I spent a lot of time with buckshot back when it was the only thing legal during the gun season around here. I found with the right choke combo I would like to shoot 0 or 00 much more than the smaller shot IF I had to engage past 25 yards. IF I was shooting under 25 yards, the smaller pellets still had the energy to penetrate. I saw many deer that were knocked down with #4 buck at 35-50 yards get back up and run a long way. One poor deer was shot with 2 loads of #4 buck at 40+ yards. When the guy went to get it, it got up and ran. When it went by another guy, he threw 2 more loads at it and it kept going. Finally walked under a guy in a stand who hit it with 2 loads of 00 at 20 yards. When I saw it with the skin off it looked like roadkill...
