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  4. Buckshot vs Birdshot: A Comprehensive Shotgun Ammo Comparison
Jul 31, 2025

Buckshot vs Birdshot: A Comprehensive Shotgun Ammo Comparison

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Audrey Mayes
Remington Shotshell being loaded into a shotgun

So, you’ve got yourself a shotgun and now you need to know what kind of shotshells you need to get the job done. You've come to the right place. In this article, we are breaking down the different use cases of buckshot and birdshot. We dive into the great debate of buckshot vs. birdshot and highlight what Remington loads you need to be reaching for to get any job done whether you’re hunting or defending your home.  

What is Buckshot? 

The term “buck” is used to describe male white-tailed, black-tailed, and mule deer. Designed to take down thin skinned big game animals, buckshot is primarily used in deer drives and other related applications. You will also see the word buckshot being used to describe the size of shot for home defense shotshells.  

Common sizes you will find in the buckshot category are: 

  • #4 (.24 in.) 
  • #3 (.25 in.) 
  • #2 (.27 in.) 
  • #1 (.30 in.) 
  • #0 (.32 in.) 
  • #00 (.33 in.) 
  • #000 (.36 in.) 

Just like with birdshot, when the number depicting the shot gets lower, the shot size gets larger. This means that #4 buckshot is smaller in diameter than #000 buckshot.  

When you are in the market for a shotgun that you want to use to protect your home or hunt big game with, more often than not you are going to reach for a 12-gauge. There are 20-gauge shotguns and shells out there that are designed for these use cases, but 12-gauge buckshot is more common.  

cutaway of a buckshot

What is Birdshot? 

When contemplating ‘buckshot vs. birdshot', the most notable difference is that birdshot is the smaller shot size of the two. Just like buckshot, birdshot’s name implies its use case; primarily used for small game, upland birds, and waterfowl. Modeled after wing-shooting and small game hunting, competitive shotgun sports like trap, skeet, and sporting clays also use birdshot. Small birds, game animals, and clays do not require a huge stopping force to be successful, but more shot on target lead to better results. This makes birdshot the clear choice in shot size for such practices.  

Common sizes you will find in the birdshot category are: 

  • #9 (.08 in.) 
  • #8 ½ (.085 in.) 
  • #8 (.09 in.) 
  • #7 ½ (.095 in.) 
  • #6 (.11 in.) 
  • #5 (.12 in.) 
  • #4 (.13 in.) 
  • #2 (.15 in.) 
  • BB (.18 in.) 

As you can see from the example above, as the number that indicates the shot size gets smaller, the shot diameter increases.  

Birdshot shotshells can be commonly found in several gauges; 12-gauge, and 20-gauge being the most common. Sub-gauges, however, are becoming increasingly popular with folks who use birdshot; 16-gauges, 28-gauges, 410-bore, and so on.  

Remington Gun Club shotshells in a hand

Pellet Size and Density: Buckshot vs Birdshot 

As a whole, buckshot pellets are larger than birdshot. Therefore, there are generally less pellets in a buckshot load than a birdshot round, making the pattern density higher. When looking at #4 buckshot, which is 0.24 in. In diameter, and comparing it to #4 birdshot, a mere 0.13 in. In diameter, it is easy to see that you can fit more of the smaller pellets into a shotshell casing of the same size.  

Think of it as throwing a handful of 30 rocks at a target versus just 10; you are more likely to hit the target at least once with the increased number of rocks. Now imagine if that target is a rabbit running serpentine through a field, would you rather throw the 30 rocks at it, or the 10? My money is on the 30. Considering this, why would we ever choose buckshot? Well, when hunting a big game animal do you want to hit it with a pebble or a baseball sized rock? The larger of the two is going to cause the most damage in a single hit, so when discussing big game takedowns, we want the most effective penetration.

3 Images of a gel block being shot by Express Buckshot

Comparing Ammo Shot Patterns and Spread 

When comparing the shot patterns of buckshot vs birdshot, it is important to think about what each is used for. Buckshot is designed to hit hard and penetrate through the skin and bones of a big game animal, and typically has a more concentrated point of impact. Whereas birdshot is designed to have a more widespread pattern of fast-moving shot to accommodate the quick motion of small animals. If a deer is moving Infront of you in a deer drive, then you need to penetration of buckshot and the tight grouping of shot to get the job done. On the other hand, if you are hunting teal or quail, quick moving birds, then the widespread fast pellets of birdshot are your ideal pick.  

Shotguns are considered a close-range firearm designed for contact with targets much closer than your average rifle hunting situation. When using buckshot, the general range for effectiveness is around 25-45 yards, whereas birdshot rounds can be practical out to 60 yards in some cases. These ranges, of course, can change based on your shotgun's barrel length and choke choice.  

Use Cases for Buckshot vs Birdshot

Hunting Applications

The choice between buckshot and birdshot becomes much easier when you know the end use. If that is a hunting application, you need to ask yourself – what am I trying to hunt? If the animal is classified as small game or a bird, then the answer is birdshot. Now, if the animal is classified as big game the answer would be buckshot. The reason for this choice would be penetration differences, effective range, and shot pattern. Buckshot penetrates deep but does not have a large shot pattern and is not suited for long ranges. Whereas bird shot travels quickly, has a large shot pattern, and is more effective at distance.  

male deer standing in the grass

Home Defense Applications 

When debating buckshot vs birdshot for home defense, penetration is king. There is such a thing as over penetration, where projectiles can travel through your intended target and possibly hit something behind it. Birdshot does not penetrate as deeply as buckshot, but it does have less power. If the goal is to stop an intruder in their tracks, the stopping power of buckshot is what you should reach for. Police and the armed forces tend to reach for buckshot as their go-to shotgun defense loads. All in all, whichever makes you the most comfortable when handling a firearm in a defense situation is round you should always load in your shotgun.  

person aiming shotgun with Remington shotshell attached to the shotgun

Conclusion 

To recap, if penetration is the name of the game, and you need hard-hitting, concentrated shot then buckshot is your choice of the litter. When you are in need of a widespread shot pattern and fast-moving pellets, birdshot needs to be in your shotshell. The end use of a shotgun load always needs to be taken into consideration when reaching for a box of shells. The easiest way to discern buckshot and birdshot is – buck equals large game, bird equals small game. Of course, there are use cases such as clay target shooting and self-defense, but we once again look at penetration, speed, and effective range. Buckshot penetrates deep at close range while birdshot is fast and wide-reaching but does not have the same knockdown power.  

To fully explore your options when hunting, clay-breaking, or protecting yourself, check out Remington’s selection of buckshot and birdshot rounds today.  

shot shotshell being ejected from a shotgun
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