How do shotguns work?

[TallTale]

For some reason I've been wanting to know what goes on inside a shotgun when it's fired. I went to howstuffworks but it didn't really answer my question. I want to know what happens inside of a pump shotgun after I pull the trigger. What moves, what hits what, what explodes and how the shot gets out of the barrel. Is there a ton of tiny balls traveling through the barrel or is something keeping then together till they leave?

Thanks!

[ojisan]

Trigger releases hammer.
Hammer hits firing pin.
Firing pin hits the primer in the base of the shell that makes a spark.
The spark ignites the gunpowder.
Gunpowder burns and turns into high pressure gas that expands and pushes out the shot.
The shot can be loose balls or held in a plastic cup or be a one piece slug.
There are many differnt ways shotgun shells are made.

[ZirconJohn]

.
Interesting...

[Tanner68]

The shot is inside a plastic wad cup. The wad cup cushions the shot from the ignited powder charge, and holds the shot together during the trip down the barrel. When it leaves the barrel, the wad cup separates from the shot. You often see it in flight. Check out some reloading sites and you will see what wads look like.

[TallTale]

Perfect thank you all. The pictures and video helped immensely

[crud]

...

[1911su16b870]

What other home defense item creates a mushroom cloud as seen in the far left snap action photo?

[Tawcoma26]

I had this picture as my wallpaper on my phone a couple weeks back.

Amazing.

[POWG]

Uh Oh ...

Hope the preceding picture & commentary about "home defense item" & mushroom cloud does not re-ignite the "Birdshot - Buckshot & Slug" responses.

Yes??

POWG is out.

[Utha Schleigle]

This is a very good book.

There is another book written by Robert Stack - that is very good - mostly for maintenance and trapp. Will get picture soon.



In side the barrel tube - chamber forcing cone and front choke forcing cone - learn about these and how they effect shot pattern - this will help the most. {My Opinion Only}

[Utha Schleigle]

Bed Time Reading

[MossbergMan]

Today was not wasted, I learned something. Thanks Utha for the wing shooting post/copy. The lead measurements were an eye opener. My scores on clays will improve no doubt. I had always "by gosh and by gollied" my aerial shooting based on experience/success rate....nice to have some idea based on velocity and distance how far to lead a target.

[Utha Schleigle]

Today was not wasted, I learned something. Thanks Utha for the wing shooting post/copy. The lead measurements were an eye opener. My scores on clays will improve no doubt. I had always "by gosh and by gollied" my aerial shooting based on experience/success rate....nice to have some idea based on velocity and distance how far to lead a target.

In relation o the forcing cones the mathamathical combinations are endless.

Will work on Robert Stacks Book soon.

Your paticular shotgun - and the two {usually} forcing cones may LIKE certain shot size-wadd-shot load-powder charge. Will effect the shott pattern. A hole in that pattern to let a clay or bird fly bye bye.

My OPINION ONLY the front forceing cone is most important to pattern, because of the shot speed as the load passes through the cone.

Again my OPinION ONLY a shot gun must be aimed to get the most out of a pattern. Either by sight or heavily practiced point and shoot.

When you think about this concept of precisely made chamber - forcing cones - hand lapped and polished barrel tube and forceing cones. You can see why the US over and under is $1,200.oo and the Itailain under and over is 12,000.oo.

I like my $150 MOSSBERG. imp cylnder

stove pipe
improve clynder
1/4 choke
modified choke
1/2 choke
3/4 choke
full choke