How Far Will a 12 Gauge Shotgun Kill?
This guide details an experimental approach to determining the effective lethal range of a 12-gauge shotgun, as demonstrated by firearms expert Eric. The experiment involves testing various ammunition types, including birdshot, buckshot, slugs, and improvised loads, at increasing distances from 15 to 400 yards. Key takeaways include the surprising close-range lethality of birdshot due to pattern compression and the significant ballistic drop and pattern expansion of buckshot at extended ranges, highlighting the practical limitations of shotgun effectiveness beyond 100-200 yards for most loads.












