Shot
- Several lead pellet projectiles that are propelled from the front end of the shell towards a target
- Shot is usually made of lead, but can also be made of steel, tungsten-alloy or be plated with hard metal
- Shot comes in varying shapes, sizes and degrees of hardness
- Typically, shot will be used according to the ammunition purpose, bore size and desired shot pattern
- Lead shot comes in soft, hard and x-hard grades
- Fewer, larger-sized pellets, called buckshot, are designed for use with large fur-bearing game and deer
- Buckshot loads typically have a smaller payload of shot (6 to 10 pellets)
- Smaller-sized "birdshot" pellets, including #4, #5 and higher, are tiny pellets used for hunting small game and fowl
- Birdshot payloads can have hundreds of pellets
- Reloaders typically use #7-1/2 or bigger for trapshooting and #9 for skeet
Shot can also be a single rifled or sabot "slugs." Slugs and buckshot require unique reloading procedures and crimping. Be sure to follow buckshot and slug data exactly as listed in the data tables
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