The world of firearms, training and law enforcement is plagued by persistent myths that refuse to die. Like stubborn weeds, these misconceptions briefly fade from view only to resurface with a vengeance, spreading across forums, social media and comment threads. Let’s unpack a few of the most enduring falsehoods.
Shotguns have been trusted law enforcement tools for generations — devastatingly effective at close range, versatile and reliable. But one persistent myth about shotgun buckshot refuses to die: that nine pellets are always better than eight.
In reality, that extra pellet often becomes a dangerous “flyer,” breaking away from the main pattern and posing a serious risk to bystanders. The evolution of eight-pellet buckshot loads isn’t a downgrade in firepower — it’s a lifesaving improvement.
Here’s why fewer pellets can actually mean greater accuracy, accountability and effectiveness when it matters most.
Shotgun buckshot: 8 v. 9 pellet
Shotguns are excellent tools. Beside being devastatingly effective at stopping threats, they’re the most versatile firearm in existence. However, at the beginning of my career, I was wary of deploying a shotgun due to what we call “flyers” — errant pellets that veer away from the otherwise decent pattern. Most every nine-pellet buckshot round I fired from any of my shotguns would place one round several inches away from the rest. That’s obviously a concern because that pellet would likely go down range and harm a citizen in an actual encounter.
The ‘8’ solution
Then came the evolution of the eight-pellet shotshell. Suddenly, that flyer was no longer a problem.
I didn’t think about it much until I saw a fellow instructor giving a lecture about the phenomenon. He was incredulous that the ammunition manufacturer would know which pellet to take out of the shell. I didn’t say anything at the time, but it’s always the ninth one, as confirmed by a representative of Federal Premium at SHOT Show some years back. He explained that the ninth pellet would always be the “odd man out” and isn’t really necessary. Eight .32-.33 caliber pellets traveling in a tight pattern at the speed of sound is plenty of payload — and after watching a few videos of shootings with Federal eight-pellet Flite Control, felons don’t seem to miss that ninth round; nor does the nineth round miss them and strike something or someone it shouldn’t.
This is one of those myths that endanger both officers and the public, but, sadly, it’s rarely questioned.
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