The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Do the colors of shotgun shells refer to specific kinds of shot content?

HunterTRW · September 6, 2005, 02:54 PM

Blackmind:

The number designation for standard shot is inversely proportional to its size. For example, size nine shot (.08 inches in diameter) is smaller than size one shot (.16 inches in diameter).

Per the Winchester Shotshell Guide, the specifications break out as follows (listed in order as standard shot size, diameter in inches, and number of pellets/oz. in lead "L" or steel "S"):

9, .08. 585L
8, .09, 410L
7.5, .095, 350L
7, .10, 420S
6, .11, 225L, 316S
5, .12, 170L, 243S
4, .13, 135L, 191S
3, .14, 153S
2, .15, 87L, 125S
1, .16, 103S
BB, .18, 50L, 72S
BBB, .19, 61S
T, .20, 53S

The same is true for buckshot: the smaller the number, the larger the pellet.
Again, per the Winchester Shotshell Guide, the specifications break out as follows (listed in order as buckshot size, diameter in inches, and number of pellets/typical load):

4, .24, with 27, 34, or 41 pellets/load*
3, .25, with 20 or 24 pellets/load*
1, .30, with 12, 16, 20, or 24 pellets/load*
0, .32, with 12 pellets/load*
00, .33, with 9, 12, 15, or 18 pellets/load*
000, .36, with 8 or 12 pellets/load*

*Depending upon gauge and load configuration.

Hope this helps.

Good luck, and good shooting!

September 6, 2005, 02:54 PM	#7
HunterTRW Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2004 Location: The Lower Forty of Hill Country Posts: 177	Blackmind: The number designation for standard shot is inversely proportional to its size. For example, size nine shot (.08 inches in diameter) is smaller than size one shot (.16 inches in diameter). Per the Winchester Shotshell Guide, the specifications break out as follows (listed in order as standard shot size, diameter in inches, and number of pellets/oz. in lead "L" or steel "S"): 9, .08. 585L 8, .09, 410L 7.5, .095, 350L 7, .10, 420S 6, .11, 225L, 316S 5, .12, 170L, 243S 4, .13, 135L, 191S 3, .14, 153S 2, .15, 87L, 125S 1, .16, 103S BB, .18, 50L, 72S BBB, .19, 61S T, .20, 53S The same is true for buckshot: the smaller the number, the larger the pellet. Again, per the Winchester Shotshell Guide, the specifications break out as follows (listed in order as buckshot size, diameter in inches, and number of pellets/typical load): 4, .24, with 27, 34, or 41 pellets/load* 3, .25, with 20 or 24 pellets/load* 1, .30, with 12, 16, 20, or 24 pellets/load* 0, .32, with 12 pellets/load* 00, .33, with 9, 12, 15, or 18 pellets/load* 000, .36, with 8 or 12 pellets/load* Depending upon gauge and load configuration. Hope this helps. Good luck, and good shooting! __________________ "If we're all thinking alike, somebody isn't thinking."* General George S. Patton, Jr.