Shotgun Barrels, Chokes ’n Ballistics
CHOKE & PATTERN PERCENTAGES
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PELLETS PER LOAD
Size
9
8
71⁄2
731
658
585
512
439
293
513
461
410
359
438
394
350
1 /8
3
Ozs. 11/4
of
11/8
1
shot
to the 7/8
shell 3/4
/2
1
263
175
6
5
4
2
BB
309
281
253
225
197
169
113
213
191
170
149
128
85
186
169
152
135
118
101
68
124
113
101
90
69
63
#3
#1
#0 #00
#4
Buck Buck Buck Buck Buck
16
12
This chart shows the results to be expected as choke
constriction is increased. Note the effect of choke diminishes as the upper limit of effective choke is reached.
27
12
9
20
*Percentages shown are averages,
and individual guns or loads may show different results.
DESIGNATION
Over Choke
Full
Imp. Mod.
Mod.
Imp. Cyl.
Skeet
Cyl.
CHOKE IN
THOUSANDTHS
OF AN INCH
.055"
.040"
.030"
.020"
.010"
.005"
.000"
PERCENT
INCREASE
OVER CYL.
27%
35%
33%
27%
17%
13%
—
PATTERN
PERCENT*
67%
75%
73%
67%
57%
53%
40%
VELOCITY/ENERGY EXTERIOR BALLISTICS — SHOTGUN
Velocity (f.p.s.) at
Shot
Size
71⁄2
8
71⁄2
8
71⁄2
8
71⁄2
8
9
8
9
8
9
71⁄2
8
f.p.s. at
Muzzle
1295
1255
1240
1235
1220
1220
1200
1200
1200
1165
1165
1155
1155
1145
1145
10
yds.
1070
1035
1035
1020
1020
1010
1005
995
975
970
950
965
945
965
960
20
yds.
910
880
885
870
875
860
865
850
820
835
805
830
800
835
825
30
yds.
795
765
770
755
765
750
760
745
710
730
695
725
695
735
720
Energy in ft./lbs. per pellet at
40
yds.
705
675
690
670
680
665
675
660
625
650
615
645
610
655
640
50
yds.
630
605
620
600
615
595
610
590
555
585
550
580
545
595
580
60
yds.
575
550
560
545
560
540
555
540
505
530
495
530
495
540
525
10
yds.
3.16
2.50
2.94
2.43
2.86
2.38
2.79
2.32
1.57
2.21
1.49
2.18
1.47
2.57
2.15
Muzzle
4.63
3.69
4.24
3.57
4.11
3.48
3.97
3.37
2.38
3.18
2.24
3.18
2.20
3.62
3.07
20
yds.
2.30
1.80
2.16
1.76
2.11
1.73
2.06
1.69
1.11
1.62
1.07
1.60
1.06
1.93
1.58
30
yds.
1.74
1.36
1.64
1.33
1.62
1.32
1.59
1.29
0.83
1.24
0.80
1.23
0.79
1.49
1.22
40
yds.
1.37
1.07
1.30
1.05
1.28
1.03
1.26
1.02
0.64
0.98
0.62
0.97
0.62
1.19
0.96
50
yds.
1.10
0.86
1.06
0.84
1.04
0.83
1.02
0.82
0.51
0.80
0.50
0.79
0.49
0.97
0.78
60
yds.
0.91
0.70
0.87
0.69
0.86
0.69
0.85
0.68
0.42
0.66
0.41
0.65
0.40
0.81
0.65
50
yds.
6.0
6.5
6.5
6.6
5.6
6.8
6.7
6.9
7.5
7.2
7.8
7.3
7.9
7.1
7.4
60
yds.
9.0
10.7
10.5
11.0
10.2
11.1
10.9
11.3
12.4
11.8
12.9
11.9
13.0
11.6
12.0
TIME/DROP EXTERIOR BALLISTICS — SHOTGUN
Time of Flight (seconds) to
Shot
Size
71⁄2
8
71⁄2
8
71⁄2
8
71⁄2
8
9
8
9
8
9
71⁄2
8
f.p.s. at
Muzzle
1295
1255
1240
1235
1220
1220
1200
1200
1200
1165
1165
1155
1155
1145
1145
10
yds.
.026
.027
.027
.027
.027
.027
.027
.027
.028
.028
.029
.029
.029
.029
.029
20
yds.
.056
.058
.058
.059
.059
.059
.060
.060
.062
.062
.063
.062
.064
.062
.063
30
yds.
.091
.095
.094
.099
.096
.097
.097
.098
.101
.100
.103
.101
.104
.101
.102
40
yds.
.132
.137
.136
.138
.137
.139
.139
.141
.146
.144
.149
.145
.150
.144
.146
Drop (inches) at
50
yds.
.177
.184
.184
.186
.184
.187
.186
.189
.197
.193
.201
.194
.202
.192
.195
60
yds.
.227
.236
.133
.238
.235
.240
.238
.242
.254
.247
.258
.248
.260
.245
.250
RANGE OF AMERICAN SHOT
10
yds.
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
20
yds.
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.8
30
yds.
1.6
1.7
1.7
2.1
1.8
1.8
1.8
1.9
2.0
1.9
2.1
2.0
2.1
2.0
2.1
40
yds.
3.3
3.6
3.6
3.7
3.6
3.8
3.7
3.8
4.1
4.0
4.3
4.0
4.3
4.0
4.1
RECOIL IN FOOT/POUNDS
Gun Weight
(pounds)
8.4
7.5
6.0
5.5
5.5
5.5
8.0
6.0
6.25
6.25
Gauge
12
20
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
Load
23⁄4"
3" Mag.
23⁄4"
1 oz. slug
23⁄4"
3" Mag.
3" Mag.
3" Mag.
31⁄2" Mag.
31⁄2" Mag.
Comments
11⁄8 oz. shot
factory load
heavy game load
11⁄4 oz. shot
11⁄4 oz. slug
17⁄8 oz. shot
11⁄4 oz. slug
2 oz. shot
21⁄4 oz. shot
Recoil
(ft./lbs.)
12.5
13.0
16.0
17.0
24.0
33.0
37.0
45.0
55.0
70.0