Forums / Gun Discussion / Shot sizes

No not tequila shots!!
Shot gun shells are commonly available in #9 shot to 00 Buckshot.

Disclaimer: at ranges under 20 feet, 1 full ounce , or more, of lead at +1000 fps does extreme damage to what it hits, no matter the diameter of the shot.

#9 is best suited for snakes, rats, nuisance birds and other vermin of small stature. (not skunks, we will cover them later). It is prevalent in clay shooting as well.

#8 works well for Mourning Dove as long as the range is minimal, lots of mortaly wounded birds fly out of sight. Lots of clay shooters want the added range #8 gives them for follow up shots.

#7 1/2 is the shot size of choice locally for all legal Dove species prior to a strong cold front. It hits hard enough for knock downs and clean kills without regular excessive meat destruction. It works well for Bobwhite Quail also, though I prefer a bit heavier.

#6 Gets the nod for Dove after the killing frost. Late season Dove from Northen Kansas and beyond are not low and slow. They are headed south in a hurry and usually at considerable altitude. #6 carries a lethal blow and spreads so misses are clean misses. If a bird is hit with #6 it falls.
#6 is also my top pick for quail. Quail are heavier feathered and considerably tougher than Dove, besides, they'll run farther than they'll fly.

#4 for Pheasant and like size birds. Again, upland birds are tough. Hit or miss, it's better than a festering wound and feeding the scavengers. #4 is the minimal choice for Turkey, best kept to close ranges, under 40 feet. ( OK, kill that skunk now.)

#2 is ideal for Turkey. It also begins our acceptable "dangerous game" shot size.
Dangerous being 2 legged or coyote, bobcat, etc..

Buckshot is kinda self explanitory. Knockdown power is the name of the game here.
00 is most common. 000 is actually the old .36 cal round ball stuffed in a shotshell.
Again range dictates efficiency with these loads.

I intentionally skipped BB size shot because I honestly never fired it or found the use for it. Maybe one of yall can expound upon the virtues.