# Shot Gun v. Rifle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 24, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391 "2004-11-24T01:35:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391/21 "2004-11-24T21:52:49Z")

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This might, though.

Shotshells for guns [other than shotguns](http://www.4-10.freeuk.com/mwnotquite410.html).

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**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391/22 "2004-11-24T21:59:29Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> You can safely fire a .45 Colt pistol cartridge out of a .410 bore shotgun, but not the other way around.

You can safely fire a .45 Colt cartridge out of SOME .410 shotguns, not all of them! Some shotguns are designed to fire both. A lot are not, and could cause severe injury if you try.

Look for the chambering stamping on the barrel. If it doesn’t say .45, don’t try it. Seriously.

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**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391/23 "2004-11-24T22:13:31Z")

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> [@Paul in Saudi](#):
>
> Shotguns are for birds. Rifles are for deer. Pistols are for people.

:: cough :: chokes on coffee…

Ushering Paul out of the room … “G’night everybody!”

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**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391/24 "2004-11-24T22:27:31Z")

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> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> Some shotguns have rifled barrels. They are only to be used with slugs. I have a Mossberg 500 with a rifled barrel.

Yup - That’s why I included this disclaimer in my post:

> [@Tranquilis](#):
>
> When talking firearms, all things have their exceptions.

**Jinx** , you’ve asked one of those wonderful “bottomless” questions that lead to all manner of learned discussion. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shot-gun-v-rifle/276391/25 "2004-11-25T00:20:59Z")

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> [@HPL](#):
>
> There’s a famous handgun made around the time of the civil war that fired 6(?) .45 bullets and then had 2nd barrel and trigger that fired a single shotgun shell.
> 
> I can’t remember what it was called.

I can’t recall either, but we’ve got one in the Tennessee State Museum’s Civil War Weapons display.

YES! I just recalled! The LeMat Revolver. A 10 shot, plus 1 shell.

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