From: hes@unity.ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Re: Deer hunting accident with shotgun?
Date: 16 Nov 92 01:10:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: ncsu.1992Nov15.224312.10630
Organization: North Carolina State University

In article <4639TB1w164w@upchrch.UUCP> upchrch!joel@peora.sdc.ccur.com (Joel Upchurch  ) writes:
# ...
#Some states actually require shotguns with slugs or buckshot loads to
#limit the effective range and make it less likely that someone a mile or
#two away is killed. The range for effective hunting is 75 yards for
#slugs and 25 yards for buckshot. The NRA firearms Fact Handbook
#considers taking shots at greater range unethical hunting. I assume
#because it would pose an unacceptable risk of injuring an animal without
#killing it. As for an accidental shooting, I would suspect that they
#might kill somebody a few hundred yards away.
#
#If somebody was really stupid and fired into the air then the range
#would be a lot further.  ...

  I posted something a while ago in the context of the ballistics of
00 buckshot.  Here is the relevant portion, with mild editing for
continuity.

     There is a major difference between the "effective" range and the 
"danger" range for a shotgun.  The effective range depends on accuracy and 
shot pattern as well as on the energy per pellet.  No responsible hunter 
would shoot at game at 155 yards with 00 buckshot.  However, the danger 
range doesn't require accuracy or a good pattern, because it refers to 
possible harm from being hit, intentionally or not.  Therefore if a single 
pellet at 155 yards has wounding/lethality potential then the danger zone of 
the shotgun extends past that distance.

  After I had reached the conclusions discussed above, I came across a
section "Extreme Range of Shot" in the Shotgun Ballistics chapter of
Col. Townsend Whelen's vol. 2.  The chapter is mostly about the "ordinary 
small sized shot, No. 2 and smaller", how they pattern, velocities at 
ranges to 40 yards, and descriptive material about shotshells, but then 
near the end of the chapter is the following paragraph.

  "Because of safety reasons the extreme range of a shotgun should be
known.  The distance to which the pellets will range depends on the size, 
that is the weight of the pellet, and on the angle of elevation of the gun.  
As with the rifle, the extreme range occurs when the barrel is elevated at 
an angle of about thirty degrees.  At this angle large buckshot, round 
balls, and rifled slugs, when fired at a muzzle velocity of 1300 f.s., which 
is about the average, should be assumed to have a range of about 900 to 
1,000 yards and to be more or less dangerous at these distances."

  At the time he was writing "f.s." was a common way of abbreviating 
"feet per second".

  The NRA Fact Book has a Table "Maximum Range of Bullets and Shot 
Pellets" (pg. 232) which has an entry for 00 buck weighing 53.8 gr. with a
muzzle velocity of 1350 fps.  The maximum range at sea level is given
as 1830 ft. = 610 yds.  For a 12 ga. slug (437 gr., MV 1560 fps) the
maximum range given is 2450 ft. = 817 yds.  It is pointed out that a
mild tail wind (10 m.p.h.) can have a major effect in extending the
range, and that for safety planning that a 20% safety factor should 
be added to these maximum range figures.

--henry schaffer  n c state univ

[MODERATOR:  Henry did quite an extensive analysis on this; the serious
student of this question should consult rec.guns archives for all the dialog.]