What Is 7 1/2 Gauge Ammunition for 12 Gauge Shot Gun?

Shotguns are designed to shoot a specific size cartridge or shell that contains all the components required to fire a projectile, including a primer, powder, wad and the projectile, which is called shot. Shotguns are sized according to gauge and the projectiles by shot size.

  1. Shotgun Gauge

    • Shotgun gauge is based on the number of lead balls weighing one pound. If 12 lead balls of a certain diameter weigh 1 pound, a barrel of that same diameter is a 12-gauge barrel. A 10-gauge only requires 10 balls to weigh 1 pound, therefore it is a larger diameter.

    Shot Size

    • Shot sizes range from a single projectile called a slug and equal to the gauge of the shotgun, to pellets of #9 shot. Multiple pellets are loaded in sizes ranging from a very large tri-ball which has a .60 inch diameter to the tiny #9 shot of .080 inch diameter.

    7 1/2 Gauge Shot

    • The #7 1/2 shot is a small shot size commonly used for small upland game birds. It has a diameter of .095 inch and it takes about 350 of them to weigh an ounce depending on the lead and antimony proportions used in the alloy.