Mark Spielman, age 14, of Brownsville, Tex., for his quesiton:

WHEN WAS THE SHOTGUN INVENTED?

A shotgun is a shoulder gun that fires a cartridge that contains a powder charge and a load of lead pellets, called shot. The first shotgun, developed in 1537, was loaded with small shot instead of one round ball.

In 1831, a man named Augustus Demodion patented a cartridge that held small shot.

Modern shotguns are single barrels, double barrels or single barrels with automatic repeating magazines that hold several cartridges.

Sportsmen prefer shotguns for hunting flying and running game. The shot spreads out over a wide area, making it easier to hit a moving target with a shotgun than with a single bullet from a rifle or a pistol.

The size of a shotgun is measured by bore or gauge. Popular gauges are 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410.

The amount of spread in the shot is controlled by the choke. If a barrel will put 70 percent of its shot charge in a 30 inch circle at 40 yards, it is called full choke. Modified choke will deliver about 60 percent; improved cylinder about 50 percent.

A full choke 12 gauge gun will kill ducks that are about 65 yards away.