Shotgun

Shotguns are smoothbore long arms designed primarily to fire shells containing multiple small projectiles (shot) that spread upon leaving the barrel, providing an effective pattern over a wide area at relatively short to medium range. Distinguished from rifles by the absence of barrel rifling in most configurations and by their use of specialized shotshell ammunition, shotguns are among the most versatile and widely used firearms in civilian and law enforcement applications, serving hunters across virtually every game category, competitive shooters in Olympic and practical disciplines, and law enforcement professionals who value the pattern-spreading effectiveness of shot loads in close-quarters environments.

The shotgun’s design history is rich and varied, encompassing several distinct action types that have achieved popularity for different applications. The break-open design, available in single-barrel, side-by-side double, and over-and-under configurations, is the traditional choice for hunting and sporting clays, valued for its simplicity, reliability, and the mechanical clarity of knowing precisely how many rounds are loaded. Pump-action shotguns, with their manually operated slide mechanisms, are the dominant law enforcement and home defense configuration in the United States, valued for reliable functioning with a wide variety of ammunition types. Semi-automatic designs have grown substantially in popularity for both hunting and competitive use, providing faster follow-up shots with reduced perceived recoil.

Gauge designations 12, 20, 28, and .410 are the most common and indicate bore diameter and corresponding shell size, with 12-gauge being by far the most prevalent across all applications. Within each gauge, shell length and load selection allow the shotgun to be adapted to an enormous range of purposes, from delicate upland bird hunting with light target loads to the serious defensive application of rifled slugs that deliver a single heavy projectile.

In the collector market, fine English and Italian side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns from makers including Purdey, Holland & Holland, Boss, Beretta, and Fabbri represent some of the most valuable and beautiful firearms produced by any manufacturer.