What's the odds that in our lifetime we experience the launch of a new gauge caliber?
- Thread starter vpsalin
- Start date
When the 20 is too much, can't afford 28ga brass!
I doubt we'll ever see a new gauge. Shotguns are a mature technology, we've got adequate coverage from existing gauges, and there's nothing that the 24-gauge did that the 20 or the 28 couldn't do better.
As for me? I've got three 12 gauges, two 20's, and a .410. My favourite is currently a CZ 20-gauge SxS BLNE with straight stock and double triggers. Nice, light, handy, old school-inspired, does the job on grouse and hares.
As for me? I've got three 12 gauges, two 20's, and a .410. My favourite is currently a CZ 20-gauge SxS BLNE with straight stock and double triggers. Nice, light, handy, old school-inspired, does the job on grouse and hares.
Actually I have a 24 gauge, but I find it's just a tad light sometimes.
Only 2 gauges I've ever used. And only 2 gauges I can see being useful. I like my 12 gauge, it handles all my needs and ammunition is cheap, there are many different loads available, and you can buy it anywhere. The .410 I see useful and a learning gun for kids, or for an individual who wants a very light shotgun. The price of ammunition I find is restrictive in it's practical use when compared to a 12 gauge.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
At first I was going to say that anything that can be accomplished with a shotgun can be accomplished with the bore sizes we already have. Having said that, why not develop a bottle neck shotgun shell? Perhaps there would be benefit to driving a couple of ounces of steel pellets at 2000 fps, or a slug at 2500. The limitations for migratory bird hunting have to do with bore size rather than cartridge capacity, and a high pressure slug load for a 12 bore bolt gun that could drive a 600 gr Benneke at 2500 would answer the bear defense question once and for all. Hmm, I wonder what the guns would look like?
An across the board ban on lead projectiles, or if lead becomes prohibitably expensive for use in ammunition, could well result in today's shotgun calibers becoming obsolete.
If a clean sheet shotgun caliber is called for, I could see it them operating at a higher pressure and being shorter and fatter than the black powder era derived format we have now.
If a clean sheet shotgun caliber is called for, I could see it them operating at a higher pressure and being shorter and fatter than the black powder era derived format we have now.
I doubt a new bore size will be created, as it would involve new wads, etc.
I could see a new rimless, bottleneck case in 12 gauge Super perhaps.
Especially in a situation like 870P describes above.
Losing the rim, and going with a bottleneck would make for better feeding from a box mag.
I could see a new rimless, bottleneck case in 12 gauge Super perhaps.
Especially in a situation like 870P describes above.
Losing the rim, and going with a bottleneck would make for better feeding from a box mag.
