Shotgun Ammo and more Shotgun Ammo! ShotgunWorld.com is Your Best Source for Shotgun Info on shotgun ammo.

The Internet's #1 Shotgun Resource! Est. 1999

	Gun News		Shop		Classifieds		Links		Forums

Services

Companies

Products

Info/How To

Celebrity Talk

Company

State DNR Info:

Ammo Information

Please visit our sponsor

Shot Size Table*

LEAD SHOT

  Shot number        diameter (inches)          diameter (mm)   approx no. of 
                                                                 pellets in 1 oz.
_______________|_____________________|________________|_________________
               |                     |                |
 000 BUCK      |         .36         |      9.14      |        6.2
               |                     |                |
  00 BUCK      |         .33         |      8.38      |          8
               |                     |                |
   0 BUCK      |         .32         |      8.13      |          9
               |                     |                |
   1 BUCK      |         .30         |      7.62      |         11
               |                     |                |
   2 BUCK      |         .27         |      6.86      |         15
               |                     |                |
   3 BUCK      |         .25         |      6.35      |         19
               |                     |                |
   4 BUCK      |         .24         |      6.10      |         21 
               |                     |                |
     BB        |         .18         |      4.57      |         50
               |                     |                |
      2        |         .148        |      3.76      |         90
               |                     |                |
      4        |         .129        |      3.28      |        135
               |                     |                |
      5        |         .120        |      3.05      |        170
               |                     |                |
      6        |         .109        |      2.77      |        225
               |                     |                |
      7.5      |         .094        |      2.39      |        350
               |                     |                |
      8        |         .089        |      2.26      |        410
               |                     |                |
      8.5      |         .085        |      2.16      |        470
               |                     |                |
      9        |         .079        |      2.01      |        585
               |                     |                |
     12        |         .05         |      1.3       |       2300
_______________|_____________________|________________|_________________
 
 
  Shot number  |  diameter (inches)  |  diameter (mm) |  no. of pellets
               |                     |                |      in 1 oz.
_______________|_____________________|________________|_________________
               |                     |                |
      F        |         .22         |      5.59      |         40
               |                     |                |
      T        |         .20         |      5.08      |         53
               |                     |                |
     BBB       |         .19         |      4.83      |         61
               |                     |                |
      BB       |         .18         |      4.57      |         72
               |                     |                |
      1        |         .16         |      2.79      |        103
               |                     |                |
      2        |         .15         |      3.05      |        125
               |                     |                |
      3        |         .14         |      3.30      |        154
               |                     |                |
      4        |         .13         |      3.56      |        191
               |                     |                |
      5        |         .12         |      3.81      |        244
               |                     |                |
      6        |         .11         |      2.79      |        317
               |                     |                |
      7        |         .10         |      2.54      |        422
_______________|_____________________|________________|_________________
 
*source: Winchester Reloading Guide
        NRA Firearms Fact Book

Shot Size Graphic
shot_sizes.jpg (45304 bytes)

SIZE #

8-1/2

7-1/2

BBB

DIA. IN

.08

.085

.09

.095

.11

.12

.13

.14

.15

.16

.18

.19

.20

.24

.33

DIA. MM

2.03

2.16

2.29

2.41

2.79

3.05

3.30

3.56

3.81

4.06

4.57

4.83

5.08

6.10

8.38

Lead Pellets in Various Loads

Lead Pellets	9	8-1/2	8	7-1/2	6	5	4
1 oz.	585	480	409	345	232	172	136
1 1/8 oz.	658	540	460	388	251	194	153
1 1/4 oz.	731	600	511	431	276	215	170
1 3/8 oz.	804	660	562	474	307	237	187
1 3/4 oz.	-	-	-	-	395	304	239

DRAM Equivalents

Gauge	Shot Oz.	Velocity fps.	Drams Equivalent
10 - 3-1/2"	2	1210	4-1/4
10 - 3-1/2"	2-1/4	1210	4-1/2
12 - 2-3/4"	1	1180	2-3/4
12 - 2-3/4"	1	1290	3-1/4
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1145	2-3/4
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1200	3
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1255	3-1/4
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1300	3-1/2
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/4	1220	3-1/4
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/4	1330	3-3/4
12 - 2-3/4"	1-1/2	1260	3-3/4
12 - 3"	1-3/8	1295	3-3/4
12 - 3"	1-5/8	1280	4
12 - 3"	1-7/8	1210	4
16 - 2-3/4"	1	1165	2-1/2
16 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1185	2-3/4
16 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1240	3
16 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1295	3-1/4
16 - 2-3/4"	1-1/4	1260	3-1/4
20 - 2-3/4"	7/8	1210	2-1/2
20 - 2-3/4"	1	1165	2-1/2
20 - 2-3/4"	1	1220	2-3/4
20 - 2-3/4"	1-1/8	1175	2-3/4
20 - 3"	1-3/16	1195	3-1/2
20 - 3"	1-1/4	1185	3
28 - 2-3/4"	3/4	1200	2
28 - 2-3/4"	3/4	1295	2-1/4

Game	Suggested Shot Size	Suggested Chokes	What Experienced Shotgunners Say...
Ducks	BB, 1, 2, 3 *	Modified--for pass shooting Improved Cylinder--over decoys	Use BB shot for long range and pass shooting. For normal range--No. 1 or No. 2 shot while some hunters use No. 3 shot for closer range shooting over decoys.
Geese	T, BBB, BB, 1 *	Modified	Goose hunters need wallop so they use the big loads with large shot. Many hunters prefer No. 1 shot for a denser pattern at shorter ranges over decoys.
Pheasants	5, 6, 7½	Improved Cylinder--for close cover Modified or Full--for long cornfield shots	For cornfield shooting where long shots are usual - better use No. 5. On a normal rise over dogs and for all around use, No. 6 is the favorite.
Grouse or Partridge	5, 6, 7½, 8	Improved Cylinder or Modified--for brush work Full--for open ranges	On the smaller birds such as ruffed grouse or Hungarian Partridge, use the smaller shot. The big western grouse (sage, sooty, and blue) call for heavier loads and larger shot.
Quail	7½, 8, 9	Cylinder Improved Cylinder Modified	For early season shooting on bobwhites when feathers are light, some hunters use No. 9 shot. Later they switch to No. 7½ or 8. On the running or wild flushing type of quail, such as the Gambel's, large shot is sometimes used.
Doves and Pigeons	6, 7½, 8, 9	Modified Improved Cylinder	Use lighter loads and No. 7½ or No. 8 shot on mourning doves at normal ranges --for longer ranges use the heavy loads and No. 6 or No. 7½. Use the same load on band tailed pigeons and white wings.
Woodcock	7½, 8, 9	Improved Cylinder Modified	The choice of shot size here will depend on ranges at which the game is shot. For fast shooting in the alder thickets, No. 8 shot is a good choice.
Turkey	BB, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7½ *check local game laws	Full	Choice of shot size depends on the range. If you're a good caller, No. 6 or No. 7½ shots makes a clean kill. BBs, No. 2s, 4s, 5s, are best for long shots.
Trap	7½, 8	Full or Modified	In most cases, No. 7½ is used for trap. Check the Official Rulebook.
Skeet	8, 9	Skeet Choke Improved Cylinder	In most cases, No. 9 is used for skeet, check the Official Rulebook.
Sporting Clays	7½, 8, 9	Any choke (Depends on practice desired)	For targets at close range use a more open choke, at longer distances tighten the chokes.

*Source: Benelli Ammunition and Choke Suggestions

Common Chokes & Bores

Common Choke Restrictions	Shotgun bore diameters
.000 restriction - cylinder .005 restriction - skeet .010 restriction - improved cylinder .015 restriction - light modified .020 restriction - modified .025 restriction - improved modified .030 restriction - light full .035 restriction - full .040 restriction - extra full	10 gauge = .775 inches 12 gauge = .729 inches 16 gauge = .662 inches 20 gauge = .615 inches 28 gauge = .550 inches

Typical Shot Spread Per Choke

Choke	Yards
	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50
Full	10"	15"	20"	25"	30"	35"	40"	45"	50"
Mod.	15"	20"	25"	30"	35"	40"	45"	50"
I/C	20"	25"	30"	35"	40"	45"	50"
Cylinder	25"	30"	35"	40"	45"	50"

Archive:
What Shotgun to Use
High Brass, Low Brass, and Shell Length
Shot size table
B&P Sporting and Competion 2000