Although most shotgun shooters will have heard the term ‘shot balling’, some may not fully appreciate what it is, what can cause it and, more importantly, how to recognise and prevent it. With balled shot able to degrade shot patterns – hence performance – and in addition be a potential hazard, it is somewhat surprising it seems so little understood or discussed.
Shot balling has become more prevalent today, and to understand why it is necessary to follow shotgun developments over that period between Pauly patenting his breechloading gun to the present time. Breechloading shotguns require a well-formed chamber and smooth route for the cartridge contents to transition from inside the case to the shotgun’s bore. This transition is critical and central to where we are today.
Many noted gunmakers spent considerable time and effort to arrive at the best internal bore profile for efficient transfer of the shot load and its driving wads into the shotgun’s bore. This was during the golden era of shotgun development, which – from around the early 1800s to the early 1900s – saw the design refinement and sophistication that resulted in best English game guns. Such guns remain the pinnacle of perfection in form and function and height of desirability for those able to afford them. Competition to produce the sweetest shooting guns with the best patterns was fierce. Field trials were held with reputations at stake,
