Hornady Critical Defense item 86240 is 12-gauge 00 buckshot in a 10-round box. Each 2-3/4-inch shell carries eight 00 pellets, loaded to 1,600 fps. Hornady built this one as a personal-defense buckshot load and specifically charges it to cycle both pump and semi-auto shotguns.

The Versatite wad is Hornady's patterning wad: it strips clean of the shot string so you get a tight pattern without aftermarket choke work. Critical Defense shotgun ammo is the short-range defensive line, not a turkey or waterfowl load.

This listing is the 12-gauge 2-3/4-inch Critical Defense 00 buck, eight pellets, 10-round box, 1,600 fps. Pattern it in your shotgun before you count on it.

• Manufacturer: Hornady — Critical Defense, item 86240, UPC 090255862409
• Load: 12 gauge 2-3/4 in; 8-pellet 00 buck; 10 rounds
• Velocity: 1,600 fps
• Wad: Versatite; pump and semi-auto function