Shotgun

Shotgun, smoothbore shoulder firearm that discharges pellets (shot) designed to disperse as they leave the gun muzzle. Used primarily in hunting small game and birds and in skeet, or trapshooting, the shotgun evolved from the early fowling guns of 16th century Europe, becoming lighter and shorter and benefiting from the addition of a choke to control the spread of the shot and from the patent of the shotgun cartridge (1831). The repeating shotgun appeared c.1880. A shotgun's caliber is measured by its gauge, the most popular U.S. gauges being 12, 16, 20, and the 410 bore. Models may be single or double barreled.