Charts and Tables
Choke - A carefully measured constriction of the bore of a shotgun at the muzzle, designed to control the spread of the shot as it leaves the barrel.
Hallowell & Co.'s descriptions of choke borings are determined by measuring with a bore micrometer, irrespective of any markings on the barrels. The internal diameter is measured four inches from the muzzle and again just at the muzzle. Subtracting gives the amount of constriction in thousandths of an inch. Chart
Gauge - System of measurement for the internal bore diameter of a smooth-bore firearm based on the diameter of each of that number of spherical lead balls whose total weight is one pound. The internal diameter of a 12 gauge shotgun barrel is therefore equal to the diameter of a lead ball weighing 1/12 pound, which happens to be .729" (Or in British: Bore.) The Gauge/Bore system is also used, by convention, to describe the internal barrel diameter of large-bore, 19th century, English, single-shot and double-barrel rifles. Table
Dating Guns by Proof Code - In many countries, test-firing of a gun with an extra-heavy load at an official establishment to verify the safety of a gun is required by law. The gun is then then marked with formal stamps showing, among other things, the loads for which it is intended and in many cases the date. proof date code table.
Shot Sizes - Table
Hallowell & Co., Inc. PO Box 1445, Livingston, MT 59047
Tel: 406 222-4770 Fax: 406 222-4792 Email: morris@hallowellco.com
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