New to shotguns, and there appears to be ALOT of different types of ammo.  What does it all mean?

Any good sites that explain this?  What's best for paper target shooting?

birdshot:  (size 9 is tiny, size 5 is medium, size BB is big).  These are for small game and birds.
buckshot:  (#4Buck is smallest (.24 cal) and 000 is biggest (.36 cal)).  These are for larger game and defense loads).
slugs:  (two varieties:  Rifled slugs are for smooth-bore barrels and are big, fat hunks of lead.  Sabot slugs are smaller bullets encased in a plastic sleeve...these are normally intended for rifled shotgun barrels or barrels with a rifled choke.)  Slugs are for shooting through barriers and for hunting medium/large game at a distance.


As far as shooting paper, use any of the above three.  The dispersal of pellets you see in the paper is called the "pattern" of the shot.  Use the pattern to determine the effective range of your shotgun/shotshell combination.

paper target shooting?  i guess that depends on what you want to do...  when we fire at paper tragets, the idea is to tear the shit ot of the target.  we usally use birdshot - #7 1/2, 8, and 6 mostly.

i also use paper targets to see how different ammuntion patterns or to see how slugs group at longer ranges.  

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm
http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/content_nonsub/shotguns/shotgun_ammunition.html
http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/ballistics_shotgun.html

remember that "magnum" when descussing shotshells usually equates to more pellets, not necessarily extra "power."  They will be at a somewhat lower velocity.  The overall effect is stiffer recoil.

2.75 inch shells are standard for 12 gauge.  They suffice for most purposes.

3 inch shells (and 3.5 inch) are usually for shots where really tight, dense patterns are desired (turkey hunting, etc.)

Thanks alot guys.

What kind of maintenance do shotguns need?  Do you actually need to scrub a non-rifled bore?  I'm sure the action needs to be wiped down.

Quoted: Thanks alot guys. What kind of maintenance do shotguns need?  Do you actually need to scrub a non-rifled bore?  I'm sure the action needs to be wiped down.

Boresnake is your friend. Same as any other gun some shotguns can go long time before need to be clean.