History: When first developed, the 12 gauge shotgun shell was originally loaded in a full metal cartridge. As technology progressed, plastic replaced brass as the common material for the tube, while the head was still metal. Inside the typical shotgun shell is a stack of lead pellets (shot), sitting inside a plastic cup, atop a column of gunpowder.

Description: The shotgun shell packs quite a punch, firing a pattern of multiple heavy lead pellets. If the firer can place all of the shot on a single target, the effects can be devastating. Since the shot tends to spread at long distances, shotguns are most effective at close range. The round shape of the typical shotgun pellet makes them ineffective at penetrating armor.