#10 shot was THE favored shot size for rail, and a lot of the clubs in South Jersey had them loaded in 100-case lots of 20 boxes ea. during the summer for use on the traditional Sept. 1 opener.
A lot of #10 and #11 were actually used inside barns to shoot pigeons who routinely fouled the hay maws with their droppings. From the barn floor shooting 3 stories up, it would kill the pigeon but not blow a hole in the tin roof. I guess a box of shells was cheaper than a good 1,000 sq. ft. canvas tarp, and definitely cheaper than a reroofing job.
I have always heard #12 shot referred to as "rat shot" but have seen at least a couple of boxes marked "Dust load" at a specialty cartridge show (also saw there the only known at the time full box of Robin Hood .22 Short ammunition - asking price $1200. The cartridge gurus were studying it like a huddle of Bhuddist monks over a prayer wheel. It was gone in half an hour after the dealer put it on the table.
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