Definition of Shotgun Gauge

Bravo · 03-27-2008, 11:58 AM

I thought I'd share this info with you all (I hope it wasn't posted elsewhere already). Some of you might already know, but I didn't, so I figure at least someone else out there doesn't know.

Growing up, I always knew that the smaller the shotgun gauge, the bigger the shotgun shell was. That's all I knew, and I took it for granted.

If you've ever wondered why a 12-gauge shotgun is 12-gauge, and why a 28-gauge is 28-gauge, here's why:

Quote:

The Gauge, bore or calibre of a shotgun is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. The gauge or bore of the inside diameter of a barrel corresponds with the number of identical solid spheres that can be made from a pound of lead.

In other words, a 12-gauge shotgun has a 0.729-inch diameter bore, because it takes 12 0.792-inch diameter lead spheres to make 1 pound of lead.

The same goes for a 20-gauge. It takes 20 0.615-inch diameter lead spheres to make 1 pound of lead, and thus a 20-guage shotgun has the bore diameter of 1 of those spheres.

This goes for every shotgun gauge (10,12,16,20,24,28,32), except .410. The .410 shotgun is actually a measurement of caliber, meaning the ball leaving the barrel is 0.41" in diameter. If the .410 shotgun were to be measured in gauge, it would be a 67.5-gauge shotgun.

Also, old cannons were also sometimes measured in gauge, although their measurements were based off of the weight of iron, rather than lead.

Just some facts, I hope someone learned something

Source:
Gauge (bore diameter) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

cremley · 03-27-2008, 02:17 PM

wow! that actually helped a lot. I was wondering what the difference was between a .410 and the 20. Now I know! thanks

turner · 03-27-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cremley

wow! that actually helped a lot. I was wondering what the difference was between a .410 and the 20. Now I know! thanks

The .410 has a lot more balls...... (per pound, of course)...lol.

nathangdad · 03-27-2008, 02:38 PM

Many people have just stared at me when I explained the lead
ball deal to them. Glad you made the post.

03-27-2008, 02:38 PM	#4
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,196 Trader Rating: (0)	Correct Many people have just stared at me when I explained the lead ball deal to them. Glad you made the post.

03-27-2008, 02:17 PM	#2
cremley Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southern New Mexico Posts: 675 Trader Rating: (0)	wow! that actually helped a lot. I was wondering what the difference was between a .410 and the 20. Now I know! thanks