Shotguns

Shotguns are firearms designed for shoulder-fired use that discharge shot or a single slug. They are typically smoothbore and fired shells that contain multiple pellets or a single projectile. Bore size is expressed as gauge, with 12 and 20 gauge the most common, while smaller or larger gauges exist.

Most shotguns use one of several action types. Break-action shotguns have a hinged receiver and are loaded by opening the barrel(s) and inserting a shell. Pump-action, or slide-action, guns cycle shells by sliding a fore-end. Semi-automatic shotguns use the energy from firing to cycle the next round. Less common are bolt-action or lever-action shotguns, which are typically used for specialized applications or hunting.

Ammunition comes in various forms. Birdshot and buckshot use multiple small pellets, while slugs fire a single, larger projectile. Shot sizes range widely; choke constrictions at the muzzle control the spread pattern, from cylinder to improved and full choke. Chokes are used to optimize effectiveness at different ranges.

Common uses include hunting small and medium game, waterfowl, and birds; big-game hunting with slugs; sport shooting such as skeet, trap, and sporting clays. Shotguns are also employed by law enforcement and some military units for certain tasks and in close quarters.

Safety and regulation emphasize firearm handling, safe storage, and compliance with local laws regarding licensing, barrel length, magazine capacity, and storage.

History: Early shotguns appeared in Europe in the 16th to 17th centuries as smoothbore firearms designed to fire shot from multiple barrels or later single-barrel designs. The modern shotgun developed through the 19th and 20th centuries with advances in metallurgy, smoother bore design, and mechanical actions by manufacturers such as Browning, Remington, Mossberg, and Winchester.