Shotgun range

[shotgunmessenger96]

Here's a question,
Would a shotgun with a 20 inch barrel and IC choke have a farther effective range than a shotgun
with say a 12 inch barrel and super full choke?


PS:does anyone make a double barrel shotgun with exposed, working hammers and 26 or 28 inch barrels?

 

[Virginian]

Well, without the right paperwork the 12" barrel will get you in the pokey quicker. 18" is the common legal minimum.
Generally, most powders have imparted about all the velocity they can within 26" to 28". Below that you lose 25 to 50 feet per second per inch of barrel length. I do not believe choke has a significant impact anymore. With the old cardboard and felt wads the full choke gave faster results. I do not remember where I saw this now, but I remember I did see it.

 

[ArmedBear]

WRT range, choke doesn't matter. The balls will go just as far either way. They'll just be farther apart at any given range, with a more open choke. Gauge doesn't matter either.

What DOES matter is pellet size.

Remember:

A modern plastic wad keeps the pellets together in one lump while they travel down the barrel (probably the explanation for why modern rounds don't change velocity noticeably with choke, as Virginian notes).

When the pellets exit the barrel, they fly through the air as independent little balls. Small shot has little energy, and loses its velocity to air resistance quickly.

That's one reason why bird hunting areas in populated places, and ranges, limit shot size to 7.5 or 8. They aren't dangerous much past 100 yards. Even #6 bird shot, though, retains enough energy to cause injury, potentially serious injury if you're not lucky, at that range or close to it. Bigger shot is dangerous farther away, because it doesn't slow down as much and retains more velocity as well as a LOT more energy.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Not by a whole lot, depending on the powder/loads used. Most shotgun powders burn fairly fast, most loads are consumed within 14- 18" of barrel.

"Unlike the days of black powder where long barrels were required to achieve good powder burning and velocity, today’s powders require only 18" to 20" of barrel length." - http://www.tanksrifleshop.com/shotgun_notes.htm

"Barrel length and pattern/velocity questions are mostly a matter of complete combustion. So, whether one is getting a complete burn which has peaked in pressure, delivering consistent velocity, depends on length of barrel and powder type. Slow-burning powders, such as Alliant Blue Dot®, will take 26 inches or more for complete combustion.

Patterns will be rendered inconsistent by inconsistent velocity, a byproduct of an incomplete burn. The closer we get to 100% of the granules burned predictably, the more consistent the pattern will become.
- http://www.ballisticproducts.com/bpi/articleindex/articles/barrel_length_and_patterns.htm

"A long barrel has only the very smallest ballistic effect with modern shotshells. In the old days of
black powder, longer barrels allowed the powder to burn more completely and produced higher
velocity. Modern powders burn much more quickly and barrel length has minimal effect on
velocity. Choke has more effect on velocity than barrel length does. Did you know that a 12
gauge using Full choke will have about 50 feet per second more velocity than the same gun/shell
using a Cylinder Bore choke? I was surprised when I found that through testing. " - http://www.shotgunreport.com/TechTech/TechnoidArchive/25-July-08.pdf

"...most shotshell powders complete most of their burn in the first eighteen or so inches of barrel length. - http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_recoil_monster.htm

Choke will have some effect on patterns and therefore on effective range. But there is such a thing as TOO MUCH choke, which works with the opposite effect some people think. Forcing a load of shot through a very tight choke constriction can damage some of the shot- leaving them with flat spots. Those flat spots make the damaged pellets fly wildly, opening the pattern- sometimes considerably.

As to new production double barrel hammer guns- there are lots of 'coach guns' with short barrels, I don't know of any with longer barrels right off hand...

lpl

 

[shotgunmessenger96]

a 12
gauge using Full choke will have about 50 feet per second more velocity than the same gun/shell
using a Cylinder Bore choke

I didn't know that. Interesting.

 

[dispatch55126]

Quote:
a 12
gauge using Full choke will have about 50 feet per second more velocity than the same gun/shell
using a Cylinder Bore choke
I didn't know that. Interesting.

I suppose it could have something to do with the final push before leaving the barrel. I tighter choke would give an ever so slightly increase in the pressure just prior to exiting the barrel.

Assuming that is correct, I wonder if a ported barrel would have the opposite effect by venting gases as the shot passes through the tighter choke.