Field Guide / Shot Sizes & Chokes
00 Buckshot
Also called: double-aught buck, 00 buck, double-ought
A large pellet load, with about nine big balls in a typical 12-gauge shell, used for deer and hogs at close range where buckshot is legal.
- Type
- Slugs & Buckshot
- Pellet diameter
- About 0.33 inch (8.4 mm)
- Pellets per shell
- About 9 in a 2¾-inch 12-gauge shell; more in magnum loads
- Typical range
- Up to about 25 to 40 yards
- Used for
- Deer & hogs
Safety: Many states limit or ban buckshot for deer, and some require slugs only. Check your state's current regulations before you buy.
What it is good for
- Deer and hogs at short range, in areas where buckshot is legal.
- Thick cover where shots are close.
- Hunters who want a fast, flexible shotgun load.
Where it falls short
- Patterns open up quickly, so range is short.
- Not allowed for deer in some states or areas.
- A poor choice for birds, and heavy recoil.
Tips
- Pattern your gun, since buckshot patterns vary a lot between guns and chokes.
- Keep shots close and within the range where the pattern is tight.
Works well with
- Rifled Slug: one projectile instead of nine, for longer shots.
- Cylinder Choke: the open choke usually used with buckshot.
Field notes
Double-ought buckshot is about a third of an inch across, which makes each pellet a little smaller than a .32-caliber ball. It is a close-range load and needs a gun and choke that pattern it well.
Related guides
Pellet counts, patterns, and ranges are typical figures, not guarantees. Pattern your own shotgun with your own loads at the distances you hunt, and follow the shotgun manual for which shells and chokes are safe. Nonlead shot rules and legal shot types differ by state and area; our state resources directory links to each state's official regulations.