Drawing on forty years of shooting experience, author Dave Henderson takes a comprehensive look at what shotguns are and what they were and what they can do and can't do and why. Henderson, in the elegant prose for which he is famous, starts out by sketching the history of the shotgun, and then clearly dissects every facet of the weapon, completely covering topics like gauges, the relative drawbacks and merits of double-barreled, pump action and autoloaders; how to fit a gun; and how to use chokes. There are also invaluable descriptions of the characteristics of shot, and what the hunter can expect from the varieties available, as well as advice on choosing among them. There's advice on testing the pattern of your gun, as well as tips for beginners on gun handling. Chapters include hunting white-tailed deer, wingshooting, hunting big game, waterfowl, and turkey, shooting sports such as sporting clays, plus valuable practical advice on cleaning guns and reloading shotshells. This is truly the ultimate guide to the shotgun.