Why does birdshot leap from #6 to #7.5?

There is a number 7 birdshot.

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?p...

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?p...

There are standards for shot size of every whole number from 1 - 12, and also 7 1/2, 8 1/2, and 9/12, in American shot size standards. The question isn't why isn't there a size 7, it's why don't they make that size. It would be .10" in diameter.

Maybe it's because 7.5 shot falls conveniently halfway between 6 and 9, and also would be slightly larger than 8 shot.

You can see a chart here: http://www.santarosaleadproducts.com/lead_shot.htm

There's much more information in my Dixie Gun Works catalog though.

Because #7 shot is soooo 1901.

They probably figured that since there would be no real place for #7, that they'd come up with #7.5. Either that, or they screwed up originally with #7, and then realized the shot sizes they were making were really #7.5 and then decided to just go with that.

I've actually seen 7 shot, and even 8.5 shot.

But you ask a very good question. 7 shot is rare - very rare. And I have no idea how they came-up with the idea of 7.5 shot.

Be damned if I know!

Good question! I'd truly never noticed the gap in over 40 years of fooling with guns.

Doc Hudson

Must be an American thing.

http://www.justcartridges.com/pdf/express.pdf This online UK retailer has 7 shot.

May be pure bs, but years ago I heard that #7 did not fly straight. Don't know if thats true or not?