What Caliber is 00 Buckshot?
The term "caliber" when referring to firearms usually describes the diameter of the bullet. However, 00 buckshot isn't a caliber in the traditional sense. It describes the size and number of lead pellets within a shotgun shell. Therefore, there's no single caliber answer. Instead, we need to understand what 00 buckshot is to clarify the situation.
Understanding Shotgun Shells and Buckshot
Shotgun shells fire numerous projectiles (pellets) simultaneously, unlike rifle or pistol cartridges which fire a single projectile. Buckshot is a type of shot consisting of larger lead (or sometimes other materials) pellets designed for close-range accuracy and stopping power.
The "00" designation refers to the size of the lead pellets. The numbers represent the pellet size, with "00" (double-ought) being one of the largest commonly available sizes. Each pellet in 00 buckshot is roughly .33 inches (8.4 mm) in diameter.
The Shotgun Gauge: The Real "Caliber" of Buckshot
The actual "caliber" or more accurately, gauge, of the shotgun shell dictates the diameter of the barrel. Common gauges include 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and 10 gauge, among others. A 12-gauge shotgun fires larger shells than a 20-gauge shotgun. The 00 buckshot pellets themselves remain the same size regardless of the gauge of the shotgun shell. You can find 00 buckshot in various shotgun gauges.
Think of it like this: the gauge is the size of the container (the shotgun shell), and the 00 buckshot is the size of the contents (the pellets inside).
Variations in Pellet Count
While the pellet size remains consistent for 00 buckshot, the number of pellets in a shell can vary depending on the manufacturer and the shell's overall length. A 12-gauge 00 buckshot shell might contain eight to nine pellets, while a 20-gauge shell might contain fewer.
In Summary: There's No Single Caliber
There is no single "caliber" for 00 buckshot. The size of the pellets is consistent (approximately .33 inches), but the size of the shell (gauge) and number of pellets vary. Therefore, specifying the gauge of the shotgun shell is crucial when discussing 00 buckshot.
