Shotshell Lengths - Shotguns 101 #4

With only a handful of common gauges, finding the right size shotshells for your gun is pretty straightforward, but the one complicating factor is the length of those shotshells. Shotguns of all gauges have been made with different-length chambers, and it's important to understand shell length when selecting your ammo, as shooting the wrong-length shell will usually cause malfunctions or poor performance, and can even damage your shotgun if done repeatedly.
This video explains exactly what shell length is, why it's important, and the reason for different shell lengths. It also goes into detail on the lengths that are used for the common gauges, including unusual, nonstandard, and historic lengths.
The Shotguns 101 video series focuses on general shotgun topics. I already have a lot of ideas for future videos, but I'd still like to hear any suggestions you might have.
I recommend watching this video with the annotations turned on. I'll be adding various notes to provide further details and address some common questions and potential points of confusion. There will be no giant flags blocking the video, and absolutely no begging for subscriptions or likes.
Please note that any comments on the relative popularity and availability of the shotshell sizes and lengths discussed here are from a mainly North American perspective. Things may be different in other parts of the world.
If you're at all interested in the history and evolution of firearms, I cannot recommend Forgotten Weapons highly enough. There are tons of really interesting and significant old (and sometimes not so old) guns out there, and while gun books give you a couple old photographs, Forgotten Weapons gives you detailed videos with disassembly, demonstrations, and slow-motion footage. The specific videos referenced here are:
Techno Arms Mag-7: • Techno Arms MAG-7: Sho...
Ishapore Lee-Enfield: • Ishapore Enfield.410 S...
Or you can check out Forgotten Weapons' KZbin channel ( / @forgottenweapons ) or website (www.forgottenwe....
I also want to throw in a plug to the International Ammunition Association. They have gathered a very cool digital collection of old ammunition & firearms catalogs, which are freely available on their website, cartridgecollec.... This was a big help when researching this video, and most of the old catalog images I used here came from that resource. Check them out if you're interested in historical firearms & ammunition, and if you have some old catalogs lying around, consider contributing.
Shotguns 101 Playlist:
• Shotguns 101
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DISCLAIMERS:
By accessing this video, the viewer signifies their understanding of, consent to, and agreement with the following:
All products and copyrighted works mentioned or shown herein remain the property of their respective creators and/or owners. I make no claim to anything in this video that I didn't personally create. Any such elements are used herein for educational and informative purposes; and the purpose, character, and substantiality of their use does not, to the best of my understanding, constitute copyright infringement according to 17 USC § 107.

[@guskoerner75]

I have seen two of your videos now, and I am really impressed. You are clear, concise and you show your data. Thank you. Almost just as important for me, is that your closed captioning text is clear, accurate and grammatically correct. Thank you for fixing line by line of your script. I am a youth and adult volunteer shooting sports instructor, and I will be referring your content to my students. I rarely do that. Let me know if you would like to collaborate on a project together. Mr. Gus in Florida

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Great to hear, thanks.

[@Captain_Crayzay]

Unbelievably detailed video. Thank you for the overkill lol Very interesting!

[@Cotton2Ennis]

Overkill? maybe for those of use who have been shooting shotguns for 50+ years. But it's information for everyone and especially for many who haven't had much experience with shotguns. This guy has already taught my why my old shotgun stock cracked, best gun authority guy I know *****

[@mvtorigian4364]

30+ years personally. The information learned here may have prevented me from making a loading mistake. Well, more like a field mistake with reloads.

[@franklyre]

Just found your channel and am really enjoying it....wish there was more. Specifically, your voice is very professional, you cover things in a logical manner and everything you present is well thought out. The first video I came across of yours was the one on ammo storage, and it changed how I was about to set things up.......Thank you.....good job and please keep it up. We all have a lot to learn so please never feel what you are presenting is too basic......Yes, there is a lot of information available on the internet....but not all as high of caliber as yours.

[@gruntspy44]

Holy hell ... this video is very professional

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Thank you.

[@xeverettx2564]

Thank You for the “PSA” at the end of the video talking about safety and education for getting other folks into it. That’s a good idea, especially for highly educational, almost textbook like approaches to a video. Thank you again for your contribution to our inherent, God given right!

[@mitchumparker3058]

Very clear info, sir. Some folks may complain that it does not have entertainment production levels but, on a topic such as this, it'd just distract and waste time. Keep up the good work.

[@gregorycovington5344]

I've learned more about shotgun shells watching these videos than anything else in my 61yrs of living

[@JuncTown-]

Once again, nicely done sir. Love that ya mentioned the “8” gauge, the long lost Super mag shotgun shell that I wish I could find.

[@DSlyde]

A shame this channel seems to be dead - I've binged a number of these videos just now and they're all well presented and informative. Well, you've got another subscriber just in case you come back.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

I hope to at some point.

[@etahanposh]

@@SynchronizorVideos Please do! I just watched this whole series.

[@dubful1]

@@SynchronizorVideos You do excellent work sir. I’m very impressed with the detail and content. I can imagine the long hours it takes can be consuming. I find reloading to be that way and enjoy being able to manage my time doing it without missing time with my children. Do what makes you happy. Thank you for your work, time and efforts. You earned a new subbed tonight.

[@jenniemondragon6423]

@@SynchronizorVideos Once you do can you do slugs explained?

[@xjda68]

Excellent video. Confirms as a self-gunsmith and master reloader what I have been preaching to folks for many decades. I have and use a set of chamber gauges, as some old vintage shotguns don't inform one on the barrel what chambers you have.

[@mohawksteel2215]

I did not know that .... thank you for educating an old man.

[@v7bp25aq]

I know you jokingly said "if you are still awake" but this was actually fascinating, informative, and your work seems to be of good quality. I will be watching the rest of your videos. Keep up the great work!

[@vfxtutswithdan1893]

Great! I finally found out why my 2 3/4" shells don't measure 2 3/4".

[@peelreg]

The explanation of shell length vs chamber was very well done - and very important.

[@maverickrider4591]

Thank you, you answered every question I have wondered about over the years but was to strapped for time (lazy)to do the research, and several good to know I hadn't thought about.

[@ehfoiwehfowjedioheoih4829]

This is my favorite video series on KZbin. Perfect information density. I watch all of these videos every year or so.

[@christinolopezjr7078]

A good 15 mins. Thanks man.

[@mvtorigian4364]

*Solid and Informative* I've been shotgunning since I was old enough to take the hunter safety course (in 1984) and reloading even longer. I learned more than expected. Thank you!

[@BStrambo]

14:40 "if your still awake..." :-) Haha. Very informative with great animations, I learned a lot.

[@TS_Esquire]

Very informative for a novice shooter.

[@whatitdodracula]

This video was very informative, and well put together. Thank you very much for making the shot-shells of shotguns so easy to grasp the basic.

[@waynewilhelm1199]

Thank you for explaining the chamber length and shell length i didn't know some of that

[@olegmamontov5692]

I think I just re-watched it for the second time. Thank you sir.

[@adamsj01]

I have a 103 year old j Stevens 16 gauge. Literally afraid to shoot it for the lack of knowledge. Thank you very much for this information. I can now measure it for myself and safely put it back in service.

[@Samson163]

This video is exactly what I was looking for. Great video with a nice breakdown of the different types out there to help you know what you need or explain what you need to look for. If you wasn't raised around this kind of stuff then you really don't know what's what. Thank you

[@xeverettx2564]

I don’t know about using .410 for plinking. They are expensive! 12 and 20 are the plinking rounds! $17 for 100 rounds of target load. Which can be used for bird and squirrel hunting as well.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

XeverettX While not as cheap as more popular gauges, .410 shells are relatively small, low-power, and low-recoil; and there are a lot of novel .410 firearms like revolvers, rifle conversions, combination guns, and even AR variants that are fun to shoot purely for recreation.

[@michaelnorris6365]

Very nice video! I learned a lot more about shotgun shells from it. Like, I never knew there were that many different lengths of 12ga shells.

[@fredyb9433]

Excellent, thank you. Always learning, no matter how old...

[@ge0arc244]

I learned something new and enjoyed it. Thank you.

[@PeteeFromHun]

Nagyon részletes a videó és mindent megtudtam belőle amire szükségem volt pillanatnyilag. Nagyon köszönöm!

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Nagyon szépen köszönjük.

[@awingmaster]

been shooting and reloading for 40 years and just found out about short chambers in older guns, thanks for the video

[@theshotgunscientists]

I’ve got both a 24 and 32 gauge. Very cool guns.

[@philhaynes5691]

I've watched 3 of your training videos. All excellent. I'm a beginner and you are a fine teacher.

[@caatabatic]

This video is very professional and AAA quality. I will have to check out the rest of your videos and share this channel.

[@2009Berghof]

Most of the India made .410 Enfield Muskets were converted by importers here in the USA to 3 inch chambers to make them more saleable, but not all. Check that chamber!

[@grizzlydan8]

Excellent presentation, and just what I was looking for. Thank you.

[@jdsrcs8061]

WOW!!! What a great series, thank you for all your info. Like many I have been a hunter since I was little going with my dad and grandfather, and it is always nice to learn more about the firearms I own.

[@TheMacGeek]

This is one of the most informative videos I've seen. Thanks for the time and effort for making this great video. I learned a bunch.

[@diegofianza3525]

Well produced video. Very cool and informative.

[@agvulpine]

Quality production right there. Thanks for the info packed video!

[@jimmywilson1388]

Man that’s freakin awesome… You answered my question perfectly for the 16 gauge but I stuck around for the full history lesson…😂 I recently got a 16 gauge New Empire double barrel shotgun and it literally doesn’t have any information about chamber length or anything written on the barrel and I was like oh lawd I don’t know what to do…😂 Thanks for the awesome video and answering my question…👍🏼

[@isleofgreg]

Your shotgun series of videos is as good as it gets. I appreciate the effort you put in to making these

[@clintonholenstein9348]

That shell length portion explained many questions I didn't know I had! Excellent information

[@raskolnikovsghost2701]

I own multiple firearms but am about to buy my first shotgun to shoot. I have a Steven's Browning patented shotgun from 1905 that is a family heirloom type thing. I think it slam-fires. But I've never shot it. My dad did in the 70s, and I decided it wouldn't be shot again until someone takes it apart and cleans it and all. So I'm in the market to buy a cheap entry level shotgun, currently trying to decide between a mossberg mav 88 or a the tri star raptor semi. I can't decide which and would like both. But I was getting confused with all the different shot lengths and this video really cleared a lot up. So thanks a lot! Liked and subbed because you were that helpful. I've shot shotguns as a kid and young adult, but always someone else's and they bought the ammo and loaded it. After watching your video twice, I think I'm beginning to grasp it all. I know what I need to look for.

[@grasscutter1963]

That was a fantastic video, thanks for the knowledge.

[@brothertom1280]

This video was amazingly helpful, I am looking to get my first shotgun soon and this had a lot of important info I needed to know

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Glad to hear it; that was pretty much the goal.

[@airmanseemann1732]

I miss the 16 gauge! That was my first duck hunting round and I loved it.

[@Beesa10]

I have a side by side with 65mm chambers. I went to the gun shop to buy game cartridges, the man behind the counter showed me a small selection of cartridges including ones which are labelled 67mm. I pointed out that 67mm would be too big but he said actually they are okay for guns with 2 1/2" chambers. I didn't initially believe it but on the box it clearly states 'Cartridges marked 67mm case length 2 1/2 inch - suitable for use in 65mm chambers.' Either the case encroaching on the forcing cone by a couple of mm is deemed not to be an issue or the effective length of the case is less than 67mm or the effective length of the chamber is greater than 65mm.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

A millimeter or two isn't the end of the world, especially if you're talking about lower-pressure target or light field loads. Also, if they were plastic cases, those have thinner walls than the old paper cases did, and have to extend further down the forcing cone before they start shrinking down past the bore diameter.

[@Beesa10]

@@SynchronizorVideos The cartridges are Eley Grand Prix fibre wad, 30g of no.5, a typical pheasant/field load. Yes they do have a plastic case.

[@andrewwenner2781]

Great tutorial on shotgun shells and sizing, keep it going with more on shells and ballistics...

[@robertwarren4734]

Very helpful illustration and commentary there 1:30-3:00. Thank you.

[@DickTickles]

In regards to the 2 inch and shorter Minishells, I would imagine that with the introduction of guns like the Mossberg Shockwave and the Minishell adapter made by Opsol that you can see the benefit of a short tube shotgun that can hold 9 or 10 shots before reloading and be low recoil. The shot payload may not be the same as standard 12 gauge 2-3/4" is, but I don't think you can deny that a mix of #1 and #4 buckshot makes for a good home defense choice, especially if over-penetration is a concern. As for 24 gauge, what I've been interested in the past year or so has been the old Snider-Enfield British military rifles of the mid 1800's. They can be reloaded using 2 inch 24 gauge hulls, so if one was a reloader and an enthusiast of shooting such antiques (as I am) I can see the appeal of having a 24 gauge shotgun for sharing hulls and because it's uncommon and will make people at the trap/skeet lines stare in wide wonder.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

While they're kinda fun to play with, I have never seen the Aguila minishells run 100% reliably in any repeating shotgun, which for me is a deal-breaker for defensive ammo. I have heard of the adapter piece that's supposed to make them run better in a 500-series, but would need to play with it myself before I believed it would work completely reliably at different cycle speeds & different gun orientations. Also, it looks like that adapter prevents the gun from cycling normal-length shells when installed. I do think the old 24-gauge would be a neat shotgun to own. Unique enough to be really interesting and a great conversation piece, and it should have all of the potential of the 28ga, plus a little.

[@DickTickles]

Probably the wise thing to do is more testing with those adatpers. I think that the Shockwave is unique enough that it's worth buying and trying, same with the Minishell adapter because it doesn't cost much. Anyway, SB Tactical is now making pistol braces for the Shockwave/Tac-14 guns and idk about you, but a non NFA Short Barrel Shotgun appeals to me because my state bans all NFA items and I'd rather give $150 to SB Tactical than Uncle Sam. And also because I don't currently own a pump action shotgun. EDIT: Oh, and yes they are fun to play with. I recently shot slugs for the first time in a shotgun and the 2-3/4" slugs hurt! The Minishell slugs were much lighter recoiling, I enjoyed shooting them.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

You can get plenty of (standard-length) low-recoil shells for the 12ga these days, including slugs. They're also easy to handload. A 7/8-ounce slug at 1200 - 1300 FPS is a great plinking load. Sufficient energy to blow up jugs of water or knock around other types of reactive targets, but low enough recoil to shoot in large quantities without feeling it for the next week.

[@joec3073]

Very informative, very well presented.

[@wk801]

I've been watching your channel for a year or more and your videos are very helpful with my Remington 870. WAY TO GO Synchronizor.

[@jamesanderton344]

Strong video.....clear and well illustrated. Thanks.

[@scottd345]

Great video, basics were explained very well.

[@dannysmith6035]

12 ga. Is # 1 for me love mine excellent for hunting & home defense.

[@guestandsons]

Very interesting video. Here in the UK we can get 12 Gauge & .410 in subsonic rounds for silenced shotguns.

[@Eli-dd5jc]

One thing I'd like to point out is 20 ga is good for home defense and even deer hunting with rifled slugs, not just small game

[@SynchronizorVideos]

I mentioned HD and medium game at 2:23.

[@pietergroenewald902]

Best video I've seen so far, great job.

[@skip123davis]

nicely done, very informative video. it would be great to see an update for the short ammo available (with adapter, of course!) for the shockwave type shotguns. i dunno - maybe you've already done it, but if so, please post a link!

[@cdb5662]

Excellent video! Love the graphics.

[@modulo3664]

0:24 Sure, I'd consider blowing away an armed burglar a "social application"

[@DRAKED411]

Thanks for the best video I’ve seen in a long time brother!!!

[@smittywerbenjagermanjensen7027]

You should talk about more exotic (ahem, abnormally large) shotgun gauges.

[@mnyee1995]

Great video series explaining shotgun ammo. I should've started here first. Nevertheless, your explanation is the top. It's like going to college for shooting. Thank you so much. Looking forward to learn more from you.

[@REM977]

Wonderful presentation!!! Thanks!

[@phonedude58]

Very interesting, buying my first shotgun and you helped a lot...thx.

[@higgydufrane]

Thank-you, this was simply amazing to watch. You are very comprehensive and you obviously spend a lot of time in research. You have a new subscriber.

[@calebdoner]

Great video! Thanks!

[@JP-xh1cm]

The 3" 28 gauge shotgun shell has now been officially standardized by SAAMI. It looks like they increased the chamber pressure from 12,500 psi for the standard 2.75" shotgun shells to 14,000 psi for the newer 3" shotgun shells? Was this done because the bore diameter of the 28 gauge isn't large enough to accommodate heavier payloads and/or an increased muzzle velocity? SAAMI Accepts 28-Gauge 3″, 21 Sharp Cartridges - Gun Tests 28-Gauge 3″ The 28-Gauge 3″ was introduced by Olin Winchester with three loadings, all at a Maximum Average Pressure of 14,000 psi: 1-1/8 oz. lead shot traveling at a velocity of 1,200 fps ¾ oz. non-lead shot traveling at a velocity of 1,350 fps 1 oz. non-lead shot traveling at a velocity of 1,300 fps

[@danandreas3885]

Thank you. This video perfectly and clearly helped me to identify some unspent 12g ammunition passed down to me that was measuring shorter than internet product data I found. Many thanks!

[@camoshotgun6912]

Great video and very informative

[@bizarrobaker]

Keep up the good work, your videos are great!

[@brianjordan2192]

I've only shot a 10 guage once, my late uncle's double barrel. Don't know how old the gun was but I was a small kid and one round was enough for me. Kicked like an angry mule.

[@TheCalgarydoug]

I shot one when I was a teenager. I had an abscessed tooth on the right side, and hoping to keep it from hurting too bad I pulled my face away from the stock just as I squeezed the trigger. Getting kicked by a mule would have hurt less I think.

[@FriendChicken]

12 gauge - Social Applications. ( Giving a welcomime to an intruder in your home )

[@michaelevans1112]

I caught that too.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

"Social" is pretty common short-hand in personal defense & law enforcement circles when referring to defense or offense against other humans specifically. I genuinely wish it wasn't the case, but human threats are worth being prepared for.

[@sicesp]

Your videos are indispensible. I hope you still plan to continue uploading!

[@SynchronizorVideos]

I'm not done with this channel, it's just on hold until my life settles back down some.

[@jaimefillertext3516]

Thanks. Using 2 3/4 12ga in an 1887 clone had some eject issues and was thinking about using 2 1/2

[@SynchronizorVideos]

If it's an O.G. 1887, my guess is that it was designed around the 2 5/8" 12ga shells that were popular in North America during the late 19th century. Modern clones should have been designed to handle 2 3/4" shells, but I know some of those clones aren't the best quality. 2 1/2" shells are probably worth a shot if you can find them easily.

[@johncashwell1024]

Very interesting and informative, overall a great video!

[@edwardweiszbeck1649]

Wow. Thorough info. Thanks for making this vid.

[@paumni8801]

I am thankful for this video. I now have an understanding

[@sultanalhosany7871]

beautiful illustration ❤️🌹

[@cobyporschifer221]

Very Nicely done. Thanks

[@luisgomez1121]

This was very helpful, thanks!

[@MisterMcHaos]

An *excellent* video and one, perhaps, that should be mandatory viewing for all those that are new to shotguns. My only criticism is that when showing a "slide" with text on it, I'd prefer it if you showed the information for a little longer than you do in order to give more time to read it. Keep up the good work.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

+MisterMcHaos Thanks for the compliment & feedback. I made a conscious decision to let the slides move with the voice-over. With this many slides, and the way I can get going about topics like this, I had to work really hard to keep this video from running too long. Instead of bogging down the video by leaving the more complex slides up for a long time; I tried to engineer them so that their point would come across at a glance (reinforced by the voice-over), while also leaving them up long enough so that viewers who wanted to really study them in detail could stop the video and do so without having to be ninja-quick on the pause button.

[@GeoffSLC]

@MisterMcHaos - I'm new to shotguns (though very 'experienced' at life ;-)) and I agree wholeheartedly about the benefit of this video to a shotgun neophyte. Regarding the timing though, I have to say that I appreciate the way it has been structured to keep moving pretty rapidly. I'm just making use of my pause button ninja skills whenever I want to study a diagram. I prefer this because it puts me in control of how long I have to study it and removes any delay for other times when I don't need a detailed look.I find videos so "serial" in nature, and usually too time consuming, that I tend to gravitate more towards written material-which I fined much more "random access". That's probably why I like Synchronizer's style herein. I do acknowledge your point of view though-we each have our own methods and preferences :-)

[@phillipmerritt1428]

Berry helpful video and it answered my question thank you.

[@richardholbeck2710]

WOW! That was a LOT of info in those 4 videos. I discovered your videos while my wife was taking care of passing out pizza to the grandkids. I kept the KZbin screen active, waiting for her to go to bed. (At 70 years old, I don't want the wife to get too mad at me.) There was a lot of information that I didn't know but also I knew a lot of what you said. I started (at age 12) with a 20 gauge, hunting ducks, geese, pheasant and rabbits. I stepped up to a 12 gauge when I got big enough to handle the extra weight of the shotgun and the ammo. Great videos, but you do need a body mic for when you're doing standup speaking.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

Thanks for the compliment. And yeah, my mic setup for when I'm talking at the camera could use some work. Either a body mic or a boom, I need to play with it.

[@liammccarthy5988]

Quality informative content 10/10

[@unclemiguel4221]

ok just to make sure i fully understand, you can't load in longer shotshells into a shotgun, but you CAN load in shorter ones, right?

[@SynchronizorVideos]

As long as the shells are equal to or shorter than the chamber length, you're good. At least as far as pressures and safe firing.

[@charlesmoeller8826]

Certainly everything you need to know about gauge lengths, but how about information on high brass vs low brass loads, especially in 12 ga. Nicely done presentation.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

The height of the brass cup (or steel, as is usually the case today) doesn't mean anything. It used to mean something back in the days of bulky black powder and paper hulls, but now, it's only about appearance. Manufacturers put a tall cup on a shell when they want it to _look_ powerful, but it has no effect on the hull's strength or performance, or what it can be loaded with. Any shotshell handloader can tell you that the best & strongest hulls for reloading actually tend to be low-brass ones. And there have even been shotshells with no external metal at all. A video with more detail on this is on the list, but that's really it in a nutshell. Look at the shot weight and velocity if you want to know whether a shotshell contains a heavy or light load; ignore the height of the cup.

[@richevans1270]

Well done

[@vsar1938]

What a phenomenal video!

[@josephleister9198]

Good video...lots of good info, thank you.

[@stevep9992]

Thanks, Well Done!

[@drobb4207]

Now that is a well made video!!!!

[@coffeeexmachina]

Excellent video, I learned a couple things.

[@morrismets]

Excellent video!!!

[@markforee7693]

If you could just find the shells. Took me 1 year to locate 410 shells, still paid twice the price too.

[@paulervin1610]

410 3" 8shot great for skeet shooting my friends laugh when I pull my 410 double barrel out but are amazed when the clay pigeon falls apart with one shot.

[@SynchronizorVideos]

If you have the skills, a .410 can be great fun in clay-shooting games, no doubt about it.

[@scottH18370]

I’m switch to 12 gauge 3 1/2 for duck when they stopped allowing us to use lead