Shotgun types

Shotguns use many of the same actions that you would find in rifles:

• bolt action
• lever action
• break action
• pump action (restricted)
• self-loading (restricted).

A break-action shotgun is the most commonly used shotgun for hunting. It comes in a variety of barrel configurations; the most popular being the double-barrel shotgun.

Double barrels can either be constructed horizontally (side by side) for shooting at running game animals or vertically (over and under) for shooting at flying game animals and clay targets.