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12 Gauge Buckshot Guide: 00 Buck vs #1 Buck and Patterning

This 12 gauge buckshot guide explains buckshot sizes, how 00 buck compares with #1 buck, what shell length means, and how to pattern your own shotgun. It also lists the three buckshot loads we keep at our Phoenix warehouse, each by the 25-round box or the 250-round case. Live counts and a 360-degree spin of the real box are on every product page.

What buckshot is

A shotshell holds many round pellets instead of one bullet. Small pellets are birdshot, used for clay targets and birds. Large pellets are buckshot, used for home defense, law enforcement and some hunting. Buckshot sizes run from #4 buck, the smallest, up through #1, 0 and 00 ("double aught"), to 000. Bigger pellets mean fewer of them in a shell, but each carries more energy.

  • 00 buck: pellets about .33 inch in diameter, usually 8 or 9 per 2-3/4 inch shell. It is the most common defensive and duty buckshot.
  • #1 buck: pellets about .30 inch in diameter, smaller than 00, packed in greater numbers.

Shell length and chamber

Shell length is measured after firing, when the crimp has opened, so a 2-3/4 inch shell looks shorter in the box. A shotgun chambered for 3 inch shells can fire 2-3/4 inch shells, but never put a longer shell in a shorter chamber. The chamber length is stamped on the barrel. All the buckshot we currently stock is 2-3/4 inch, the most common length and the one nearly every 12 gauge accepts.

The buckshot we stock

Birdshot and target loads come back into stock at times. Check 12 gauge and shotgun ammo for what is listed today.

Pattern your shotgun before you trust a load

Every shotgun and load combination patterns differently. The same shell can stay in a fist-sized group from one gun and open wide from another. Patterning tells you where your pellets actually go.

  • Use large paper or cardboard with an aiming mark. Shoot one round at each of 7, 10 and 15 yards, the distances inside a house, and add 20 or 25 yards if you want to know your limit.
  • Measure the spread and count the pellets on paper. Note any flyers that land far outside the main group.
  • Repeat with a second load. If one stays noticeably tighter, that is the one for your gun.
  • Write down your gun, choke, load and spread, and re-check if you change any of them.

Buying a case makes this practical. You can pattern, practice and keep a supply from one lot.

Recoil and practice

Full-power buckshot recoils hard. If you are new to the shotgun, practice your mount and follow-up shots with a few boxes before relying on it. A good fit (length of pull) and a firm mount into the shoulder pocket do more for felt recoil than anything else.

Buying, shipping and pickup

Shotshells are bulky and heavy, and shipping is charged by weight. Orders ship UPS Ground from Phoenix. See where we ship. You must be 21 or older to order any ammunition from us. In the Phoenix area, call 480-623-4515 and pick up Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with ID.

Buckshot questions

Is 00 buck or #1 buck better for home defense?

Both are common choices, and the deciding factor is how each patterns in your shotgun. 00 buck uses fewer, larger pellets. #1 buck uses more, smaller pellets. Pattern both at the distances inside your home, think about what is behind your likely target, and choose the load that stays tightest in your gun.

Can I shoot 2-3/4 inch shells in a 3 inch shotgun?

Yes. A 3 inch chamber accepts 2-3/4 inch shells, and most pump and semi-auto shotguns cycle them normally. Never fire a shell longer than the chamber marking on your barrel.

How far does buckshot spread?

It depends on your barrel, choke and load. As a rough rule, a cylinder-bore shotgun with standard buckshot may spread around an inch per yard, but tight-patterning loads can do much better. Only patterning your own gun gives you a real answer.

Can I use buckshot for deer in Arizona?

Hunting rules on legal methods vary by species and hunt, so check current Arizona Game and Fish Department regulations for your hunt before choosing buckshot.

More answers in our ammo FAQ, including how long ammo lasts in storage.

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