Shotgun ammunition confuses more new shooters than any other kind, and for a good reason: a box tells you gauge, shell length, shot size, shot weight, and velocity, and every one of those numbers changes what the gun does. Get them wrong and you either cannot hit anything or you damage something you meant to eat.
Here is what each number means, and how to pick the right shell for what you are actually shooting.
Gauge
Gauge runs backwards from what you would expect: the smaller the number, the bigger the bore. A 12 gauge is larger than a 20, which is larger than a 28. The .410 is the odd one out — it is a caliber measurement, not a gauge.
- 12 gauge — the default. Widest shell selection by a wide margin, heaviest payloads, most recoil.
- 20 gauge — meaningfully lighter to carry and shoot, and far more capable than its reputation suggests. Often the better choice for upland hunting, smaller-framed shooters, and anyone developing a flinch.
- 28 gauge — light, pleasant, and a favorite of experienced bird hunters. Ammunition costs more and choices are fewer.
- .410 — the lightest recoiling and the hardest to shoot well, because the pattern is small. A poor first shotgun for a new shooter despite the common advice.
Never put a shell of one gauge into a gun of another. A 20 gauge shell dropped into a 12 gauge lodges in the barrel and the next 12 gauge round fired behind it will destroy the gun and likely the shooter. This is why 20 gauge shells are yellow, by industry convention.
Shell length
Printed on the box and stamped on the barrel: commonly 2¾”, 3″, and 3½” in 12 gauge. The rule is simple and absolute:
A chamber will fire anything shorter than its rating, and nothing longer. A 3½” gun happily shoots 2¾” shells. A 2¾” gun must never be fed a 3″ shell. Check the barrel stamp if you are unsure.
Longer shells carry more payload and produce more recoil. Most hunting is well served by 3″, and most target shooting by 2¾”.
Shot size
Also backwards: bigger number means smaller pellets. A #8 shot is small; BB is large. Small pellets mean more of them, denser patterns, and less energy each. Large pellets mean fewer, more energy, and more room for a bird to slip through the pattern.
| Quarry | Typical shot size |
|---|---|
| Clays, dove, quail | #7½ to #9 |
| Pheasant, rabbit | #4 to #6 |
| Duck | #2 to #4 (non-toxic) |
| Goose | BBB to #1 (non-toxic) |
| Turkey | #4 to #6, dense turkey loads |
| Deer (where legal) | Slug or buckshot |
| Home defense | Buckshot, commonly #00 |
Use this as a starting point, then pattern your gun — see below.
Shot material, and why waterfowl is different
Lead is denser, cheaper, patterns beautifully, and is what most upland and target loads use. Steel is lighter and harder, loses velocity faster, and does not deform — so it patterns tighter and needs a more open choke than lead. Tungsten and bismuth blends recover much of lead’s density at higher cost.
Non-toxic shot is legally required for waterfowl, and requirements can extend to other species and to specific public land. Because steel patterns tighter and hits softer, the common adjustment is to step up one or two shot sizes from what you would use in lead and open the choke.
Rules vary by state and by property. Check current regulations for where you hunt before you buy a case of anything.
Payload and velocity
Payload is the weight of shot, usually in ounces. More shot means a denser pattern and more recoil. Velocity is measured in feet per second; faster shells shorten lead on crossing birds slightly but add recoil and can open patterns.
Chasing maximum payload and maximum velocity at once is how people end up shooting badly. A moderate load you can shoot comfortably for a full day will kill more birds than a magnum load that makes you flinch by round twenty.
Chokes tie it all together
The choke is the constriction at the muzzle, and it controls how quickly your pattern opens. From most open to tightest: cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, full.
- Close, fast targets (quail, clays on a skeet field) — open chokes
- Medium range (dove, pheasant, sporting clays) — improved cylinder to modified
- Long range (pass shooting, turkey) — tighter chokes
Important: steel shot needs a more open choke than lead. Some older barrels and fixed full chokes are not rated for steel at all — check before you fire it.
Pattern your shotgun
This is the single most useful thing in this article and almost nobody does it. Put a large sheet of paper up at the distance you actually shoot, fire one shot at a marked aiming point with your intended shell and choke, and look at the result.
You are checking two things: whether the pattern is centered where you aimed, and whether it is dense enough with no gaps a bird could fly through. Guns shoot to different points of impact, and two shells of identical specification can pattern very differently in the same barrel. Ten minutes with targets will tell you more than any chart.
Common questions
Can I shoot steel through any shotgun?
No. Many older barrels and some fixed chokes are not rated for it. Check the manufacturer’s guidance for your specific gun and choke before firing steel.
What shell for home defense?
Buckshot is the common choice, and patterning it at the actual distances inside your home matters more than the specific load. Be aware that shot penetrates interior walls. Understand what is beyond your target.
Why does my semi-auto not cycle light target loads?
Inertia-operated guns need a minimum amount of energy to run the action. Very light loads sometimes fall below it. Gas guns are generally more tolerant — we cover the difference in our semi-auto shotgun comparison.
Do shotgun shells expire?
Not on any practical timescale if kept cool and dry. Heat, humidity, and temperature swings are what degrade ammunition — relevant to anyone storing shells in a garage, a shed, or an outbuilding that is not climate controlled.
Where to start
Pick your gauge, match the shell length to your chamber, choose shot size for your quarry, use non-toxic where the law requires it, and then pattern the combination before you hunt with it.
Browse shotgun shells, chokes, or the full shotgun catalog if you are still choosing the gun. Shells and chokes ship straight to your door.