Whats the most powerful, a shotgun or a magnum?
Answers:
I'll take the shot gun (10 or 12 gauge) every time for maximum killing effect at a single target at close range. However once you get past 30ft, then you have to worry about shot spray. Now thats not to say it wont take your target down very effectively, it will unfortunately also take down anyone in the spray. So now you get into the area where the .357 and .44 magnum come into their own in the hands of someone who can handle the muzzle kick. These hand guns have longer barrels so they are more accurate than their smaller revolver cousins. They are also a single projectile per shot weapon, so you will only take down the target with an accurate shot.
If also we are talking Pump action in the shot guns then we dont have to take into consideration the number of potential discharges in the weapon choice.
It also depends on whether you mean magnum in regard to extra grainage in the charge, but I'll assume you mean the well known handguns, because if we are talking charge then that opens up discussion about rifles.
what do you want to do?
a magnum whether its 357 or 44 is a stopper with a high velocity.
a shotgun disperses in a short distance doing multiple damage with a very low velocity
BOTH
it would depend on what type of shot gun and the size of the powder load in the shell and the type of shell being used. my opinion i'd say a shotgun would have more power with something more then say a game load shell.
I guess it depends on the range and how far you are from the target. A bow and arrow could be considered more powerful than a shotgun over a certain distance.
I wouldn't like to scratch my armpit with either though.
The magnum is just going to melt, cant do much damage with that.
at short range, you'll do a wider spread of damage with the shotgun. any reasonable range you're better off woth the magnum
If you're hunting, then magnum is best for game on the ground like deer, but for birds, using a shotgun is much better due to greater stability provided by the stock. If you just want something to mess about with, magnum is more fun. Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?
shortgun
A Magnum
the shotgun is more powerful if you are close to your target, but the magnum is defo stronger from range. BOOOM! you dead punk you dead. somebody tell me where i can get a gun from i live near wigan , uk anybody any ideas?
which is faster, a car or a truck?
It depends.a shotty sprays shot everwhere, while a .45 magnum is a hard shooting weapon. Good stopping power.
if you mean which has the most muzzle energy a 12 guage shotgun has about 3000 ft/lbs of energy at the average with some loads going to better that 4000 ft/lbs. no pistol round that i can think of matches this. a .458 mag elephant gun does not quite match it either. and that's not even looking at a 10 ga shotgun. so i would have to say the old boomer is the king while admitting that there may be a few more powerful rounds out there but for common everyday rounds its the shotgun every time.
Hear we go again, some people who dont know what there talking about, When you say magnum, do you mean a magnum hand gun or shotgun.A shot gun and a magnum shot gun are no different to look at or fire (More recoile with heavy loads). The onley thing that differs is the size of its chamber, the magnum been a 3inc chamber(proffed to round about 1900ftlbs per square inc) where the average shotgun is 2 and 3quater inc chamber and proofed alot less, there are many different boars as well 4. 8,10,12,16,20,28,410 and 9mm The chamber been larger and the barrels been proffed high allow the magnum to take a 3inc cartridge (average cartridge 2 3quater inc) and a much heavyer gram cartridge, (Loads of up to 56grms, 1,2,3,4,ie shot size) This makes the magnum, with the right combernation of cartridges and choke a much more aficiant killer at distance. The velocity ratio of a magnum cartridge is about 1500ft per sec the average cartridge been between 1400 and 1450ft per sec.
Now the magnum hand gun, persuming were talking about a 44.
Yet again there are things to take into consideration, the grain of the bullet and the charge within it. the velocity ratio is roughly 1750 ft per sec making it faster over distance but less acurate. Then there are different types of rifles and shells called magnums, 1 in perticular is 1 of my faveret guns to shoot, which is the .17Hmr (hornady magnum round)
Can I also point out to mr wobbly it is illegal to shoot deer in the british isls with a shot gun, ( this can only be done in extreem surcumstancers. once over they could be dispatched with ssg's not sure weather that still applys ) I could go on but would be hear some time so if you have any more questions or wish me to addapt on what iv sead then please just e-mail me
Magnum what?
Shotguns "It is favored by law enforcement for its low penetration and high stopping power, while many American households use it as a home defense weapon for the same reasons."
"it has enormous stopping power at short range, more than nearly all handguns and comparable to most rifle cartridges."
I would say the shotgun is more "powerful" although it is a tricky question because when you hold a magnum and say "go ahead punk make my day .." there is power in that.
Okay, magnum, in gun lingo, usually means larger or more powerful. A shotgun is a type of weapon that shoots multiple pellets called "shot".
Some "shotshells" or bullets for shotguns, are refered to as being a magnum as they are of "greater strength" than the standard loading. Some guns are called magnum (as an adjective) in that they shoot larger, or faster projectiles than standard guns.
You probably are trying to compare to different firearms, but do not have the full title. Unfortunately no one knows what two guns you are trying to compare as you have not given us enough information.
There are also other important pieces of information. Shotguns come in different sizes called gauges. In order of biggest to smallest, (this is not a complete list.) 4, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge, and .410 caliber.
So we would need to know the type shotgun and gauge as well as the type of ammunition, either pellets or slugs. Slugs are large columns of lead sized to the gauge. Pellets or shot also come in varying sizes. Again biggest to smallest (not a complete list) 0, 00, 000, 2, 4, 6, 7 1/2, 8, and 9.
As for the "Magnum", is it a pistol like a .357 magnum, a .41 magnum, a .44 magnum or some other cartridge? Or is it a rifle like the .22 WMR (magnum), the 7mm magnum, the .300 weatherby magnum, or any of the wssm rifle cartridges?
In general, rifles are more powerful than handguns and usually more powerful than shotguns in term of energy, speed and range. There is a cutoff somewhere in there where smaller rifles have less power than some shotguns.
Find out the names, the calibers, the types of shells and repost your question. We will be happy to give you an answer.
Depends at what range and what caliber. If you mean noise a .44 mag is louder than some rifles. The shotgun is the most powerful inside 75 yards with 00 buckshot people aren't the same after that hitting them. The magnum like .44 out of 75 to 100 probably need a scope too. .357 magnum is weaker, the bigger .454 casull and stuff while not named a magnum is pretty powerful, but kicks like a mule. I would say the shotgun for close range, a magnum up to 100 but a big one (.44 or higher) and a rifle "magnum" from 6 feet out to 1000 yards a .300 winchester magnum will do fine or a bigger calibers for elephants and stuff. Magnum is just a name and there are tons of rifles more powerful than a magnum rifle and more pistol round more powerful than a magnum pistol and the shotgun a magnum refers to 3 and 1/2 inch shells for waterfowl or turkey and are big and kick alot.
Don't even go there.xx
you can tell this asker has to be like 12 for many reasons.
he isnt educated enough to realize they are two different guns, a long gun and hand gun. you cant really compare the power.
the fact he said magnum without specifying one implies that he has been playing too many video games where the high powered revolver is simply a magnum, and not a .357 mag, .44 mag, or any of the other magnum caliber bullets.
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