Shotgun Shell Types: Birdshot vs. Buckshot vs. Slugs
Understanding the difference between birdshot, buckshot, and slugs is the first step in becoming a Jedi Master of choosing the perfect shotshell for your next outing, whether that’s shooting skeet, hunting waterfowl, or dropping a big buck.
Birdshot
Birdshot sizes range from #12 (0.05”) to FF (0.23”) in diameter. Birdshot covers various shooting and hunting activities, including small game hunting (rabbit, squirrel, and fowl) and skeet shooting. The smaller pellets strike their target in thicker formation (compared to buckshot), which makes hitting small targets easier.
Buckshot
Buckshot sizes range from #4 (0.24”) to 0000 (0.38”) in diameter. It’s primarily used for medium game hunting and home defense. Larger buckshot packs more stopping power than birdshot, although far fewer pellets actually strike the target.
Slugs
Slugs are single shotshell projectiles (unlike birdshot and buckshot, which are numerous). Slugs perform more akin to rifle bullets, and are commonly used for medium and big game hunting, home defense, and law enforcement. Two main types of slug are available: rifled, and sabot. A rifled slug is designed for a smoothbore shotgun. A sabot slug is designed for a rifled bore shotgun.
Shotgun Shot Size Chart
Understanding shot size is critical to choosing the perfect shotshell. Shot size naming conventions can seem intuitive at first. You will likely find our shot size chart more helpful than the subsequent explanation.
A shot pellet’s size refers to its diameter. Each number corresponds to a different diameter. Counterintuitive though it may seem, larger numbers correspond to smaller shot sizes. For example, a #9 shot pellet is 0.08” in diameter; a #8 shot pellet, 0.09”.
Buckshot follows the same convention. The smallest buckshot pellet, #4 (0.24”), also has the highest number. Once it becomes smaller than 0.30 “, buckshot is named after one or more zeroes: 0 (0.32”), 00 (0.33”), 000 (0.36”) and 0000 (0.38”).
One or more of the same letter can also refer to a shot size. Steel B (0.17”), BB (0.18”) and BBB (0.19”) shot are all commonly used for waterfowl hunting. (T, TT, F and FF shot are all extremely rare. You may never encounter them).
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