In updating my small gun ensemble, I've come across lots of differences of opinions about armaments. Two that surprised me, but make sense when I think more about it, are these:
1. Guides carry double-barrel shotguns to protect their African safari hunters.
DOUBTFUL. I think the double-barrels are usually high-powered elephant guns or other large caliber rifles, and often so the hunter won't have to carry the heavy weapon until time to fire it. Even with slugs, shotguns don't have as much penetration in thick skinned animals as rifle bullets do.
2. Shotguns hit just about anything in their general direction because the pellets scatter so much.
MAYBE, depending on distance. For home defense ranges of 7 to 15 yards, the pellets often are still in a pretty dense cluster, more like 4 to 6 inches of spread no matter what the choke.
What are some gun myths and misconceptions that most surprise you?