Shotgun shell facts for kids
A shotgun shell is a special type of ammunition used in a shotgun. Think of it like a bullet, but for a shotgun! These shells are loaded into the shotgun before it's fired.
Shotgun shells are shaped like a cylinder and are usually between 2.75 inches and 3.5 inches long. Inside, they hold a small amount of gunpowder and either many small lead shot pellets or a single large shotgun slug. When the shotgun is fired, the gunpowder ignites, pushing the shot or slug out of the barrel. Most shells are made of plastic with a thin brass base, but some can be made entirely of brass or even paper.
Contents
What is a Shotgun Shell?
A shotgun shell is the main type of ammunition a shotgun uses. It's a cylindrical container that holds everything needed to fire. Inside each shell, you'll find a small amount of gunpowder. This gunpowder creates a lot of force when it burns. This force pushes out what's called the "payload." The payload can be many small, round pellets, known as "shot," or a single, larger piece of metal called a "slug."
Most shotgun shells are made from plastic, which helps keep them light. They also have a small metal base, usually made of brass. This brass part helps the shell fit correctly in the shotgun and makes sure it fires safely.
How Shotgun Shells are Measured
The size of a shotgun shell is usually measured in something called "gauge." You might hear about a "12-gauge" or a "20-gauge" shotgun. The most common size you'll find is the 12-gauge.
It might seem a bit confusing, but with gauge, a smaller number actually means a larger shell! So, a 12-gauge shell is bigger than a 20-gauge shell. This way of measuring is quite old.
Understanding Gauge Numbers
The idea behind "gauge" comes from a long time ago. Except for one special size called the ".410 bore" (which is measured differently), the gauge number tells you how many lead balls, all the same size as the inside of the shotgun barrel, would add up to one pound.
For example, in a 12-gauge shotgun, 12 lead balls, each fitting perfectly inside the barrel, would weigh one pound together. This means each ball, and thus the inside of the barrel, is the size of 1/12th of a pound of lead. For a 20-gauge, 20 lead balls would make up a pound, so the barrel is smaller, about the size of 1/20th of a pound of lead.
Special Types of Shells
While many shotgun shells are designed to be very powerful, there are also special kinds called "less lethal" shells. These shells are made to hurt someone but not cause death. They are often used by police or security forces in situations where they need to stop someone without using deadly force.
Less Lethal Shells
Instead of lead shot or slugs, less lethal shells can be filled with different materials. These might include plastic or rubber pellets, rubber slugs, or even small fabric bags filled with lead shot, known as "beanbags." Sometimes, they might even contain salt. These materials are designed to cause pain or temporary injury, like a strong bruise, to make someone stop what they are doing.
Images for kids
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Shotgun shell comparison (left to right): 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 16-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410 bore
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M35 .410 shotgun shells for M-6 survival gun w/.22 long rifle for comparison
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12-gauge birdshot shotgun shell.
See also
In Spanish: Cartucho de escopeta para niños
