once you need something to hunt autonomous machines with...
Ed Huber is my new hero. Witness the 12 Gauge FH (From Hell) wildcat round:
He and his associates have loaded it to yield over 23,000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle, or over twice the typical muzzle energy of the vaunted .50 BMG anti-materiel "sniper" round, or about 2/3 the muzzle energy of a 20mm cannon. In inexpensive slug guns like the NEF ($220 MSRP) and Savage ($380 MSRP) with their chambers lengthened to 3.87" More typical loads yield muzzle energies somewhat higher than the BMG. He also describes hot loads for unmodified slug guns and the very cool reproductions of the 1887 Winchester lever-action 12 gauge that are well into elephant-gun territory (4,000-5,000 ft-lbs) if you're willing to handload but don't want to modify the guns. Some of these loads should work in stock 3.5" "magnum" pump guns, too. Oh yes, and always hand-load to stay within SAAMI pressures for 12-gauge shells if you're not ready to take your life into your hands.
Links if you want to read more, well worth it if this kind of thing interests you:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197214
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=178655
No, you won't get the long-range ballistics of the BMG. Yes, this is totally insane. Yes, 12 gauge shotguns are legal practically everywhere in the US. God bless America.
He and his associates have loaded it to yield over 23,000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle, or over twice the typical muzzle energy of the vaunted .50 BMG anti-materiel "sniper" round, or about 2/3 the muzzle energy of a 20mm cannon. In inexpensive slug guns like the NEF ($220 MSRP) and Savage ($380 MSRP) with their chambers lengthened to 3.87" More typical loads yield muzzle energies somewhat higher than the BMG. He also describes hot loads for unmodified slug guns and the very cool reproductions of the 1887 Winchester lever-action 12 gauge that are well into elephant-gun territory (4,000-5,000 ft-lbs) if you're willing to handload but don't want to modify the guns. Some of these loads should work in stock 3.5" "magnum" pump guns, too. Oh yes, and always hand-load to stay within SAAMI pressures for 12-gauge shells if you're not ready to take your life into your hands.
Links if you want to read more, well worth it if this kind of thing interests you:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197214
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=178655
No, you won't get the long-range ballistics of the BMG. Yes, this is totally insane. Yes, 12 gauge shotguns are legal practically everywhere in the US. God bless America.