Shotgun Exterior Ballistics

[Sven]

Not trying to be morbid here, just curious:

There is a lot of talk on the pistol and rifle forums regarding the effects of various loads/bullets in ballistic gellatin and/or, uh, warmer targets.

Don't see so much of that in the Shotgun threads - is that because pretty much its a 'done deal' when you hit someone COM with a shotgun blast?

I would be interested in first- or second-hand observations regarding what shotguns do to warm (or formerly warm) targets. Maybe this is just obvious.

What is the energy delivered by a slug at 50 yards? How does that compare to, say, a .308? Are there the same 'hydrostatic shock' effects?

 

[Dave McCracken]

Never shot anyone with a slug,Sven, but....

With a score and more of slug taken deer behind me, the typical reaction is a jump, short run and death within a minute. Few knockdowns and turnoffs right then as seen with high powered rifles.However, entrance wounds with Brenekke and Forster style slugs are oft three fingers wide, and I've large fingers. Internal damage is impressive.

I have had to examine forensic photos of shotgun wounds in people. Do not do this near mealtime.Deer are tougher than people.

The most telling evidence though, is my experiences in prison. Maximum and Medium security prisons are full of felons with scars from handguns. In 20 years, I met two inmates who had been shot with shotguns and lived. One was confined to a wheelchair, the other was starving to death despite a 5000 calory a day diet. No guts left...

 

[TarpleyG]

Well, many moons ago, in a CJ class I was taking, we had the privilege of being "entertained" by the county's criminal investigator for an evening. He brought along some crime scene slides for us to view. I remember two or three different scenes that involved shotguns. One, in particular stands out. Was a suicide from inside the mouth with a 12 ga. You can imagine the carnage. I don't think the guy used buckshot either, just birdshot IIRC. But, from that close range, even with birdshot, everything from the ears back was gone. Some of the other photos convinced me that the last thing I would want to be shot with is a shotgun.

GT