Reply #12: You are correct. [View All]

[sendero]

The "gauge" of a shotgun refers to the the size of the bore (hole in the barrel). For the most common shotgun, the 12 gauge, the bore is the same diameter as the size of a lead ball, where 12 of said lead balls would weigh a pound. A 28 gauge bore is smaller, the diameter of a lead ball in which 28 of said balls would weigh a pound.

On the face, since the bore of a 28 gauge is somewhat smaller, it would seem to be a much less powerful gun. It is less powerful, but not much.

A typical 12 gauge shotgun shell with birdshot (I'll not go into buckshot, sabot slugs and other things that can be shot with a shotgun for the sake of an apples to apples comparison) will have an ounce to 1.25 ounces of shot (the little pellets it shoots). A typical 28 gauge birdshot round will contain about .75 ounces of shot. The muzzle velocities of both are very similar. You can buy special shells, but the common shells used by hunters in 12 and 28 gauge have a muzzle velocity of 1300 feet per second - within a few percent.

Had Cheney hit this guy with a 12 gauge, the damage (assuming similar chokes) would be worse, but not hugely worse. A 28 gauge shotgun is not a toy, it will kill you dead if you get hit with it, and the difference between an ounce of shot and 3/4 an ounce is not likely to save you.