8-Gauge Magnum

Description
This 8 gauge 3.5" magnum shotgun shell is used in the M90 shotgun series. It is an extremely large gauge not used in modern shotguns, the reason being 10 and 12 gauge shells are viewed as being powerful enough for almost all the uses of a shotgun. In the Halo universe, the 8 gauge shell (which is obsolete as of today), was reborn as the Soellkraft Hippo 8 ga. magnum round.

The gauge of eight is also equal to .835 inches, or 21.21 millimeters. The rounds uses double-ought, or 00, buckshot. The twin zeros can be seen on the side of the shotshell boxes seen in Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2, and most likely Halo 3. The box also indicates the rounds use 15 pellets in each shot, and counting the shot holes in a wall after firing will confirm this.

Double-ought is .33" (8.4 mm) in diameter, and is much more damaging to a larger target than smaller shot sizes. The pellets themselves may be made of steel, or tungsten, and possibly lead or other metals. It could also be made from a mix of these materials. The title of 3.5" magnum means the shell is that long. 3.5 inch magnum rounds are traditionally contain the highest amount of powder in that particular size. Other smaller sizes include 3" and 2 3/4" rounds.

8 gauge rounds are almost extinct as of today, but due to the round's extremely high stopping power it is very effective, and can kill a fully shielded Covenant Elite with one shot at point-blank range. The rounds can also be used to dispatch several enemies at longer ranges. In Halo 1, each pellet was quite powerful, with only about one or two being able to kill a Grunt at range, and needless to say, all 15 pellets combined are devastating.

Trivia

 * The outline of a hippo can be seen on the outside of the casing by looking at a spent shell through the sniper rifle's scope, suggesting the name. "SOELLKRAFT HIPPO" and "8 GA" can also be seen on the base of the shell.


 * In Bungie's recent update on the UNSC weapons, the shell dimensions for the M90 shotgun are listed as 8 gauge 3.75", and may be a typo, but might also suggest the round used in the Halo 3 version of the gun use even larger magnum rounds than the normal 3.5" shells.