Quote Originally Posted by BushMasterBoy View Post
I'd have some kind of shotgun so I wouldn't starve.
The first mass produced shotgun shells were made in the early 1870's. In 1853 Sharps had a percussion breach-loading shotgun. It could be loaded with separate components, but was generally sold with a kit so a hunter could roll his own cartridges at home the night before. Commonly available percussion caps would set it off just like the revolver and rifles of the time.