CALIBER WIKI
What is 12-Bore?
12 gauge — The standard shotgun bore for sport and crop protection.
12-bore (12 gauge) is the most common shotgun chambering in the world. A shotshell fires many small pellets at once, which makes shotguns ideal for clay shooting, bird control and crop protection.
In India, double-barrel (DBBL) 12-bore shotguns are among the most frequently licensed firearms.
Quick facts
- Bore diameter: 18.5 mm
- Typical load: birdshot / buckshot shells
- Famous guns: DBBL shotguns, Benelli M2
- Common use in India: crop protection, sport
Licensed firearm caliber in India. You need a valid arms license issued anywhere in India to purchase and use it.
Buying guides
Technical specifications
Representative standard loading: Typical 2¾ in 00 buckshot (computed from standard load data). Figures from Wikipedia.
| Bullet diameter | 18.53 mm (.729 in) |
|---|---|
| Case length | 70 mm (2¾ in) |
| Bullet weight | 9-pellet 00 buck (31 g) |
| Muzzle velocity | 404 m/s (1,325 ft/s) |
| Muzzle energy | ≈2,560 J (≈1,890 ft·lbf) |
| Origin | Various |
| Designer | — |
| Test barrel | 28 in shotgun barrel |
12-Bore vs other well-known calibers
Typical muzzle energy — bars to scale. A .177 airgun pellet hits with roughly 1/25th the energy of a 9mm round.
| Caliber | 12-Bore | .30-06 Springfield | .357 Magnum | .45 ACP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet Ø | 18.53 mm (.729 in) | 7.82 mm (.308 in) | 9.07 mm (.357 in) | 11.43 mm (.452 in) |
| Bullet weight | 9-pellet 00 buck (31 g) | 150 gr SP (9.7 g) | 158 gr JHP (10.2 g) | 230 gr FMJ (14.9 g) |
| Velocity | 404 m/s (1,325 ft/s) | 887 m/s (2,910 ft/s) | 378 m/s (1,240 ft/s) | 255 m/s (835 ft/s) |
| Energy | ≈2,560 J (≈1,890 ft·lbf) | 3,823 J (2,820 ft·lbf) | 731 J (539 ft·lbf) | 483 J (356 ft·lbf) |
Bullet size, to scale
Front view of each bullet at true relative size.
12-Bore 18.53 mm
.30-06 Springfield 7.82 mm
.357 Magnum 9.07 mm
.45 ACP 11.43 mm