Question: when was the first 12 gauge shotgun made

title: Shotgun
text: The shot pellets from a shotgun spread upon leaving the barrel , and the power of the burning charge is divided among the pellets , which means that the energy of any one ball of shot is fairly low . In a hunting context , this makes shotguns useful primarily for hunting birds and other small game . However , in a military or law enforcement context , the large number of projectiles makes the shotgun useful as a close quarters combat weapon or a defensive weapon . Militants or insurgents may use shotguns in asymmetric engagements , as shotguns are commonly owned civilian weapons in many countries . Shotguns are also used for target shooting sports such as skeet , trap , and sporting clays . These involve shooting clay disks , known as clay pigeons , thrown in various ways .