Field Guide / Shot Sizes & Chokes
#9 Shot
Also called: number 9, No. 9
The smallest common shotgun pellet, used in light target loads where a dense pattern matters more than punch.
- Type
- Shot Sizes
- Pellet diameter
- About 0.08 inch (2.0 mm)
- Pellets per ounce (lead)
- About 585
- Typical range
- Close shots, up to about 25 yards
- Used for
- Clays, Small game
What it is good for
- Light skeet and low-recoil target loads.
- Very close shots at small birds, where available and legal.
- Patterns that put many pellets on a small target.
Where it falls short
- Small pellets lose energy quickly, so they are not suited to game birds at normal distances.
- Not a good choice for pheasants, ducks, or turkeys.
- A tight pattern at close range can damage small game.
Tips
- Match shot size to the game and the distance, not to the box on the shelf.
- Pattern your gun to see how many pellets land in the target area.
Works well with
- #8 Shot: slightly larger, a standard target and dove size.
- Cylinder Choke: an open choke for close targets.
Field notes
Number 9 shot is mostly a target size. Its tiny pellets give very dense patterns close in, which is what skeet shooters want.
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.