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Winchester is taking a fresh swing at buckshot with the launch of its new AutoBuck™ shotshell and this one’s built with semi-autos in mind.
Chambered in 12 gauge, AutoBuck is designed to run reliably across a wide range of platforms, including semi-auto, pump, and break-action shotguns. That’s been a sticking point for some buckshot loads, especially in semi-autos, and Winchester is clearly aiming to solve that here.
Instead of going the traditional #00 route, AutoBuck uses a #1 buckshot payload, packing 12 pellets into a 2¾-inch shell running at 1325 fps. The idea is simple: slightly smaller pellets mean more of them, which can improve hit probability while still delivering solid penetration and energy.
It’s a subtle shift, but one that’s been gaining traction with shooters who want a balance between spread, impact, and consistency.
Winchester says the load was engineered from the ground up to deliver reliable cycling, especially in semi-automatic shotguns, while still covering a wide range of use cases from hunting to home defense to range work.
“Our engineering team went to the drawing board,” said Kyle Masinelli, Winchester’s Senior Director of Product Innovation & Strategy, noting the goal was to create a dependable, all-around buckshot option.
On paper, it’s a straightforward concept: more pellets, consistent velocity, and better reliability across platforms.
AutoBuck ships in 5-round boxes and is already hitting retailers nationwide. Learn more here.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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