Shotgun Ammo
Shot
Table | |
Shot Size Graphic |
Lead Pellet Count |
DRAM
Equiv. |
Common
Chokes |
Suggested Ammo
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
_______________|_____________________|________________|_________________
STEEL SHOT
Shot number Diameter (inches) Diameter (mm) Approx 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
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SIZE # |
9 |
8-1/2 |
8 |
7-1/2 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
BB |
BBB |
T |
#4 |
00 |
|
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" |
|
|
|
|
