Summary
Range determination of shotshell loads may be most accurately determined by combining shot dispersion and pellet penetration. Various lead shot sizes were fired into bare gelatin, gelatin covered by heavy clothing and gelatin embedded with swine rib at three different distances. Shot deformation, and penetration were observed and recorded. Lead shot penetration in 10% ballistic gelatin of shot sizes smaller than 0 Buck follows a linear relationship at intermediate ranges allowing for accurate distance calculations. These results are in quantitative agreement with analysis for penetrations into bare gelatin and in qualitative agreement with penetration dynamics phenomenology for the other tests (where quantification must be empirical).