know much about firearms maybe but I do about measurement. gauge is always been gauge. It not changed over time.

[Xero_Daxter]

Isn’t smaller the number bigger the bullet?

[Fajita Jim]

Publicado originalmente por permanent name:

On the modern American market, it's the number of pellets per shot.

What? No. The number of pellets in a shell is literally called SHOT.

[Faster With Feeling]

Publicado originalmente por Fajita Jim:

4 gauge shotguns are hand cannons. I have shot one once. I won't again.

Can I ask why that put you off doing it again?

[Fajita Jim]

Publicado originalmente por Moist Muffins:

Publicado originalmente por Fajita Jim:

4 gauge shotguns are hand cannons. I have shot one once. I won't again.

Can I ask why that put you off doing it again?

Because it ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hurt.

I had a bruise on my shoulder for a couple weeks after.

[Faster With Feeling]

Publicado originalmente por Fajita Jim:

Publicado originalmente por Moist Muffins:

Can I ask why that put you off doing it again?

Because it ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hurt.

I had a bruise on my shoulder for a couple weeks after.

OK that's a good reason not to then

[Pieshaman]

Publicado originalmente por Fajita Jim:

Publicado originalmente por permanent name:

On the modern American market, it's the number of pellets per shot.

What? No. The number of pellets in a shell is literally called SHOT.

isn't it something with the inner diameter of the bore of gun compared to number of balls and weight

That would make more sense.

Otherwise you could put 4 gauge ammo in a 20 gauge which would be crazy if you just go hunt birds or something.

[Fajita Jim]

Relevant:

https://youtu.be/8uJouw9uh84

[Fajita Jim]

Publicado originalmente por Pieshaman:

isn't it something with the inner diameter of the bore of gun compared to number of balls and weight

Yeah something like how many lead balls of that bore size would weigh a pound. Or something. It's stupid.

[Mauserich]

"12-gauge" means you can make 12 lead balls, each of equal diameter to the gun barrel, out of 1 pound of lead. This originated in the days when you would buy lead by the pound to make your own ammo. The gauge told you how many rounds you could make for the gun from 1 pound of lead."

Analogously, the other gauges.

[Kobs]

Publicado originalmente por Mauserich:

"12-gauge" means you can make 12 lead balls, each of equal diameter to the gun barrel, out of 1 pound of lead. This originated in the days when you would buy lead by the pound to make your own ammo. The gauge told you how many rounds you could make for the gun from 1 pound of lead."

Analogously, the other gauges.

This only meant something with black powder guns when those were firing lead balls, now days with cartridges it means nothing aside from the size of the bore. You can fire anything out of a 12 gauge now days, I even saw a vid of a guy firing a slug of silly putty out of his

[HALO_run]

Publicado originalmente por Fajita Jim:

Relevant:

https://youtu.be/8uJouw9uh84

you know it reminds me of the longest shotty i've ever seen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLHLXy1gWPg