Winchester AutoBuck: New Buckshot Built for Semi-Autos

Winchester is taking a fresh swing at buckshot with the launch of its new AutoBuck™ shotshell and this one’s built with semi-autos in mind.

Chambered in 12 gauge, AutoBuck is designed to run reliably across a wide range of platforms, including semi-auto, pump, and break-action shotguns. That’s been a sticking point for some buckshot loads, especially in semi-autos, and Winchester is clearly aiming to solve that here.

Instead of going the traditional #00 route, AutoBuck uses a #1 buckshot payload, packing 12 pellets into a 2¾-inch shell running at 1325 fps. The idea is simple: slightly smaller pellets mean more of them, which can improve hit probability while still delivering solid penetration and energy.

It’s a subtle shift, but one that’s been gaining traction with shooters who want a balance between spread, impact, and consistency.

Winchester says the load was engineered from the ground up to deliver reliable cycling, especially in semi-automatic shotguns, while still covering a wide range of use cases from hunting to home defense to range work.

“Our engineering team went to the drawing board,” said Kyle Masinelli, Winchester’s Senior Director of Product Innovation & Strategy, noting the goal was to create a dependable, all-around buckshot option.

On paper, it’s a straightforward concept: more pellets, consistent velocity, and better reliability across platforms.

AutoBuck ships in 5-round boxes and is already hitting retailers nationwide. Learn more here.

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