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Some cartridges just deserve an award. Let's chamber another round in the Cartridge Hall of Fame. The 10 gauge made its appearance in the 1860s, as cartridge guns began to supersede muzzleloaders. Used primarily in side-by-side shotguns, this gauge was quite popular in the American West. Like other shotgun gauges, its name is derived from the number of pure led balls of bore diameter it takes to weigh one pound, in this case 10. Originally designed with a brass case, the inside components included powder, over powder wad, cushion wad, shot and an overshot wad. Today's ammunition uses a plastic hull with brass rim and a single piece wad. The 19th century Parker double-barrel is chambered in 10 gauge, but pumps and automatics rule the 21st century. The 10 gauge was also popular outside the United States, being chambered in guns from Europe such as this vintage Purdy. While original shells were 2 7/8-inch in length, 3 1/2-inch magnum loads were introduced in the early 1930s and are used primarily for turkey and waterfowl hunting. Enjoying widespread use in the 19th and early 20th century, the 10 gauge easily makes the grade for the Cartridge Hall of Fame.
--Larry Potterfield
