HUNTINGsmart! USA Knowledge Base
Module 04 - SHOTGUNS 101
SHOTGUNS
Will you be hunting with a shotgun?
This is the section where you learn how shotguns work and why they’ve become a firearm collection staple.
Gauge
The ‘gauge’ of a shotgun is the diameter measurement of the shotgun bore. Unlike rifles, which are measured by caliber, shotguns are measured by gauge. Gauge guys have it easy: the only gauges available are 10, 12, 16, 20, and 28.
Check This Out: The Gauge Exception
The very simple size concept behind shotgun gauge has one exception. The .410 bore shotgun is uniquely measured as caliber rather than gauge because it was developed after the unit of measurement (inches) was accepted as the standard. The .410 bore is the smallest shotgun gauge available.
