8-Gauge Magnum
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
The 8-Gauge Magnum (3.75") shell is a size of shotgun cartridge used in the shotguns of Misriah Armory's M45 Tactical Shotguns and Weapon System Technology military-variant DTM series shotguns.[1][2] This ammo type is also known as the Soellkraft Hippo 8-gauge magnum shell, relating to the cartoon hippo face decorating their exterior.[2]
Overview[edit]
The 8-gauge cartridge was a type of ammunition most commonly employed in 19th century firearms with antiquated black powder propellant, considered by the 21st century to be oversized and overpowered for shotgun applications. Nevertheless, the round has re-entered common usage with military and security forces in the 26th century and serves a role as a munition for extremely powerful assault weapons.[1] The shell is employed with both 0000[1] and 00 projectiles,[3] both of which are buckshot ammunition, meaning that they fire a spray of small pellets or "shot" as opposed to a single bullet. In length, the cartridge is 3.75".[1] Due to its sheer firepower, it is among the relatively few UNSC ammunition types that can be efficiently and consistently used to engage targets with personal energy shielding.[4]
Variants[edit]
0000[edit]
8-Gauge Magnum shells filled with 0000 ("quadruple-ought") shot are the standard ammunition type for the UNSC's M90A[1] and M45 series shotguns.[5] Each of these projectiles leaves the barrel of an M90A shotgun travelling at 300-400 meters per second, and a shell of this type fired from an M90A has an effective range of 40 meters.[1] Shells of this type used with the M45D shotgun have been known the bear the designation "M296 SC"[6] "M296 TS",[7] and "M296 Magnum".[8][Note 1]
MAG 15P-00B[edit]
MAG 15P-00B (Magnum, 15 Pellets-00 Buck) are 8-gauge magnum shells filled with 00B ("double-ought buck") shot, and are frequently utilized with the M90 shotgun.[3][9][10] According to the designation, each shell contains 15 pellets.[3][9][10] It is considered extremely powerful in confined, close-range engagements, but loses effectiveness at longer ranges due to the dispersal of the shot.[11] At medium range, however, the spread of pellets can be used to engage more than one target simultaneously.[12]
Trivia[edit]
- The hippo on the outside of the casing was included as a gift to Matt Soell, a former employee and Community manager of Bungie Studios with an obsession with hippos (Hippo in Halo), and so the shell is named after him.
- In The Art of Halo 3, the 8-Gauge Magnum shell is stated to have a length of 3.5". This contradicts all other sources, and is considered an error by this page.
Gallery[edit]
8-gauge shell boxes (00 buckshot) with an M90 in Halo: Combat Evolved.
Boxes of 00B shotgun shells in Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.
Boxes of 00B shotgun shells in Halo 2.
x16 MAG 15P-00B round case from Halo 2: Anniversary.
An expended 8-gauge shell ejecting from an M90 shotgun in Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer.
A spent M296 8-gauge shell ejecting from an M45D Tactical Shotgun in Halo 4.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo: Combat Evolved (First appearance)
- Halo: The Flood
- Halo: First Strike
- Halo 2
- Halo Graphic Novel
- Halo 3
- Halo Wars
- Halo 3: ODST
- Halo 2: Anniversary
- Halo: Reach
- Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
- Halo 4
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo: Initiation
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo 5: Guardians
Notes[edit]
- ^ In the Halo Waypoint article, the shells are referred to as "M296 18.5mm Magnum", which would make them not 8-gauge, but 12-gauge. As this is inconsistent with both all other relevant sources (including the Halo 4 Essential Visual Guide and the now-obsolete Halo 4 Intel page on Waypoint) and the round's performance, this page treats this as an error. It is entirely possible, however, that such a round does exist, possibly used in the CQS48 Bulldog.
Sources[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Bungie.net, The M90A Shotgun (Retrieved on Jun 8, 2020) [local archive] [external archive]
- ^ a b Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 117
- ^ a b c Halo: Combat Evolved, Gameplay
- ^ Halo: Silent Storm, chapter 25
- ^ Halo 4, Gameplay
- ^ Halo Waypoint, Halo 4 Intel, "SHOTGUN"
- ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, Page 70, "SHOTGUN"
- ^ Halo Waypoint, "SHOTGUN"
- ^ a b Halo 2, Gameplay
- ^ a b Halo 2: Anniversary, Gameplay
- ^ Halo 2 Manual, Page 11, “M90 Shotgun"
- ^ Halo: Combat Evolved Manual, Page 18, “M90 Shotgun”
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