The shotgun
Modern Hunting Firearms
For the Swedish hunter, hunting firearms can be divided into three main categories: shotguns, rifles, and combination guns (which are a mix of the first two).
Rifles fire a single bullet through a rifled barrel that causes the bullet to spin, thereby stabilizing its trajectory. Rifles are effective at long range—up to 150–200 meters in practical hunting, and up to 500 meters in competitions. The safety distance can be several kilometers (1.5 km for .22 LR caliber, 5.3 km for 6.5×55 caliber).
Shotguns fire a large number of pellets through a smoothbore barrel. A shotgun blast is effective for hunting at short distances, up to about 30 meters. The safety distance is between 200 and 400 meters (the pellet size in millimeters multiplied by 100 meters).
Bullets and shot can be compared to throwing a stone and a handful of sand. In both cases, the material weighs the same and is thrown with the same force. The stone hurts at 30 meters—if it hits. The sand hurts at 3 meters and is easier to hit with, but at longer distances the sand spreads and loses force.
From this it follows that shotguns are a good choice when hunting near populated areas or when hunting in large groups. There is no risk of stray bullets, and a shot fired in the wrong direction has a limited range.
Shotguns
Shotguns are designed for a cartridge that fires a swarm of small pellets. In hunting, the number of pellets per cartridge usually ranges between 100 and 500, depending on what you are hunting and which cartridge you choose.
Shotguns can also be used as smoothbore (unrifled) rifles when hunting, for example, wild boar. Instead of pellets, the cartridge is loaded with a single projectile, such as a slug, Brenneke, or sabot. To use slugs in a shotgun, you must be qualified for Class 1 rifles.
To influence the spread of the shot pattern, shotgun barrels either have fixed chokes or interchangeable chokes, allowing you to choose. The scale goes from cylinder (no choke) to full choke. The more choke, the denser the shot pattern. A typical hunting setup might use a half and a quarter choke or three-quarters and a quarter choke.
You should not overestimate the practical effect of chokes in hunting. Full choke retains its pattern just a few meters further.
Slugs in shotguns require Class 1 qualification
Slug and Brenneke cartridges are shotgun shells loaded with a solid lead projectile.
Sabot cartridges contain a smaller bullet encased in a plastic sleeve, which separates when it leaves the barrel.
Accuracy of slugs fired from shotguns is relatively poor and they should not be used beyond 40 meters.
Slugs may only be used in single-barrel shotguns of calibers 12, 16, or 20 by those qualified for Class 1 rifles—and only for hunting wild boar, fallow deer, and mouflon.
Rifled barrels designed for shotguns, or rifled chokes, are permitted.
FACT: Shotguns
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of shotguns for hunting:
A shotgun for hunting refers to a smoothbore two-handed weapon that does not have a folding or telescopic stock, is designed to be shouldered, and is made for firing shotgun cartridges. The barrel must be at least 48 cm.
A shotgun cartridge refers to a cartridge loaded with smokeless powder and designed not to delay the spread of the shot once it leaves the barrel.
Shotguns in calibers 12, 16, and 20 may be used for hunting game that can be hunted with Class 3 and 4 rifles, as well as for roe deer and lynx.
For hunting, the maximum pellet size is US No. 1 (4 mm).
Shotguns in calibers 24, 28, 32, and .410 may only be used to hunt small game species approved for Class 4 rifle cartridges.
Double-Barrel Break-Action Shotguns
Shotguns come in two main types: double-barrel break-action without a magazine, and single-barrel models with a magazine. The break-action double-barrel shotgun is the most common. To reload, the weapon is opened at the breech by pulling the top lever and folding down the barrel. At the breech, there may be an extractor, which lifts the shells slightly, or an ejector that forcefully expels the spent shells to speed up reloading.
Double-barrel shotguns come in two configurations: side-by-side and over-under. You’ll sometimes also encounter…
FACT: Shotgun Calibers
Shotgun caliber is indicated by two numbers: one for the cartridge’s diameter and one for its length in millimeters.
The most common caliber is 12. Standard cartridge length is around 70 mm (between 65 and 89). A common designation is 12/70.
Caliber 12 is the largest shotgun bore, with a diameter of 18.5 mm. Caliber 20 has a diameter of 15.5 mm. Cartridges with the same shot load in both calibers have the same effect.
The historical background to caliber names is how many round balls of lead could be made from one pound. For caliber 12, one could make 12 balls.
Semi-Automatic Shotguns
Shotguns with magazines come as either pump-action (you chamber a new round by sliding the fore-end back and forth) or semi-automatic. Both types are limited to one round in the chamber and two in the magazine.
Advantages of semi-automatics include lower recoil, better compatibility with optical sights, and better accuracy when firing slugs. You can also preload three shells (one in the chamber and two in the magazine), and even load while keeping the gun ready to shoot.
Disadvantages include poorer balance and, like all semi-automatics, a greater risk of mechanical issues and difficulty demonstrating safe handling. It’s harder to show that the gun is unloaded, unlike break-action models.
Pump-actions also contain many moving parts that can malfunction and affect balance.
In terms of speed, there’s hardly any difference between break-action and semi-automatic. However, it takes an extra moment to cycle a pump-action. In general, the shooter must develop a good follow-through.
Aiming with the Entire Gun
Since shotgun shooting is fast and reflexive, all shotguns share certain design elements. Along the top of the barrel is a rib that ends at the muzzle with a front bead sight. This is what you aim with. But for it to work effectively, the stock must fit the shooter properly so the barrel naturally aligns when shouldered. Stocks are usually cast (angled sideways) and different stocks suit different shooters better or worse. More on this in the shooting section.
Combination Guns
Combination guns are break-action firearms often used for roe deer and forest bird hunting. The most common models are double-barrel combo guns (with one shotgun and one rifle barrel) and drillings (two shotgun barrels side-by-side and a rifle barrel below). If a triple-barrel gun has two rifle barrels, it’s called a rifle drilling.
There are also four-barrel guns, called vierlings, combining various shotgun and rifle barrels, but they are very rare and exclusive.
Heavier Drillings
Drillings are more complex than two-barrel combination guns because they have three chambers and three firing pins. The mechanism also includes two triggers and a selector to choose the barrel. Drillings are also heavier than combos.
The combination gun functions like an over-under shotgun in terms of operation. The main difference is that one of the barrels is rifled. They are made in various rifle calibers.
The rifle barrel may be free-floating or soldered to the shotgun barrel. The advantage of a free-floating barrel is that the heat from firing doesn’t affect the barrel’s point of impact.
Combo guns and drillings usually have iron sights and are prepped for optics.
It’s very common to mount scopes or red dots on combination guns. These are usually low-magnification since rifle shots with combo guns are taken at short ranges. Many hunters prefer detachable scope mounts for easy removal.
All Firearms Have Serial Numbers
All newly manufactured firearms must be marked with a serial number, manufacturer, country of origin, and year of manufacture. These markings are typically found on:
- Bolt or cylinder
- Barrel or muzzle
- Receiver, frame, or slide
The law on markings changed in 2011. Older firearms often have the marking in just one location, usually on the barrel(s), which is acceptable. Older firearms do not need to be retroactively marked.
However, essential parts (like barrels or bolts) must be marked if you modify or import a firearm. Guest hunters and competitive shooters may bring in temporarily unmarked firearms, but they must still comply with Swedish regulations.
Shotgun Ammunition
Shotgun ammunition comes in many calibers, variants, and loadings. Shot shells may be more heavily loaded than normal (magnum loads), and the shell length can vary. Shot pellets themselves may vary in material (e.g., steel or other metals).
Here are some key things to know when buying ammo:
Caliber
Caliber determines the cartridge diameter, which is fundamental. For Swedish hunting, calibers 12, 16, and 20 are most common. Using the wrong cartridge, such as putting a 20-gauge in a 12-gauge shotgun, can cause serious malfunctions. Always check that the ammo matches the barrel.
Shell Length
Shot shells come in lengths between 65 and 89 mm. Your gun is designed for a specific shell length. Using shells that are too long can damage the weapon or even cause it to explode due to overpressure. Shorter shells than intended are safe to use.
Pellet Size
Shot sizes for hunting and sport range between 2 and 4 mm. The choice depends on the game. (See fact box for details.) When using lighter steel shot, choose 0.5 mm larger than lead.
Shot Materials
In training and certain types of hunting, alternative materials to lead are used, such as steel, bismuth, and tungsten. Sports shooting has already moved to eco-friendly pellets. In wetlands or over water, lead shot is banned.
Loading
There are magnum shells with heavier loads and training shells with lighter loads. For standard 12/70 hunting shells, 28–36 grams is common. Choose 30 grams for smaller game and around 35 grams for larger game like fox or geese. Training loads are usually 24–28 grams.
Alternative Shot
Lead is technically the best material—heavy, soft, and cheap. However, due to environmental concerns, authorities and shooting organizations have moved away from lead use. Most training ammo is now lead-free. Lead-free pellets are especially important when hunting birds that may ingest pellets.
Steel is a common alternative but has drawbacks. Use larger pellets (about 0.5 mm larger) and shoot from slightly closer distances. Suitable steel sizes for ducks are US 4; for larger game, use US 1 or 2.
Check if your shotgun is rated for steel shot. If not, it may be damaged.
Bismuth is another alternative. It’s soft like lead but heavier than steel, allowing use of the same sizes.
Different Calibers, Same Effect
In hunting, performance differences between calibers 12, 16, and 20 are minor. Essentially, they all deliver a similar number of pellets with similar effect.
Distance is Most Important
As the reasoning suggests, shooting distance is absolutely crucial. Firing a shot at 20 meters instead of 30 meters has a much greater effect on the shot’s impact than the choice of shotgun shell. All shotgun shells – even practice rounds – are immediately lethal for a roe deer with a well-placed hit at 20 meters.
You should also not be misled by the safety distance, which is the shot size in millimeters multiplied by 100 meters (2 millimeters gives a safety distance of 200 meters). The safety distance is not about lethality, but about ensuring that no one can be harmed.
Distance also has a major effect on the risk of wounding the animal. The longer the distance, the more likely it is that peripheral pellets – those that have spread away from the main shot pattern – will hit the animal.
More Pellets Give Better Effect
The effectiveness of a shotgun blast is a balance between the number of pellets and the power of each pellet. Shot performance depends on both of these factors – and on shooting distance. For example, a roe deer can be killed instantly if many pellets penetrate vital organs in the heart and lung region.
However, a single pellet – even if it penetrates deeply – may lead to wounding, where the animal escapes the shooting scene. Even though US size 1 pellets theoretically retain more energy at 30 meters and penetrate better, that cartridge does not necessarily provide better performance than US size 3. In fact, it is often the opposite. That’s why it’s commonly said that 30 meters is the upper limit for hunting shots – regardless of which cartridge, caliber, or pellet size is used.