Shotguns

A shot gun is much different than a rifle or a pistol. A rifle or pistol shoots one projectile at usually a high velocity. A shotgun shoots several small pellets at one time at a slower velocity (usually around 1000-1300 FPS). It is almost like a swarm of bees coming at you but  much much faster. The video below is a shotgun shot in slow motion.
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10 Gauge Shotgun

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A 10 gauge shotgun is a very big shotgun! There are bigger, like the 8 or even 4 gauge. This is the biggest one to be actually common though. It is used for large duck and turkey hunting. The cartridges are fairly rare and expensive. Most people will just go for a common 12 gauge. But this really does pack a big punch!

12 Gauge Shotgun

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The 12 gauge shotgun is just a little bit smaller than the 10 gauge. But the 12 gauge is much more common and affordable. The is used quite a bit more than the 10 gauge. This is very widely used for sporting clay shooting and duck / turkey hunting. It is a great shotgun to purchase. Also there is many different types like the pump action, semi-automatic and the over and under.

16 Gauge Shotgun

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I don't actually know to  much about the 16 Gauge. It is not as common as the 12 or the 20. It is a bit smaller and has a bit less recoil than the 12 gauge (by recoil I mean kickback). It is used for the same purposes as the 12 is. It is just less common and is smaller.

20 Gauge Shotgun

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The 20 gauge shotgun is a very popular shotgun. It is great for kids and young teens. It is has a little less recoil than the 12 gauge which is primarily the next step up from a 20 gauge. It is great for hunting and sporting clay shooting. If you were a kid from the age of 8-12 I would highly recommend it. The guns themselves are fairly cheap for a shotgun ($200-$400). They also have the perfect amount of power for an eager 10 year old that wants to blow a sporting clay or a bird up.

28 Gauge Shotgun

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I know nothing about the 28 gauge. It is just much smaller than the others (besides the .410). It is also used for sporting clay shooting and small bird hunting.

.410 Shotgun

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The .410 shotgun is not even considered a gauge. It is a caliber. I don't know why I think it is to small. But is popular for very young shooters. It is also used for pigeon hunting and rarely sporting clay shooting. It is the smallest shotgun cartridge.

The Difference Between Them

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