Help me with shotgun shell lingo.

[bballwizard05]

K have a 12 guage shotgun in 10 day prison. So went to wallyworld today to get some "havin some fun" shots. Bought a pack of slugs (i know what those are all about) but I have some questions about the big 100 round pack I bought. I'M A SHOTGUN NOOOOB, SO BE KIND!

Here are the specs, and I'm hoping someone can fill in what some of it means. I'll say "check" next to stuff that I know what it is.


12 guage. (check)

2 3/4 inches (check)

1200 FPS (check)

3 DR. EQ. ??????

1 1/8 oz ???????

7 1/2 shot ???????


It is winchester "universal" so is it basically full of birdshot?

This won't be my HD weapon, but how would this stuff do as a HD shot?

[rromeo]

Dram equivalent - powder load
1 1/8 oz. - how much shot is in there.
7 1/2 shot - how big the shot is. (Larger the number = smaller shot)
Somebody's head will explode now that you've asked about using it for HD.
I say it can be better than not having a shotgun, but birdshot is for birds.

[bballwizard05]

Like I said, I won't be using it for HD. So they can keep the head from exploding. Just know little about this shotgun info. Thanks for the help

[WDE91]

dram from what I understand is hardness of the shot
Well it looks like Im wrong about the above ^^ disregard that info

1 1/8 is the total weight of the combined shot/projectiles

7.5 is small birdshot typical in the plinking/universal loads

yup 2.75" of cheap plinking birdshot

horrible
bird shot is for birds and small birds at that
you figure less than 2.5lbs of tweety bird VS 200-300lbs of drugged out their mind rape your wife

for home defense start at #4 buck and go up to 000

[bballwizard05]

dram from what I understand is hardness of the shot
Well it looks like Im wrong about the above ^^ disregard that info

1 1/8 is the total weight of the combined shot/projectiles

7.5 is small birdshot typical in the plinking/universal loads

yup 2.75" of cheap plinking birdshot

horrible
bird shot is for birds and small birds at that
you figure less than 2.5lbs of tweety bird VS 200-300lbs of drugged out their mind rape your wife

for home defense start at #4 buck and go up to 000

Thanks for that. I keep the 9mm for that but its good to know anyhow!

[sargenv]

I have an essay about all this somewhere around here...

dram equiv is an old time term.. it means the velocity is equal to a specific charge of black powder.. 3 dram equivalent with a 1 1/8 oz shot charge gives a nominal velocity of 1200 fps. If you used 2 3/4 dram equiv, that same shot charge would be going a nominal 1145 fps.. Dram equiv has NOTHING to do with the actual powder charge since different powder may be thrown anywhere from 17-23 gr of smokeless powder for the same velocity on a 1 1/8 oz shot charge.. The equivalent charge of black powder would be in the 80-100 grain range.. (showing you how much more efficient smokeless is).

If you really want the lowdown, pick up a shotshell reloading manual, even if you do not intend on reloading.. they have ample info on various loads and what velocity you can expect from a specific dram equiv and a specific shot charge... It will definitely educate you on all of the innards of shotshells..

[Barry]

Dram

Dram is an oldy worldy measure of recoil.

Target loads are in the 2 3/4 ~ 3 Dram range.

Barry

[sargenv]

Dram is an oldy worldy measure of recoil.

Lol... this is the first time I ever heard anyone describe it like this..

This I scanned from one of my reloading manuals.. and their take on it...

DRAM EQUIVALENT

A dram is a measure for black powder. When smokeless powder began to replace black powder, shooters wanted to be able to compare their smokeless powder
loads with their original black powder loads. The term "dram equivalent" evolved. Dram equivalent is an indication of the velocity of a given amount of shot in a shell
loaded with smokeless powder. A scheme was devised to relate the velocity and shot weights of commercial loads to the dram system that had been used with
black powder.

The dram system has, for the most part, outlived its usefulness. Most shooters do not know what it means, pay little attention to it or care. Those who actually do
know have no use for the term dram equivalent at all. The knowledgeable shooter thinks in terms of a given weight of shot and the velocity required to attain satis*
actory results at a given range. The manufacturers would do every shooter a favor by devising a new system.

[Barry]

Dram

Lol... this is the first time I ever heard anyone describe it like this..

But am I wrong?

I believe a dram is 1/16th ounce of black powder.

To me it sounds like one of those stupid english measurments from way back when.

Barry

[sargenv]

See my edited text above... that is right out of one of my shotshell reloading manuals... According to Wikipedia, at the weights and measures.. Barry is correct.. 1 ounce = 16 drams..

[Riodog]

Just to confuse you even more->

http://www.chuckhawks.com/blackpowder_volumetric.htm

71/2 size shot is basically the standard size shot for birds such as quail, etc. Many trap shooters use this as a standard load. Skeet is usually shot with size 8. If you are hunting something that is a lil harder to kill such as a chuckar then a larger shot is apropriate as is a tighter choke. (more confusion). As someone so stated - the smaller the number the larger the shot. Which also means that there are fewer pellets per round. This equates into a much less dense pattern. Also means each individual pellet carries less energy.

There is so much to learn so do a lot or reading. You won't learn it overnight or on this forum. It would take a 100 pages. Go buy a few books on the subject.
Gauge
chamber length
wad,
crimp,
choke,
barrel length
distance to target or game
on and on and on. you get the idea.
Rio

[bballwizard05]

Haha thanks Rio, luckily I do know what a choke is/does. I don't see myself doing lots of hunting at least in the near future. But I'll do some readin up and get me some edumication!

[WDE91]

more edumication more gooder

[Thefeeder]

><

Next time your in Wally land....look at all the other 12 ga shells. There are some full house loads in both 2 3/4 and 3"..........see if can figure the differances.

[bballwizard05]

Next time your in Wally land....look at all the other 12 ga shells. There are some full house loads in both 2 3/4 and 3"..........see if can figure the differances.

I did! I sawr the slugs and bott'om! I wuv snails!


(for real though) They didn't seem to have much. I found some 8 shot, and some 00 behind the glass, but it was kinda pricey. I don't need it for HD so the cheap crap will be all I need for a good time!