Basics of a Black Powder Shotgun The sport of black powder shooting is rich with "rules of thumb," many of which turn out to be completely useless, but one utilized in black powder shotgunning has endured the test of time and works extremely well in the majority of shotguns. This guideline states that you must use the same amount of powder and shot. It makes sense; if you put more powder than shot into your shell, you're just wasting your time because it will always result in an overpressure, explosion, and fire. This isn't to say that there aren't other rules for black powder shooting. For example, some people will tell you not to touch your barrel while others claim that it's okay as long as you don't move the gun very much. There are also guidelines on how fast you should be firing and what type of ammunition is best for different situations, but we'll get to all of that later. For now, just know that there are no absolute truths when it comes to black powder shooting so feel free to experiment with different techniques and see what works for you.