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Homeguard shotgun cartridges
- Thread starter Big Dave
- Start date
Hi Allan i think most were loaded with a 1 oz ball apart from the one marked SG which someone told me had 4 or 5 buckshot in them .My next door neighbour [84 ,ex Homeguard] remembers been issued with the 1 oz ball ones in 1940 ,no one in the village dare fire them due to the age/condition of their shotguns ,no one wanted to chance the cartoon burst barrel
TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
SG
The standard British SG load (00 buckshot in the U.S.) is nine .332 inch diameter shot.
However, do not be misled into thinking these are all Home Guard loads. Most of the buff/white cased SG loads are from the 1950s Malayan Emergency. Patrols were armed with the Browning A5 automatic shotgun and proved very effective. In operational analysis after the campaign was over, the Browning came out at the top of the table for hit ratio, above the Sten/Sterling, M1 carbine and No.5 rifle.
The shotgun is back in fashion, with the new Bennelli auto being issued in Afghanistan with slug and SG.
Regards
TonyE
The standard British SG load (00 buckshot in the U.S.) is nine .332 inch diameter shot.
However, do not be misled into thinking these are all Home Guard loads. Most of the buff/white cased SG loads are from the 1950s Malayan Emergency. Patrols were armed with the Browning A5 automatic shotgun and proved very effective. In operational analysis after the campaign was over, the Browning came out at the top of the table for hit ratio, above the Sten/Sterling, M1 carbine and No.5 rifle.
The shotgun is back in fashion, with the new Bennelli auto being issued in Afghanistan with slug and SG.
Regards
TonyE
TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
Home Guard issue
No, I would suggest that these were government issue to farmers for pest control, as they are filled with Number 5 shot.
Obviously during the war the production of ammuntion for civilian use was severely limited and so the government allowed 12b and .22LR to be made and marked as officially sanctioned.
Of course, if the Germans had arrived, these and anything else would have been used!
Regarsd
TonyE
No, I would suggest that these were government issue to farmers for pest control, as they are filled with Number 5 shot.
Obviously during the war the production of ammuntion for civilian use was severely limited and so the government allowed 12b and .22LR to be made and marked as officially sanctioned.
Of course, if the Germans had arrived, these and anything else would have been used!
Regarsd
TonyE
Thank you for your reply Tony, that would make perfect sense and would explain the rather puzzling "War Time Issue" on the label.
Yes No.5 shot would not be that great as a first choice use for anti personal, but as you say if it came to it then anything is better than nothing.
Best regards Weasel.
Yes No.5 shot would not be that great as a first choice use for anti personal, but as you say if it came to it then anything is better than nothing.
Best regards Weasel.
TonyE
HONOURED MEMBER RIP
Trap shooting
That is very likely the case Dutch. In both wars the government bought huge quantities of "normal" shotgun ammunition for clay pidgeon shooting. This was to train the eye co-ordination of air gunners. There were also tracer loads in 12b so that the gunners could see whether they were firing in front or behind the target.
The other use for ordinary cartridges was for clearing birds from airfields, which was an ongoing job.
As for the 16b SG load, it is probably another Home Guard round, as there were plenty of 16b shotguns in use and anything and everything would have been used.
Regards
TonyE
That is very likely the case Dutch. In both wars the government bought huge quantities of "normal" shotgun ammunition for clay pidgeon shooting. This was to train the eye co-ordination of air gunners. There were also tracer loads in 12b so that the gunners could see whether they were firing in front or behind the target.
The other use for ordinary cartridges was for clearing birds from airfields, which was an ongoing job.
As for the 16b SG load, it is probably another Home Guard round, as there were plenty of 16b shotguns in use and anything and everything would have been used.
Regards
TonyE
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The L12A5 pictured is the "Cartridge 12 bore Irritant, Long Range, practice, non-waterproof L12A5" A training version of the L11A3 and L11A5 and L27A1 operational Irritant rounds.
V40
Well-Known Member
We used in the Police Department here in the States both No.4 Buckshot and Triple OOO Buckshot, and finally a streamlined (outside), 1oz projectile. These were all designed to kill as instantly as possible ( along with American White Tale Deer). They were made of Alntimony and Lead.
We also use a small finned projectile that contained enough of CS or OC to be shot through a window in a vehicle or a small room in which someone has barricaded themselves. Most of the time it will clear people out of the car in seconds.
So yes, for your question Tony. They are out there my friend.
We also use a small finned projectile that contained enough of CS or OC to be shot through a window in a vehicle or a small room in which someone has barricaded themselves. Most of the time it will clear people out of the car in seconds.
So yes, for your question Tony. They are out there my friend.