The 10 Gauge: Everything Hunters Need to Know

In an period when sub-gauge shotguns have become popular, a small group of waterfowlers and turkey hunters cling to their 10 gauges. And searching into the long run, it appears that evidently massive bore followers might want to maintain on to their 10s a bit tighter. Browning, the final main North American shotgun producer producing 10 gauges, confirmed that it has discontinued its semi-automatic Gold Light and that no new BPS pumps (together with these in 10-gauge) will probably be assembled in 2024. 

Which means sooner or later you’ll doubtless have to look the used market should you’re wanting so as to add a ten to your assortment. However a the second there are nonetheless new 10 gauges in inventory and the ten nonetheless does have its deserves. Plus there are many ammo makers producing masses for it. Right here, we’ll dive into the small print of the America’s final massive bore.

10 Gauge Shotshell Specs

There are numerous 10-gauge shotshell choices nonetheless in manufacturing. Lead turkey masses, buckshot, and deer slugs are supplied in 10 gauge choices. However metal shot for waterfowl stays the preferred. Different non-toxic pellet supplies are loaded in 10 gauge as nicely, however for the specs chart beneath, I’ll give attention to a regular 3½-inch load of Federal Speed-Shok steel BBs.

• 12 months Launched: 1932 (2 7/8-inch masses did exist earlier than the 3½ magnum)
• General Size: 3½ inches
• Shot Sort: Metal
• Shot Dimension: BB
• Payload Weight: 1½ ounces
• Pellet Depend: 108
• Max Strain: 11,000 psi
• Muzzle Velocity: 1,450 fps

Efficiency 

Due to its bigger diameter and heavier payload choices, the ten ought to be capable of put extra massive pellets heading in the right direction at distance than every other frequent gauge. The bore diameter of a ten gauge is .775 inches. For reference, a 12 gauge has a bore diameter of .729 inches. Outside Life performed a 10 gauge vs. 12 gauge range test in 2021 and the outcomes confirmed sample percentages with metal BBs at 40 yards and past barely favored the ten over the 12. At 40 yards the ten gauge put 81 pellets heading in the right direction for a 79 % sample share. The 12 gauge put 59 heading in the right direction for a 53 % sample share. Nevertheless the 12 gauge truly outperformed the ten with No. 2 pellets. 

Federal Premium engineers noticed comparable outcomes years in the past once they put 3½-inch 10-gauge masses up in opposition to 3½-inch 12-gauge shotshells at their testing services in Minnesota. The pc read-outs from digital sample boards gave the sting to the ten, although not by a lot. 

The benefit in taking pictures a ten is so slender that many hunters don’t really feel the necessity to tote a heavier gun (most fashionable 10 gauges are between 9 and 12 kilos). A 12-gauge can weigh lower than 7 kilos, making it a extra versatile choice to hunt with. There are additionally extra non-toxic shotshell choices out there to hunters at the moment than ever earlier than, enhancing the lethality of smaller-gauge weapons. That places the ten gauge in a precarious place. Though it’s nonetheless efficient, the supply of denser metals—bismuth and tungsten—has made the ten gauge much less enticing to most hunters.

A fast word about recoil. Many imagine that the ten gauge delivers insufferable recoil. That’s not true, significantly within the gas-operated auto-loaders, which have extra tolerable recoil than most 12-gauge pumps or inertia-driven semi-autos. As a result of the ten gauge is normally a heavier gun, it usually mitigates felt recoil higher than a 12 does.

Historical past

By the 1860s, U.S. hunters had been nicely aware of the ten gauge, taking pictures it on deer, waterfowl, upland birds, and small sport. However the peak of 10 gauge reputation in America is rooted within the Previous West. English side-by-sides from Purdey, W.W. Greener, Westley Richards, and others had made it throughout the pond and into the arms of lawmen and settlers headed for the frontier. Remington’s Whitmore 1874 and the Colt Model 1878 had been additionally well-liked within the late 19^th century. 

The ten gauge coach gun, a regular hammer-operated double with shortened barrels, supplied unmatched hearth energy at shut vary. Sheriffs, outlaws, and anybody wagon-training west would have benefited from carrying a ten gauge for self-defense or intimidation.

The invention and improved ballistics of smokeless powder shotshells had been accountable for advancing the 12-gauge. Ammunition was cheaper for the 12-gauge as nicely. By the Twenties, shotshells had been predominately loaded with smokeless powder, and shooters noticed the advantages of smaller gauge shotguns. There have been fewer causes to hold a heavy 10 gauge.

Lead Ban Creates an Alternative for the ten

However in 1975, Ithaca launched the gas-driven semi-automatic Mag-10, which started a short 10 gauge renaissance. The soft-shooting Magazine-10 adopted by Remington’s SP10 (based mostly on the Ithaca design) got here alongside at simply the correct time. In 1987, the federal authorities started a ban of lead shot for looking waterfowl. By 1991, the lead ban was nationwide. 

Metal shot, which isn’t as dense (7.8 g/cc), changed lead (11.3 g/cc) in duck blinds throughout the nation. Nevertheless metal pellets didn’t kill as effectively. Most hunters assumed that as a result of metal was lighter than lead, they wanted extra of it to kill geese and geese. Since 10-gauge shotshells have heavier payloads, many waterfowler’s traded their 12s for 10s. 

To be clear, it’s been confirmed that fashionable steel pellets can efficiently kill waterfowl, as long as you employ the correct shot measurement and choke and shoot at cheap distances. 

“In comparison with commonplace high-velocity 12-gauge masses containing 1¼ ounces of lead shot, metal a great deal of 1⅛ ounces have been discovered to check intently in killing effectivity, as much as roughly 45 yards,” wrote legendary Area and Stream Capturing Editor Bob Brister in his e-book Shotgunning: The Art and the Science, printed in 1976, nicely earlier than the lead shot ban.

So, the ten gauge growth was due extra to a perceived inadequacy of the 12 gauge, not an precise one. 

A Rise in 3 1/2-Inch 12 Gauges

In 1988, Mossberg’s Ulti-Magazine 835 pump shotgun debuted as the primary 12-gauge chambered for Federal’s new on the time 3½-inch shotshell. Benelli got here out with the 3½-inch Tremendous Black Eagle a number of years later. These developments sealed the ten gauge’s destiny as a distinct segment firearm. The 12-gauge may maintain almost the identical payload weight in a 3½-inch shotshell as the ten however in a lighter, extra versatile gun able to taking pictures 2¾-inch and 3-inch choices. These 3 1/2-inch weapons turned well-liked with waterfowlers although they usually don’t ship significantly better sample efficiency than a regular 3-inch 12 gauge. Once more, it was notion driving the market. 

Discovering a 10-Gauge Shotgun

No main U.S. shotgun producers are making 10 gauges any longer, however sufficient stock stays that you would be able to purchase a brand new Browning Gold Light or BPS off the rack. Some bespoke shotgun homes will construct a ten gauge for you however be ready to pay 5 figures. 

The very best place to discover a 10 gauge is on the used market. Ithaca’s Mag-10 and the Remington SP10 are the most typical fashions out there. In the event you discover one in good situation, it might price as a lot as $2,000. Harrington and Richardson made single-shots in 10 gauge, just like the Mannequin 176, which has a full choked 36-inch barrel. H&Rs usually don’t run greater than $1,000. 

There are additionally a bevy of side-by-side shotguns, together with the New Ithaca Double (made well-known by gun author Elmer Keith) and English doubles from Purdey, Holland & Holland, and others. Most of those weapons are thought-about collector’s gadgets.

There are a choose variety of used 10 gauge bolt-action shotguns out there as nicely. Marlin’s Mannequin 5510 Tremendous Goose, based mostly on the Marlin 55 Hunter platform, might be essentially the most well-known. The Super Goose didn’t have a long term (1976-1985) however was famous for its unimaginable patterns at distance. A pass-shooting goose gun if there ever was one, the 5510 weighed 10.5 kilos and had a 34-inch barrel with a hard and fast full choke. A removable journal was plugged so hunters may solely load two shotshells. 

Discovering 10-Gauge Ammo

You’ll pay extra for 10-gauge shotshells than 12-gauge masses as a result of the parts price extra, and usually, the payloads are heavier, which suggests extra shot is being packed into a ten. A 25-round field of Federal Speed-Shok 10-gauge 3 ½-inch No. 2s prices $55; the identical providing in 12-gauge is $38.  

Fortunately, loads of ammunition producers proceed loading for 10 gauge. Metal waterfowl shotshells stay the preferred. Federal, Winchester, and Remington are all nonetheless delivery 10-gauge ammo each summer time earlier than duck season. Hevi-Shot and Boss each have 10-gauge bismuth choices. You probably have an older 10 gauge chambered for two 7/8-inch masses, area of interest ammomakers like RST and Salt Creek periodically have shotshells out there.

Turkey hunters can discover lead masses from Federal, Winchester, and Remington. Hevi-Shot additionally makes a 10-gauge shotshell in its Magnum Mix, which accommodates a mixture of 5, 6, and seven Hevi-Shot pellets. Federal’s customized store and another area of interest ammomakers load TSS turkey shells. Apex Ammunition has a 3½-inch shotshell with a 2½-ounce payload. The No. 9 shot providing holds an unimaginable 905 pellets. Nick Charney of Apex Ammunition nonetheless shoots a ten gauge for turkeys and has put 500 pellets inside a 10-inch circle at 40 yards with this load.

“On a 20-inch goal, I can get about 88 to 92 % sample retention at 40 yards,” he stated.

Discovering slugs and buckshot for the ten gauge is harder. Federal is the one main producer that provides each.

The Way forward for the ten

So long as there are goose and turkey seasons, the ten gauge can have a devoted group of shooters. However its reputation has been considerably diminished by the development of three 1/2 inch 12 gauges and non-toxic shot, significantly the affordability of some bismuth masses which might be nearly equal in value to premium metal shotshells. 

On the similar time, looking and shotgun traits are typically cyclical. For many years, the side-by-side misplaced favor with American hunters however has enjoyed a recent renaissance as extra reasonably priced, Turkish-made doubles flood the market. If semi-automatic shotguns proceed to get lighter, possibly hunters will ultimately tire of 12-gauge recoil and return to the heavy 10-gauge auto-loader, which produces much less felt recoil even whereas firing these heavy payloads. 

For now, the way forward for the ten gauge is in limbo. Hopefully, America’s massive bore stays in goose pits and the turkey woods within the years forward, although it’s arduous to think about Gen Z stepping as much as save the ten gauge.