Winchester Ammunition has introduced AutoBuck, a new 12-gauge buckshot ammunition built from the ground up to run reliably in semi-automatic shotguns. The load is positioned as a versatile option covering hunting, personal defense, and target shooting from a single SKU. The engineering focus here was reliability in gas-operated and inertia-driven semi-autos, platforms that can be more finicky with buckshot loads than pump or break-action designs. AutoBuck departs from the conventional #00 buckshot standard in favor of #1 buck. According to Winchester, the slightly smaller pellet diameter allows for 12 pellets per shell rather than the typical nine-pellet #00 count, improving hit probability downrange while still delivering adequate pellet energy and penetration. The company says #1 buck can offer superior performance over #00 in many real-world applications, a claim that runs against common assumptions driven largely by #00's historical availability and familiarity.Do you think the extra pellets count justifies moving away from the #00 standard? At least the “12” in 12 gauge starts to make some sense, don’t you think? "Our engineering team went to the drawing board to develop a reliable buckshot load that fits multiple end uses and provides great value," said Kyle Masinelli, Sr. Director Product Innovation & Strategy for Winchester. "The result is AutoBuck. Whether you're a competition shooter, hunter, or looking for a personal defense load, AutoBuck is an ideal choice." AutoBuck ships in a 2 3/4-inch shell at 1,325 fps muzzle velocity with a one-ounce payload. Boxes contain five rounds. The load is available now at retailers nationwide.Specs:Gauge: 12 gaugeShell length: 2 3/4"Shot size: #1 buckShot weight: 1 ozPellet count: 12Muzzle velocity: 1,325 fpsRounds per box: 5Symbol: USAB121There is more information available by clicking here: https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Shotshell/AUTOBUCK Do you run a semi-automatic shotgun as your go-to defensive or hunting platform, and has buckshot reliability ever been a problem for you? Personally, I never had issues with cycling, but the pattern on the target with various chokes (particularly with tight no-shoots in competition), which seems to be a subject for a Doctor’s grade to comprehend.