Winchester Military Grade 12 Gauge Ammo 2-3/4″ #00 Buckshot 9 Pellets Ammo Can of 160

Last reviewed: 2026-04-19 by Jake Terry, FFL07/SOT3, NRA-certified firearms instructor.

Winchester 12 Gauge 00 Buckshot in the Military Grade configuration ships as a production overrun — O.D. green high-base hulls, black anodized heads, and nine .33-caliber lead pellets per shell. A defensive shotshell load is a pattern of projectiles launched simultaneously, each pellet carrying energy sufficient to penetrate barriers and stop threats at indoor distances. This load exits the muzzle at 1325 feet per second, and Grex buffering between pellets reduces deformation during setback, holding tighter groups past 15 yards. For home defense drills, force-on-force training, or stockpiling against supply chain disruptions, 160 rounds in a steel ammo can provide a grab-and-go logistics solution. Winchester produces this ammunition in the United States under military-specification contracts, and surplus quantities appear intermittently on the commercial market.

Performance at a Glance

The 2¾-inch hull seats nine pellets of #00 buckshot — each .33 inches in diameter, each weighing approximately 54 grains. At 1325 fps, total payload energy approaches 1,800 foot-pounds at the muzzle, distributed across the pellet spread. Grex buffering is a granulated polyethylene compound that fills voids between pellets during crimping; under ignition pressure, the buffer prevents pellet-to-pellet contact and barrel-wall scrubbing, preserving spherical geometry. The result: tighter patterns at extended range. The Boxer primer and reloadable brass head allow component recovery after firing, though most defensive shooters prioritize function over economy and treat buckshot as single-use.

This load ships in a steel ammo can with hinged lid and rubber gasket — O.D. green paint, military-stencil labeling. The can weighs 22.7 pounds loaded, stores flat in a safe or vehicle trunk, and survives moisture exposure without degrading the ammunition inside. After you exhaust the 160 rounds, the can accepts reloads, loose brass, cleaning supplies, or field gear. For shooters stocking 12 Gauge buckshot ammo, the can format eliminates cardboard waste and provides a transport solution that meets range requirements for bulk ammunition.

Who It’s For

Home defense planners running drills with family members benefit from buying in bulk — 160 rounds allow repeated patterning sessions at 7, 10, and 15 yards to map how your specific barrel and choke combination prints this load. Competitive 3-gun shooters burning through buckshot stages will appreciate the cost-per-round savings versus retail boxes. Rural property owners managing feral hog populations use 00 buck for close-range shots in thick brush, where rifle rounds risk overpenetration and pellet spread compensates for rapid target movement. Law enforcement agencies buying overrun lots for training exercises find the ammo-can packaging simpler to inventory than mixed-case shipments.

At the Range

Expect moderate recoil — approximately 32 foot-pounds of free recoil energy in a 7.5-pound pump shotgun. The high-base hull and magnum primer generate chamber pressure sufficient to cycle semi-automatic actions reliably, including gas-operated shotguns that struggle with low-brass target loads. Pattern this load through your choke before committing to it for defensive use; cylinder bore and improved cylinder chokes typically print 6- to 9-inch spreads at 10 yards with buffered 00 buck, while modified chokes tighten groups to 4–6 inches at the same distance. Store ammunition in the sealed can in a climate-controlled space — lead pellets oxidize over decades, but non-corrosive primers and sealed crimps extend shelf life beyond 20 years when protected from humidity swings.