One word you’ll constantly hear used to describe shotguns is “versatility”. For the most part, you can use just about any shotgun for any task you would need a shotgun for. Granted, some configurations work better for a task than others, mind you. You’ll have an easier time using your over under for skeet shooting then you will if you use your home defense gun. Still, the versatility of a shotgun goes far beyond just the uses. The nature of the design itself allows for an incredibly wide range of ammo choices. No other firearm can match the rainbow like array of ammunition that is available for your shotty. Some of them are pretty cool and some are pretty darn nasty.
Before I go any further, however, I need to add a disclaimer. The laws regarding some of the ammo I’ll be talking about vary widely from state to state sometimes as well as district to district. In this case, as well as when dealing with ANY firearms, it’s up to you to know the rules of your area and follow them. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. At the same time, even if they are legal in your area, think long and hard about the legal implications should you be forced to use them at some point. I may be skirting dangerously close to my no politics rule here but it needs to be said: In an article a couple years ago, we talked about avoiding that legal “grey area” that can cause so many headaches. Depending on the attitudes in your area concerning guns, using some of this ammo could be something an overzealous prosecutor could use to further his or her own anti-gun agenda and use you as an example. That’s not some tin foil hat statement. It’s happened in the past and you’d be foolish to think it wouldn’t happen again.
That being said, let’s take a look at some of the neat stuff you can load into your shotgun!
If It Ain’t Broke, Fix It Anyway
The “shot” in “shotgun” refers to that wad of metal balls that is propelled from your gun. When you get into the more interesting loads, it doesn’t have to be spheres. Searching online or at your local gun show will turn up things like flechette rounds. In this case, they’ve replaces those spheres with tiny barbed darts. You wouldn’t use those for hunting but it would ruin a home invader’s day. There’s also bolo ammunition (also sometimes called “garrote rounds”). These are buckshot or slugs that are connected by piano wire.
In the grand scheme of things, these kinds of ammo are more of a gimmick than anything else. At the effective speeds and ranges of shotguns, these aren’t going to be any more effective than your average shot. Still, there is something about the principle of the stuff.
Not Just For Seasoning
Moving into the less than lethal range, you can get the legendary “rock salt” loads. Ever seen Kill Bill? Ever seen just about any show from the 80s? I can think of episodes from Fall Guy, Magnum P.I. and A-Team where someone was shot with rock salt. The idea is that is probably won’t kill you but it will hurt like hell for a long time.
The truth of the matter, however, is a bit different. Many people have tested the effectiveness of it and the jury is still very much out. You would have to be pretty close to someone (within 12 feet) to get anywhere near the desired effect but the big problem is, it’s unlikely to actually put someone down unless you’re firing from point blank. Unless the distances and conditions are just right, it’s more of a mild deterrent than an actual self defense round.
Pepper rounds, however, would be more of a strong deterrent. These are filled with a powder of similar strength to your average pepper spray. While it’s possible to shrug off the blast of pepper, many people aren’t likely to. With most pepper spray, however, people often accidentally spray themselves because with and atomization can wreak havoc on the stream. If you’re launching it in a pure powder form, it’s going to be more likely to affect the shooter almost as much as the person you’re aiming it at.
What If I Don’t Want Lethal?
Now we’re in full blown less than lethal territory. You’ll notice it’s called “less than lethal”. The truth is, there really is no such thing as “non-lethal” ammunition. Everything that comes out of a gun, be it pistol, rifle or shotgun, can and probably will kill someone. Even blanks can and have killed (not just defective ones. R.I.P. Brandon Lee). People have died from rubber bullets just as easily as if it had been a normal round. When using LTL rounds, you have to be very careful about where you aim them. People are instructed to aim for the stomach area as it gives the target the most likely chance for survival. Hitting someone in the chest or head can still cause instant death. Hitting anywhere else is likely to not have the desired effect at all. Keep in mind, there is no guarantee one way or the other regardless of where it hits.
Some of the most popular rounds, usually used by police for riot control, are the aforementioned rubber bullets as well as stabilized bean bags. The idea is that these are the equivalent of getting hit with a baton. Used correctly, it’ll knock the wind out of someone and they are very effective when used properly. Watch the movie Jackass to see Johnny Knoxville get hit with one. It’s not pretty.
There are some people that want a gun for protection but don’t like the idea that they might have to kill someone in defense at some point. I can understand this. Many people who have acted in defense wind up in therapy for a while afterwards. It’s traumatic. Granted, the alternative can often be far more traumatic but I digress. These LTL rounds can help to alleviate some of those worries BUT they are very very very dependent on the skill of the user to put them where they need to be. They are far less use friendly and far less forgiving than standard rounds. If you decide to go this route, you will need to practice with it a lot. You should practice a lot with any gun, mind you, but with these in particular, you need to be able to hit a relative small area for them to what you want them to do.
Come On Baby Light My Fire
If fireworks are more your thing, there’s always Dragon’s Breath and other incendiary rounds. This ammo is packed with phosphorus or magnesium shards that are lit by the action of firing the shotgun. Ever used one of those survival striker rod fire starter thingies? Imagine sparks like that but A LOT of them coming from your shotgun barrel. It makes for a great emergency flare.
You know what else works great as an emergency flare? An actual emergency flare! You can get emergency flares for just about every shotgun caliber there is. If you’re out hunting, it would be a great idea to carry a few of these in your pack in the off chance you get lost. It happens. When the rescue party comes looking for you, having some flares ready to go would do wonders.
That’s Just the Start
Do a search for “exotic shotgun ammo” and you will see page after page of every type of load you could imagine and some you would have never considered. I’ve just touched on the most popular ones for this article but I could probably write for the rest of the year on just this subject. Once again, check your local laws before trying them out but it’s just another feather in the cap of a shotgun’s versatility.
Like what you read? GunNoob is now part of Pew Pew Tactical. Check out the rest of our awesome resources:
