Shot Pattern
Definition
The distribution of shot impacts on a documented target. Firearm, choke, ammunition, distance, target geometry and recovery affect its interpretation. Suitable controlled comparisons may inform distance assessment, but a generic spread measurement cannot independently establish range for every shotgun load.
A shotgun may discharge multiple shot or a single slug. Smoothbore configurations are common, and rifled slug barrels also exist. A shot pattern depends on firearm, choke, ammunition, distance and target geometry; no one spread-to-distance rule applies to every combination.
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