Lindcott Armory Shotgun · SAAMI
10 Gauge
The most powerful production shotshell.
- Caliber
- 0.775″ · 19.685 mm
- Introduced
- 1866
- Case
- Rimmed
- Primary use
- Waterfowl, Turkey
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1866
- Type
- Shotgun
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Inventor
- Various (historical)
- Manufacturer
- Various
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Twist (typical)
- N/A (smoothbore)
- Primer
- 209 Shotshell
- Case type
- Rimmed
- Max pressure
- 11,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Max range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 28–45 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 1,100–1,500 fps · 70 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open 10 Gauge ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 19.68 | 0.775 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 21.70 | 0.854 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 21.30 | 0.839 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 23.65 | 0.931 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.90 | 0.075 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 88.90 | 3.500 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 78.99 | 3.110 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 10 Gauge is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 70 active loads across 10 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 71 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent Cartridge | Fasteel Waterfowl | 656 | 1.5oz #T Shot | 1,550 | 3,499 | — |
| Browning | BXD Waterfowl Steel | 656 | 1.5oz #T Shot | 1,550 | 3,499 | — |
| Rio | Steel Target | 656 | 1.5oz #BB Shot | 1,500 | 3,277 | — |
| Remington | Hypersonic Steel #2 | 1750 | Steel #2 | 1,500 | 8,742 | — |
| Federal | Speed-Shok Steel | 656 | 1.5oz #T Shot | 1,500 | 3,277 | — |
| Browning | BXD Waterfowl Steel | 656 | 1.5oz #2 Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Browning | BXD Waterfowl Steel | 656 | 1.5oz #3 Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Browning | BXD Waterfowl Steel | 656 | 1.5oz #BB Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Kent Cartridge | Fasteel Waterfowl | 656 | 1.5oz #BB Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Fiocchi | Steel Waterfowl | 656 | 1.5oz #2 Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Rio | Steel Waterfowl | 656 | 1.5oz #2 Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Winchester | Blind Side Steel #2 | 1750 | Steel #2 | 1,450 | 8,168 | — |
| Federal | Prairie Storm Steel #2 | 1750 | Steel #2 | 1,450 | 8,168 | — |
| Fiocchi | Steel Waterfowl | 656 | 1.5oz #BB Shot | 1,450 | 3,062 | — |
| Kent Cartridge | Impact Upland | 765 | 1.75oz #6 Shot | 1,400 | 3,329 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 10 Gauge
12 models in the database chamber 10 Gauge. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
One of the oldest bore sizes, standardized in the 19th century. Before 3.5" 12 gauge shells existed, the 10 gauge was the only option for extreme-range waterfowl. Still used by dedicated waterfowlers for its payload capacity.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 10 Gauge use?
- 10 Gauge typically uses a N/A (smoothbore) twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 10 Gauge?
- 10 Gauge uses a 0.775″ (19.685 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 10 Gauge still in production?
- 10 Gauge is active; typical availability is common.
- What is 10 Gauge used for?
- 10 Gauge is primarily used for waterfowl, turkey.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawingsarchived
- StandardC.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 70 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →