March 18, 2026

Things You May Not Know About Shotguns

Photo: A field-proven classic known for reliability, the BPS maintains a dedicated following among shotgun traditionalists.

Shotguns are some of the most versatile firearms ever built. Hunters rely on them. Homeowners trust them. And just about anyone who enjoys time at the range knows how satisfying a shotgun can be to shoot.

But even people who have used them for years are often surprised by a few of the details behind these classic firearms.

Here are a few interesting things many people never learn about shotguns.

The Man Behind the Modern Shotgun

Early shotguns were essentially smoothbore muskets imported from England and Europe. They worked, but they were fairly crude compared to what we use today.

The big leap forward came in 1878 thanks to an American inventor named Daniel Myron Lefever.

Lefever is widely credited with designing the first successful hammerless shotgun. Earlier shotguns had large external hammers that had to be cocked manually before firing. Lefever's design moved the firing mechanism inside the gun, creating a smoother, faster, and more reliable firearm.

That design change may sound small, but it completely reshaped shotgun engineering. Most modern shotguns still follow the same internal hammer concept today.

How Many Shells and How Far They Travel

People often ask how many shells a shotgun holds. The answer depends on the type of shotgun and how it is being used.

Many hunting shotguns hold 2 to 5 shells. In fact, federal regulations require migratory bird hunting shotguns to be limited to three shells total.

Defensive or tactical shotguns are a different story. Some pump shotguns use long magazine tubes that run almost the entire length of the barrel. Depending on the model and shell size, they can hold six to ten shells.

Another surprising fact is how far shotgun pellets can travel.

A traditional rule called Journee's Formula estimates the maximum distance of shotgun pellets. It works by multiplying the pellet diameter (in inches) by 2,200.

For example:
No. 6 shot with a .10 inch pellet can travel roughly 220 yards

No. 5 shot with a .11 inch pellet can travel around 242 yards

That is much farther than many people expect, which is why safe backstops and proper shooting direction always matter.

The Oddballs: Tiny Shotguns, Revolvers, and Military Models

Shotguns also have a long list of unusual variations.

One interesting category is the revolver that fires shotgun shells. Some modern handguns can fire both traditional handgun cartridges and small shotgun shells, giving shooters more versatility depending on the situation.

Then there is the issue of short shotguns.

In the United States, the National Firearms Act sets strict limits on shotgun size. A legal shotgun must generally have a barrel of at least 18 inches and an overall length of 26 inches. Shorter versions fall into heavily regulated NFA categories.

Shotguns also continue to serve in military roles today.

The U.S. military has used shotguns for decades, particularly for close quarters situations and breaching doors. One modern example is the M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System, which can be used as a standalone shotgun or mounted under an M4 rifle.

And of course, shotguns have become movie icons too. The customized Benelli M4 used by Keanu Reeves in the John Wick films is one of the most recognizable modern examples.

Fun Fact: One of the most famous shotgun sounds in pop culture is the dramatic "rack" of a pump shotgun. In movies, that sound is often added even when the gun has already been loaded, simply because filmmakers know audiences instantly recognize it. ??

Until next time, stay locked and loaded.
- Randy, Locked N Loaded

Please add randy@gophercentral.com to your address book or visit here.

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