Posted on 09/16/2016 6:38:21 AM PDT by w1n1
Where Rifled Shotguns Are Needed Or Required
In modern America, rifled shotguns are hybrid creatures spawned mainly by regulatory compliance. Several states require them for deer hunting, with the justifications ranging from reduced range for densely populated areas to deliberately limited effectiveness to give deer a fighting chance. Their technical provenance, however, goes back quite a bit further.
The first bolt-action rifle adopted by Prussia in late 1840s, the Dreyse "needle gun", used projectiles somewhere between 16 gauge and 20 gauge – a 1-ounce bullet riding a paper sabot at around 1,000 feet per second. As rifle designs improved and metallic cartridges came into use, several 1870s designs in Europe and the U.S. settled around .44 caliber, with ¾-ounce projectiles launched around 1,500 fps, a velocity sufficient to expand soft lead and provide massive stopping power on soft-skinned foes such as humans or leopards. Incidentally, that ballistic envelope is very similar to today’s 20-gauge hunting loads. Read the rest of the story here.
Rifled shotgun barrels are capable of very good accuracy.
A neighbor set up a Browning Gold Hunter for slug shooting in a shotgun only area. When he was done, he could hit a 5 gal bucket at 275 yds 10/10 times. Grouping was respectable, as well.
But, it was very picky with loads, only one sabot load would do this, others or rifled slugs would not group well, and he tried 8 different loads from various manufacturers.
Having the scope mount on the barrel, as in the article, makes a huge difference beyond 100 yds.
Amazing, that is a lot of mass at that distance. How much will the bullet drop at 275 yards?
You’re pretty much lobbing it in at that distance. Still wouldn’t want to be out there with a catcher’s glove...
Are they effective against blue Kevlar?
Shotguns are amazingly versatile.
H->! will be after your gunz first.
We have an old 16 ga. pump which had the choke cut off. Barrel is not that short, but open choke. I've considered buying some of the newer extreme expanding shot shells for it. Never expect to use it hunting, but for self defense it would be ideal. We have had 3 burglaries at our farm, I'm in the process of remodeling home there and moving back to protect our operation.
About 180 pounds depending on gravity and whether he is standing....
snicker
Yes, I’m sure at least that heavy a target.
Mass does not change the drop rate - though drag will. Drop is only dependent upon the gravitational force applied. Drop a cannon ball and a fishing bobber at the same time and they will hit at the same time (minus any difference due to air resistance/drag associated with the size and not the mass) or drop a round ounce of gold vs a round ounce of tin of the same size (but considerably different mass) and they will hit at the same time.
Fella dropped two such items off the leaning tower of pisa many many years ago to prove this.
Yes, 275 yds measured with a laser rangefinder. I printed out a ballistics table for him to use when hunting, that listed drop at various ranges.
Those copper sabot solids will go through a Kevlar vest like it wasn’t even there. Just saying.
L
And that’s why I have some. Just sayin. ..
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