Shotgun shells range from 5 to 25 shells per box depending on the ammo type.
One of the top questions we get is how many shotgun shells are there in a box? First, it’s important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The number of shells in a box can vary depending on the type of shotgun, the gauge of the shells, and even the brand of ammunition.
There are 25 shotgun shells in a box of steel ammo for duck hunting. This is the standard box size for most steel shotshells used for waterfowl and lead shot used for dove and other upland game birds. For turkey hunting or buckshot loads, there are only 5-10 shotgun shells per box.
That being said, there are some general guidelines that we can use to get a rough estimate of how many shells are in a box. Let’s start with the most common type of shotgun shell: the 12-gauge.
How many shotgun shells are in a box?
A standard box of 12-gauge shotgun shells will typically contain 25 shells. However, it’s worth noting that some boxes of 12-gauge shells may contain fewer shells, depending on the brand and the intended use of the ammunition. For example, a box of 12-gauge shells for turkey hunting may contain fewer shells than a box of 12-gauge shells for duck hunting.
Waterfowl Shotgun Shells. Duck and goose hunting ammo requires non-toxic pellets, and the most popular type is steel. Steel ammo comes in 25 rounds per box or 250 rounds per case. Other popular non-toxic waterfowl loads that contain bismuth or tungsten are usually found with 10 shells per box, or 100 shells per case.
Turkey Shotgun Shells. Shotshells for turkey hunting tend to be specialty loads that contain lead or tungsten-based shot and range from 5-10 shells per box. This is due to the increased cost of turkey ammo compared to waterfowl. Cases of turkey shells have between 50 and 100 shotgun shells.
Upland Game Shotgun Shells. Lead upland game loads for dove, pheasants, and quail are typically packaged 25 per box and 250 shells per case. Ammo that is cheaper to produce, like upland game shotgun shells, typically are available in larger quantities per box and case.
Buckshot Shotgun Shells. Buckshot loads come 5 per box and 50 rounds per case. These are specialty lead loads that aren’t expensive but aren’t used regularly either like waterfowl or dove loads are.
SUMMARY
Waterfowl ammo is packaged 25 shells per box and 250 shells per case.
How many shotgun shells are there in a case?
A case of shotgun shells contains 10 boxes. Each box has either 5, 10, or 25 shells. So, a case of shotgun shells can have 50, 100, or 250 shells based on the ammo type and brand.
Shotgun shell cases are packaged in cardboard and each shell and box are the same type of ammo. Some companies may offer mixed cases, but the standard from the ammo manufacturers is that each case has only one type of shotgun shell (which should be listed on the outside of the case).
How many cases of 12 gauge shells are on a pallet?
Pallet sizes can vary depending on how many shells are in a box, but for 12-gauge shotshells with 25 per box, a pallet contains 120 cases and a full pallet of 20-gauge shotgun shells contains 144. If you order shotgun shells by the pallet, it’s important to know how many boxes are in a case of shotgun shells.
Shotgun shells packaged 50 per case or 100 per case will exceed 144 cases per pallet since the number of shells per case is lower. This is also magnified by smaller gauges such as .410 bore, 16-gauge, and 28-gauge which can increase the cases per pallet even more.
How many shells come in a box of 20 gauge?
20-gauge shotgun shells are packaged 25 shells per box and 250 shells per case. Even though 20-gauge is considerably smaller than 12-gauge, it still maintains the 25 shells per box standard. The 20-gauge shotgun is used for small game hunting, which tends to require light lead loads which are cost effective to produce in large quantities.
SUMMARY
The determining factor for how many shotgun shells are in a box is the type of ammo, rather than the gauge size.
Bottom Line: There are 5 to 25 shotgun shells in a box
The answer to the common question of how many shotgun shells are in a box is a simple one; it depends. Shotgun shells are packaged anywhere between 5 to 25 shells per box, with 5, 10, and 25 increments being the standard and most popular.
Shotgun shells are package in cases that can contain 50, 100, or even 250 shells. A typical pallet of 12-gauge shotgun shells holds 120 cases and 20-gauge maxes out at 144 cases. Always be sure of how many shotgun shells are in a box and how many boxes are in a case before ordering ammo online.
Was this helpful?
Search Chokes by Gauge
Read More
- Shotgun Pellet Size Chart
- TSS Shot is a Game Changer for Hunting
- 3 Chokes that Deliver Tight Patterns for Turkey Hunting
- 7.5 vs 8 shot: Key Differences to Know
Latest Posts
