What is Shot in shotgun ammunition?

• A. Spherical pellets of various sizes, usually made of lead
• B. The metal or plastic container that holds all parts of a round
• C. The measurement used to identify different cartridge sizes
• D. A lever on a shotgun used to chamber rounds

Answer: (A)

Shot is the payload of a shotgun shell—the small, round pellets that are propelled out of the barrel. These pellets are typically spherical and usually made of lead, though alternatives exist. The size of the shot varies and is described by shot size numbers; smaller numbers mean larger pellets, and larger numbers mean smaller pellets, which affects the spread and effective range. The concept you’re testing is that the “shot” is the actual projectiles that make up the load, not the shell casing, the measurement that identifies bore size (gauge), or the firearm’s operating lever.