Gauge
The gauge of any shotgun is determined by the inside bore diameter of
the barrel. The largest gauge allowed in modern hunting is the 10 gauge.
However, the 12 gauge has attained the greatest popularity of all
gauges, because of its versatility. It is capable of providing loads
nearly equal to 10 gauge, and, of course, recoil is noticeably less. The
16 is a close competitor to the 12 in versatility and has many advocates
who will use nothing else. It is an excellent gauge for upland game, and
very effective for practically all waterfowl shooting. Most enthusiastic
shotgunners seldom go long without a compact little 20 gauge. The
"Twenty" has extremely fast handling and pointing characteristics which
make it delightful for both the novice and skilled shooter. Improved
loads have now made the 20 gauge most suitable for varied types of
shooting.
The 28 and .410 gauges also feature exceptional handling ease.
However, these two gauges carry some 25 percent fewer pellets than the
normal 20 gauge load, and are therefore used primarily by the skilled
upland bird hunter or skeet shooter capable of picking up the target at
close range.
Every gauge listed has features desirable for specific types of
shooting, as well as for specific types of shooters. But, the desire for
lighter weight and lighter recoil need not limit a shooter to one gauge.
Browning now provides light weight and light recoil in every gauge it
makes. This, combined with proper shell selection, can assure pleasant
shooting in any gauge. Just select the Browning gun and gauge you like
best.
Choke
Choke refers to the amount of constriction in the bore of the
shotgun barrel. This choke commences about three inches from the muzzle
so that the inside diameter of the barrel at this point is less than at
any other point along the tube toward the breech. This constriction
slightly squeezes the shot charge mass just before it leaves the gun,
tending to keep the shot charge pellets from spreading wildly. The more
the constriction, within known limits, the tighter will be the
concentration of shot in flight at any given distance.
A cylinder bore has no choke at all. With no constriction in the
barrel at any point, the shot flares toward the target in a broad and
loosely held mass. At the other extreme is the full choke gun which
provides the maximum concentration of shot in flight.
The degree of choke is custornarily measured by the percentage of
pellets which hit within a 30-inch circle at 40 yards. In the same gun
this percentage may vary slightly, depending on the size of shot,
velocity of shot, and amount of shot used. But on the average, the
following percentages may be expected in Browning barrels with wide
variety of loads available.
Comparable percentages may be expected from the 28 gauge and the .410
gauge at about 35 yards.
Average Browning Percentages Identification 30 Inch Circle
Choke on Barrels at 40 Yards
Full * 65-75%
Improved Modified o- 55-65%
Modified *- 45~55%
Improved Cylinder ** 35-45%
Skeet **S 30-35%
Cylinder *** 25-35%
The degree of choke is often referred to as pattern percentage, or
pattern, although pattern includes a slightly broader meaning. Even more
important than the percentage of pellets hitting within the prescribed
area is the even distribution of the pellets in that area. Within the
range for which any particular choke is engineered, the pattern should
have no holes as large as the target. For example, it has been
determined that five hits of number 5 shot are generally required to
kill a duck. Therefore, at the effective range of the gun and cartidge,
the pattern should be tight enough that at least five number 6 shots are
within the area of a duck's body at any point in the pattern circle.
The choice of choke should be made in relation to the distance at
which most targets are to be shot. If the game is generally shot at
distances of 40 yards or more, then a tight choke (improved modified or
full) is appropriate. A modified choke would give approximately the same
pattern density at 35 to 40 yards, improved cylinder 30-35 yards, and so
on. Since studies have shown that the great majority of game is shot at
ranges under 40 yards, the modified choke is the most generally accepted
for all-around shooting conditions.
Barrel Length
It is still assumed by many that the longer the shotgun barrel the
farther the gun will shoot, the more effectively it will perform, and
the more closely it will pattern.
The facts are, however, whatever the gauge, barrel length has small
effect on the velocity of the shot charge. With modern powders, the shot
charge reaches maximum velocity after it has traveled a relatively short
distance up the barrel bore. (Longer length of barrel does not make the
pellets move faster or go farther.) Since the degree of choke controls
the pattern of the shot at the target the proper barrel length is
entirely a matter of desired weight, balance, and sight radius. The
longer 30 or 32 inch barrels add weight at the muzzle for steadiness,
and provide a longer sighting plane for the slower, more deliberate
swing required to hit more distant targets. The shorter barrels are
preferred whenever quickness in getting a gun shouldered, and general
ease of maneuverability, are important.
The size of the individual is also a consideration. A small person
will likely be more accurate, even for distant targets, with a shorter
barrel since the longer barrel may be uncomfortably heavy and slow.
Rib
A rib on the top of the barrel rapidly channels the eye down an
uninterrupted sighting plane. A ventilated rib also minimizes heat wave
distortion that occurs down the sighting plane when the gun is fired in
rapid succession.
Gun Stocks
There are three specific measurements important in any shotgun
stock. The measurements, as illustrated below,* are "drop at the comb,"
"drop at the heel," and "length of pull."
Since exhaustive research and experimentation have shown that these
three measurements can greatly affect shotgun shooting success, Browning
Arms Company takes special care to meet the most desirable measurements
in each stock produced.
A stock that is too long may catch under the arm pit or drag on the
lower shoulder. It will feel uncomfortable and awkward, and can markedly
delay the fast execution of a shot. On the other hand, the stock that is
too short will cause more kick to the shoulder, and hurt the shooter's
face as well.
Since shotguns have no rear sights as do rifles, the shotgunner
sights along a plane from breech to barrel muzzle to target. In effect,
the shooter's eye is the rear sight. Thus the amount of drop at the comb
is extremely important in its effect on good or poor shooting. Should
the comb be too low, the shooter's eye will be too low when the gun is
properly cheeked, and the gun will throw the charge below the mark. If
the comb stands too high, the impact of the charge will consistently be
above the target. In addition, the
shooter must place his cheek against the comb of the stock at the
same spot and in the same manner on each successive shot. Otherwise, the
shooter will be erratic, sometimes shooting under his target and
sometimes over.
The drop at the heel measurement is just as important to good
shooting as is drop at the comb. It contributes a great deal to proper
gun alignment, and if excessive, will cause the recoil to be more
noticeable. A 15/8 inch drop at the comb, a 21/2 inch drop at the heel
will prove correct for at least 95% of the shooters.
For trap and skeet guns it will be observed a straighter stock is
provided which means less drop at both the comb and heel. This is
because the target is small and generally shot on its rising trajectory.
With a straighter stock there is less danger of shooting under the bird
-even though the shooter holds dead on without blotting out the bird
with the muzzle as the shot is fired.
The shooter of average physical characteristics should use a stock of
standard dimensions. The drop at both comb and heel will generally fit
well. Any minor adjustment in the length of the stock should come after
some shooting has been done.
The Proper Gun
The shotgun you buy should have the characteristics best suited to
your physical build and type of shooting you intend to do. In this
article is a chart to help the new shooter determine best gauges, etc.,
for various game. The "Proper Gun" is, of course, a debatable subject
since what is best for one shooter, or one species, might not be for
another. The recommendations are presented to help the new shooter
determine the best gun for him under various circumstances.
Extra Barrels or Variable Choke
By referring to the chart it will be noted that the same gun can be
used on various game under varying conditions by changing from one
barrel to another of different choke and length. On all Browning
automatic shotguns, barrels of the same gauge and model are readily
interchangeable. Thus a duck gun can become a skeet gun, or a fine
upland game gun, by changing barrels.
Versatility of a gun can also be increased by having one of the
several good variable choke devices installed on the end of the barrel.
Such a device permits the shooter to switch from one choke to another as
shooting conditions require. The resulting patterns, although possibly
not quite as good, approximate the desired choke for most purposes.
However, one should expect the balance of his gun to be slightly upset
because of the added weight of the choking device. It is popular today
to use screw in chokes. By simply changing the tube at the end of the
barrel , you can carry all the different chokes in one pocket.
Introduction
Beginning Trap and Skeet
Shot Gun Hints
Glossary
