Bolt-Action Rifle VS Shotgun

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Bolt-action rifle vs shotgun

A long-range bolt-action rifle and a shotgun are built for very different jobs. A rifle uses a rifled barrel and a single projectile for precision at distance, while a shotgun is designed for shorter range, where a spread of shot or a slug does the work.

How they differ

• Barrel: rifled barrels spin the bullet for accuracy, while most shotguns are smoothbore.
• Projectile: a rifle fires one bullet. A shotgun can fire many pellets or a single slug.
• Range: rifles reach out much farther, and shotguns are best at close to moderate distances.
• Uses: rifles suit big game and precision shooting, while shotguns suit birds, clays and close-range work.

Gear

Compare rifle scopes at OpticsPlanet, find rifle and shotgun ammo at Natchez, and get cleaning supplies at Brownells. Use ShellShock electronic hearing protection with either.

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