Guide

20 Gauge Ammo 2026: Buckshot and Slug Loads From the Makers

By Cole Harlan, EditorUpdated Nov 4, 2026How we verifyEditorial standards

We checked 24 current 20 gauge buckshot and slug loads on Federal's, Remington's and Hornady's own product pages on November 4, 2026: 14 from Federal, 8 from Remington and 2 from Hornady. 8 are buckshot and 16 are slugs. The shell lengths, payloads, velocities, test barrels and statuses below are copied from the maker pages. We don't use retailer prices, patterning tests or third-party ballistics. The Cartridge column shows the name the maker page uses. This is a comparison of popular loads from 3 makers, not every 20 gauge load sold.

Scope: this guide covers only defense and hunting buckshot and slug loads for which the maker page lists a velocity. It does not cover birdshot, steel or waterfowl loads, turkey loads, target or clay loads, or other gauges. Grouping follows each maker's own usage label ("Self-Defense" and "Big Game"). Hornady prints no usage label or stock status on our capture, so its loads sit in their own table.

Self-defense buckshot

These are the loads Federal and Remington label Self-Defense on their own pages. Pellet counts are the "Payload Pellets" figure on each page.

Download these 24 loads as a CSV: maker, load, item number, bullet, muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, test barrel, box count, maker status and the maker URL for each row. No prices. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0; more files on our open data page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Shell length	Buck size	Pellets	Muzzle velocity	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Personal Defense Shotshell with FLITECONTROL Wad	20 Gauge	PD204 2B	2-3/4in	2 Buck	10	1,325 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Remington Ultimate Defense Shotshell	20 Gauge	20681	2-3/4in	3 Buck	17	1,140 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Currently Unavailable

Hunting buckshot

These are the buckshot loads Federal and Remington label Big Game. Pellet counts are the "Payload Pellets" figure on each page.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Shell length	Buck size	Pellets	Muzzle velocity	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Buckshot	20 Gauge	P256 3B	2-3/4in	3 Buck	20	1,175 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Buckshot	20 Gauge	P258 2B	3in	2 Buck	18	1,100 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Power-Shok Buckshot	20 Gauge	F203 3B	2-3/4in	3 Buck	20	1,200 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Power-Shok Buckshot	20 Gauge	F207 2B	3in	2 Buck	18	1,100 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Remington Express Buckshot	20 Gauge	20630	2-3/4in	3 Buck	20	1,220 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Currently Unavailable
Remington Express Buckshot	20 Gauge	26877	2-3/4in	3 Buck	20	1,220 fps	Not listed on maker page	15	Currently Unavailable

Slug loads

These are the slug loads Federal and Remington label Big Game: rifled slugs, sabot slugs and copper sabot slugs. Slug weight is the "Grain Weight" on each page, with the "Shot Weight" in ounces where the page gives one. Whether a slug is made for a rifled or a smoothbore barrel is on the maker's page, so check it against your barrel before you buy.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Shell length	Slug weight	Muzzle velocity	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Federal Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	P208 FT	2-3/4in	275 gr, 5/8 oz	1,700 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	P209 FT	3in	275 gr, 5/8 oz	1,900 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Power-Shok Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	F203 RS	2-3/4in	328 gr, 3/4 oz	1,600 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Power-Shok Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	F203 SS2	2-3/4in	328 gr, 7/8 oz	1,450 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal Trophy Copper Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	P208 TC	2-3/4in	275 gr, 5/8 oz	1,700 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Discontinued
Federal Trophy Copper Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	P209 TC	3in	275 gr, 5/8 oz	1,900 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Discontinued
Federal TruBall Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	PB203 RS	2-3/4in	328 gr, 3/4 oz	1,600 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal TruBall Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	PB209 RS	3in	328 gr, 3/4 oz	1,700 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Federal TruBall Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	PB209F RS	3in	328 gr, 3/4 oz	1,700 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Currently Unavailable
Remington Premier AccuTip Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	20496	2-3/4in	260 gr, 3/5 oz	1,850 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Remington Premier AccuTip Sabot Slug	20 Gauge	20498	3in	260 gr, 3/5 oz	1,900 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Remington Slugger High Velocity Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	R28608	2-3/4in	219 gr, 1/2 oz	1,800 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Remington Slugger Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	20616	2-3/4in	383 gr, 5/8 oz	1,580 fps	Not listed on maker page	5	Available
Remington Slugger Rifled Slug	20 Gauge	26882	2-3/4in	383 gr, 7/8 oz	1,580 fps	Not listed on maker page	15	Available

Hornady loads

Hornady's pages show no usage label, shell length or stock status on our capture, so these loads are listed by product line. The velocities are the muzzle figures from each page's ballistics table, shot in the 24 in test barrel the table names. Hornady says on both pages that these slugs are for rifled barrels.

Load	Cartridge	Item #	Shell length	Slug weight	Muzzle velocity	Test barrel	Box	Maker status (Nov. 4)
Hornady Custom Lite	20 GA	86233	Not listed on maker page	250 gr	1,600 fps	24 in	5	Not listed on maker page
Hornady SST	20 GA	86232	Not listed on maker page	250 gr	1,800 fps	24 in	5	Not listed on maker page

Muzzle velocity is the figure each maker page prints. "Buck size" is the shot size on the page, such as 00 Buck. "Box" is the round count the maker lists per box. Status is the maker's own wording on its product page, and it can change daily. All pages checked November 4, 2026.

Barrel length, choke and the test barrel

A shotshell's velocity depends on the barrel and, for shot, the choke it was measured with. Of the 24 loads, 22 list no test barrel on the maker page and 2 list a 24 in barrel (Hornady's slugs). SAAMI's standard 20 gauge test barrels are 26 in long for 2-3/4 in smooth bore and rifled, and for 3 in rifled, and 30 in long for 3 in smooth bore, with velocity measured 3 ft from the muzzle. SAAMI says its velocity and pressure test barrels for lead shot should have a choke constriction of .031 in (plus or minus .005 in). Its table for rifled slug loads, which it describes as made for smooth-bore firearms, uses that same choke, and its table for saboted slug loads says they are fired in rifled standard test barrels. So a maker figure from a different barrel, or a shorter barrel than the one the maker used, can differ from the box. We don't convert or adjust any figure.

We have no 20 gauge barrel-length page. Our barrel length vs velocity data covers rifle, pistol and revolver cartridges, and we did not find verifiable per-barrel shotgun cut-down data for 20 gauge, so we do not show any. For shotshell velocity and test-barrel notes on another gauge, see the 12 gauge ammo guide.

20 gauge: what SAAMI lists

SAAMI's shotshell standard is ANSI/SAAMI Z299.2, titled "Voluntary Industry Performance Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Shotshell Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers." The PDF on saami.org is the 2015 edition reaffirmed in 2019 (file name dated 2025-09-23). SAAMI measures shotshell pressure with a piezoelectric transducer system and gives pressure as maximum average pressure (MAP) in psi. For 20 gauge it lists a MAP of 12,000 psi (the table shows 120 in psi/100) for lead buckshot loads in 2-3/4 in and 3 in shells, and for saboted slug loads in 2-3/4 in and 3 in shells. For rifled slug loads in 2-3/4 in shells it also lists 12,000 psi. SAAMI's buckshot velocity table lists 20 pellets of 3 buck at 1,200 fps in a 2-3/4 in shell and 18 pellets of 2 buck at 1,200 fps in a 3 in shell, measured 3 ft from the muzzle. The 20 gauge 2-3/4 in cartridge drawing was issued 05/29/1979 and revised 12/24/2018. SAAMI's standard 20 gauge test barrels are 26 in for 2-3/4 in smooth bore and rifled, 30 in for 3 in smooth bore, and 26 in for 3 in rifled. Read the standard at the SAAMI Z299.2 PDF.

Not yet verified

These makers and loads are not in the tables.

Winchester: we opened 9 Winchester product pages (shotshell, handgun and rimfire) on Nov. 4 and every one said "There is no ballistics data available at this time," so we have no Winchester figures to copy.
SIG Sauer: the maker's site returned an access error (403) to our automated check, and we could not verify its product pages.
Other makers: we did not check Fiocchi, Sellier & Bellot, Brenneke, Rio, Aguila, Challenger or other slug and buckshot makers this round, so none are in the tables.
Out of scope: Federal and Remington 20 gauge birdshot, upland, dove, steel, waterfowl and turkey loads (for example Remington Wingmaster HD and Nitro Turkey) carry Upland, Small Game, Waterfowl or Turkey labels, not defense or hunting buckshot or slug labels, so they are not in the tables. All other gauges are also outside this guide.
Test barrels and stock status: Federal's and Remington's shotshell pages list no test barrel, and Hornady's pages list no stock status.

2 loads in the tables carry a "Discontinued" badge on the maker page as of Nov. 4, 2026: Federal Trophy Copper Sabot Slug P208 TC, Federal Trophy Copper Sabot Slug P209 TC. We list them because the maker page still shows them.

Shotguns for 20 gauge slugs and buckshot

Check your shotgun maker's manual for the shell length and ammunition it is rated for, and for whether it can shoot slugs through its barrel and choke. Several of the sabot slugs above are made for rifled barrels, and the maker pages say so. See new shotgun releases.

Where to buy

We link only to maker pages, listed in the sources below. Federal and Remington show availability on their own product pages (for example "Available" or "Currently Unavailable"). Hornady's pages show none on our capture. We don't track retailer stock or prices. Before you order, check your state's ammunition rules, because some states require a background check or restrict shipping.

For more ammo, see the 12 gauge ammo guide, .410 bore ammo, new ammo for 2026, 9mm ammo and all ammo releases.

Compare: 12 gauge vs 20 gauge.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SAAMI maximum pressure for 20 gauge buckshot and slugs?

SAAMI lists a maximum average pressure of 12,000 psi (120 in psi/100) for 20 gauge lead buckshot and saboted slug loads in 2-3/4 in and 3 in shells, and for rifled slug loads in 2-3/4 in shells, measured by transducer, in ANSI/SAAMI Z299.2.

How many pellets are in 20 gauge buckshot?

In our tables the maker pages list 10, 17, 18 or 20 pellets, depending on buck size and shell length. SAAMI lists 20 pellets of 3 buck in a 2-3/4 in shell and 18 pellets of 2 buck in a 3 in shell. Check the pellet count on the box or the maker page.

What test barrel do 20 gauge shotshell velocities use?

SAAMI's standard 20 gauge test barrels are 26 in for 2-3/4 in smooth bore and rifled and for 3 in rifled, and 30 in for 3 in smooth bore, with velocity measured 3 ft from the muzzle. Federal's and Remington's pages list no test barrel, and Hornady lists 24 in for its slugs.

How fast is 20 gauge buckshot and slug ammo?

In our tables, listed muzzle velocities run from 1,100 fps to 1,900 fps across buckshot, defense shot and slugs. Test barrels are mostly not listed. See the barrel section of this guide.

Do you list prices or stock for 20 gauge ammo?

No. We link only to maker pages. Where a maker page shows a status, such as "Available" or "Currently Unavailable," we copy it as of Nov. 4, 2026. Hornady's pages show none.

Sources

Keep exploring

Cite this data

Suggested citation:

GunReleases.com (The Release Desk), “20 gauge factory ammo ballistics: loads from maker pages,” updated Nov 4, 2026. https://gunreleases.com/guides/20-gauge-ammo/

Embed or link this data (copy the HTML below; no script or iframe needed):

<a href="https://gunreleases.com/guides/20-gauge-ammo/">20 gauge factory ammo ballistics: loads from maker pages</a> — data by <a href="https://gunreleases.com/">GunReleases.com</a>, updated Nov 4, 2026, licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY 4.0</a>

License: our compiled tables and CSV file are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0): share and adapt them, including commercially, if you credit GunReleases.com, link to this page and note any changes. Download the CSV. The underlying third-party source data (for example from the ATF, the FBI NICS section, manufacturers, courts and state or federal officials, wherever a table cites them) belongs to its publishers and is not relicensed by us. Full terms: open data and how we track.