Study: Shotguns not safer for deer hunting

Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 18 April 2007

Ballistics tests give surprise results A Pennsylvania state-sponsored study concluded that shotgun slugs are much more prone to ricochets than rifle bullets. And in some cases, the study says, slugs can travel farther than a bullet. The assumption shotguns are safer than rifles because of their shorter maximum range has been used as the basis for shotgun-only hunting regulations in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Some states prohibit all rifle use by deer hunters. The study was authorized in 2005, and states it may be the first comprehensive look at the rifle versus shotgun debate. The study's conclusions are based on ballistics analysis of shots fired by deer rifles, shotguns and muzzleloaders. The 67-page study examined ballistics data on three popular deer-hunting guns: a .30-06 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .50-caliber muzzleloader. The rifle had the greatest maximum range at 2.64 miles, followed by the shotgun at 1.97 miles and the muzzleloader, which generally uses heavier and slower bullets, at 1.74 miles. But most shots by hunters don’t approach the gun’s maximum range. When shots were fired at an elevation of 5 degrees, the total distances traveled, including ricochets, were 1.66 miles for a rifle bullet and 1.3 miles for a shotgun slug. When shots were fired holding the guns level three feet off the ground, the shotgun slug traveled 0.99 of a mile, 16 percent farther than the rifle bullet. According to the study, slugs hold together better and lose less energy during ricochets than rifle bullets. Therefore, slugs often can travel farther than rifle bullets in common hunting scenarios.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 April 2007 )

 

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