i am confused by the posts of patterns on buckshot.i shot it many years for deer and never lost any at ranges of 50 yds or less.i don' t think i ever got a group inside 3" at 50 yds.i could take an 8" paperplate and put all 16 pellets of #1buck in the plate at 50 yds.patterns depend on the choke and size buckshot.buckshot is the most lethal load there is under 50 yds unless you have the wrong load or choke.