High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun - Shotguns https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/ AllGunStuff Discussion Board en-US Fri, 08 May 2026 12:46:06 +0000 wpForo 60 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3600 Sat, 06 Jan 2024 05:13:27 +0000 Steel shot and bismuth seem to be the next popular loads. However, traditional barrels cannot always handle the "pressure" of the steel shot because steel does not compress and deform like lead. Hence, one should be careful especially in older shotguns.


Absolutely. Many european guns have been specifically steel proofed since sometime in the 80s or 90s when the move away from lead started. I wouldn't consider shooting steel out of my bird gun for fear of buggering it. ]]> Shotguns oafpatroll https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3600 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3599 Sat, 06 Jan 2024 04:50:39 +0000
Steel and other hard metal shot is pretty much the next/current thing. Lead is being banned all over the place for environmental reasons. Loads based on that shot is hotter to impart more energy to the lighter shot to compensate for it running out of puff quicker. The volume of shot is also generally greater than for lead based loads of equivalent effect.


Steel shot and bismuth seem to be the next popular loads. However, traditional barrels cannot always handle the "pressure" of the steel shot because steel does not compress and deform like lead. Hence, one should be careful especially in older shotguns.]]> Shotguns Ds J https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3599 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3596 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:59:55 +0000 Shotguns oafpatroll https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3596 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3595 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:39:29 +0000
Rubber would reform after the initial pressure, and the lead would add to the weight.

OK, maybe I am mumbling too much.

The point is that there are good reasons for the design of current loads.

Thanks a lot!]]> Shotguns Ds J https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3595 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3594 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 11:03:20 +0000 Shotguns Tripodmvr https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3594 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3593 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:56:57 +0000 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-u9MmeXl8E]]> Shotguns Treeman https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3593 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3592 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:55:57 +0000

If pressure is not such a problem in shotguns, why are shot cartridges relatively slow? It seems that most shot travels somewhere between 1200fps and 1700fps?

Is it just the weight of the loads, or something else?


It's not that pressure isn't a problem in a shottie it's that for shot to work will it doesn't need to be travelling at light speed. The fact that it's sherical, relatively soft and generally not very big means that it can't go a very long way and diverges from the the centreline quickly. If you hotrod bird loads they tend to pattern really badly from shot getting deformed at launch and then veering off in all directions. The best patterning 28g 7.5 load I developed runs 1250fps. Shotguns are almost always built light and you most certainly can blow up even modern ones but it seems that the margin for error is more generous than in rifled firearms. 

This is the article I mentioned above.

https://www.shotgunlife.com/shotguns/tom-roster/important-information-about-shotshell-pressures.html

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Paper cases and paper thin barrels do not lend themselves to high pressures, but like you said there is a limit to how you can accelerate the shot without it deforming or clumping. I do believe that once this was realised the door to light weight and less than rifle specifics was opened. Shotties were then made to shottie expected pressures.
Check this out as a matter of interest. Pressure - velocity - shot load ? 200 birds one shot>

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punt_gun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-u9MmeXl8E

both interesting.

]]> Shotguns Treeman https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3592 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3591 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 08:04:44 +0000
If pressure is not such a problem in shotguns, why are shot cartridges relatively slow? It seems that most shot travels somewhere between 1200fps and 1700fps?

Is it just the weight of the loads, or something else?


It's not that pressure isn't a problem in a shottie it's that for shot to work will it doesn't need to be travelling at light speed. The fact that it's sherical, relatively soft and generally not very big means that it can't go a very long way and diverges from the the centreline quickly. If you hotrod bird loads they tend to pattern really badly from shot getting deformed at launch and then veering off in all directions. The best patterning 28g 7.5 load I developed runs 1250fps. Shotguns are almost always built light and you most certainly can blow up even modern ones but it seems that the margin for error is more generous than in rifled firearms. 

This is the article I mentioned above.

https://www.shotgunlife.com/shotguns/tom-roster/important-information-about-shotshell-pressures.html]]> Shotguns oafpatroll https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3591 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3590 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 07:33:31 +0000
Is it just the weight of the loads, or something else?

Another thing I don't understand is the use of fast powders in shot shells. Why use a fast burning powder? It creates a faster pressure spike, and it does not make use of the long shotgun barrels?]]> Shotguns Ds J https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3590 Re: High/er pressures: rifle vs shotgun https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3589 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 06:24:13 +0000
A rifle bore is tighter and must push a very tight metallic plug (the bullet) through the rifling. The chamber pressure can be extremely severe, and is controlled by the thick walls of the firing chamber.]]> Shotguns Tripodmvr https://systemz.online/shotguns/high-er-pressures-rifle-vs-shotgun/#post-3589