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Buckshot Shotgun Shells | Buck Shot Ammo from Top Brands like Winchester, Federal, Hornady, & More! 231 products / 285 models

Buckshot is the undisputed king of shotgun shells for stopping power. It's not the best Shotgun Ammo for bird hunting or shooting clays, but if you're hunting deer, it's the top choice. Originally designed for deer hunting and other big game back in the days of muzzleloaders and blackpowder scatterguns, it still definitely has its place hunting big animals at shorter ranges, usually no more than about 30-40 feet, depending on the choke of the shotgun you're using. Many hunters also find buck shot is great ammo for predators like coyotes, as it packs enough stopping power to put them down quickly and humanely. It's too big for the sorts of small game and upland game that shotgun ammo is usually used for, though. You can find buckshot in all gauges, but the most popular are 20-gauge ammo and 12-gauge ammo.image

Police and militaries most often have shotguns on hand, and use 12 gauge buckshot instead of smaller 20 gauge buckshot. This is because 12 gauge buckshot is more powerful and holds more pellets, so the spread is larger. As a result, 12-gauge has become the standard shot shell for police and militaries around the world, and can use everything from buckshot and slugs to less-lethal rounds like beanbag shells. With buck shot, like all other shotgun ammo, the lower the numbers go, the bigger the pellets are. For instance, #4 buckshot has the highest number (4) in the name, so it has the smallest pellets before it's no longer considered buckshot and becomes large birdshot. Since buckshot loads are also very popular for home defense, you can choose just about any size and it will be effective in the close quarters of a normal home. However, a lot of people go with the smaller shot like #1, #2, #3, or #4 to reduce the chance of overpenetration or stray shot going through walls and hitting an unintended target in the next room.

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If you'd like to learn more about buckshot and shotshells, or any other firearm and outdoor-releated subjects, visit our How-To Guides and Articles. When you Shop at OpticsPlanet.com, you get the backing of many experts in a wide variety of fields. If you ever have a question or concern, please feel free to reach out and contact us. Click here for answers to Ammo Buying Frequently Asked Questions, and for more information about the ammo industry, check out our State of the Ammunition Industry page.

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