Rifleman Q&A: 00 Buckshot In 20 Gauge?

by
posted on December 10, 2024
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
00 Buckshot In 20 Gauge
Photo by Forrest MacCormack. Ilustration by David Labrozzi.

Pellet Diameter chart graphic comparison buckshot sizesQ. I’ve been asking my local retailers for 20-ga. 00 buck shotshells. Their response is “good luck finding that.” Were these shells ever made available by any company?


A. Major shotshell manufacturers do not load 00 buckshot in 20 gauge for the simple reason that so few of the large pellets can be loaded into a 20-ga. hull. They do, however, offer 20-ga., 2 3/4" loads that contain enough No. 3 buckshot—20 pellets on average—to provide sufficient energy for lethal hits.

A 2 3/4" 12-ga. hull will hold only nine 00 pellets, which illustrates how few a 20-ga. shell of similar length would be able to hold.

Latest

Taurus TXM 01
Taurus TXM 01

TX Maxed: The Taurus TXM in 5.7x28 mm and .22 WMR

Using its TX series architecture yet again, Taurus is adding the 5.7x28 mm and .22 WMR to its chambering options with the new-for-2026 TXM.

Review: Federal's 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak Ammunition

Federal’s new 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak takes a long-range staple even farther.

New for 2026: Pulsar Thermion 3 Riflescope

Pulsar’s newest thermal scope offers longer range, sharper detail and expanded functionality.

AKs In The USA: The Current State of the American AK Platform

Despite it being the primary rifle of the enemy for most of its existence, American shooters have nonetheless warmed to the AK platform, creating an unlikely love story.

Demand for Guns, Ammo & Firearm Accessories Accelerates

October gun sales increased according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) estimate, but the quarterly reports from major manufacturers reflect purchases significantly higher.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 9, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.