There were once many shot towers in the Us & sizes were not the same from any of them. What won out & became standard was the Tatham Bros of New York tower. The sizes are based on the number 17. Subtract the shot size from 17 & you get the diameter. Thus #4 = 0.13 (3.30mm); #5 = 0.12 (3.05mm); #6 = 0.11 (2.79mm); #7 = 0.10 (2.54mm). For "Chilled" shot these run approximately per ounce respectfully, #4 = 135, #5 = 173, #6 = 225 & #7 = 299.
England's standard was The Abbey Improved Chilled Shot Co, Newcastle-on-Tyne. their #6 listed at 270 per ounce. They also had Walker, Parker, Limited, London & Gateshead which listed #6 @ 278-290 per ounce. Abbey Co also listed a 6* @ 300 per ounce, with a note this size was Much Used by London Loaders & for export.
There is little doubt there is much confusion over shot sizes. However, any way you slice it British #6 is closer to US #7 than any other size, & if you go back & read my post right here in this thread I did say "APPROXIMATELY". I did not Say Nor Imply, they were One & The Same. I stand by that.
I have serious doubts that the end results of a shot would be affected in 1 of 1,000 shots whether the shot was 270 or 300 per ounce, To quote Nash Buckingham, You First have to hit it. There is more to be gained by learning to shoot than by Nitpicking over a bit of difference in pellet counts.
Last edited by 2-piper; 11/25/18 06:56 PM.
