Number 4 Buckshot is a very good farm load.
 

For the last 29 years living on a 60-acre farm in rural northcentral PA, I must say a 12 gauge stoked with 2.75 inch #4 Buckshot has served me well The shell has 27 caliber .25 balls that will reach out to about 75 yards for 4-legged critters. Avian predators rapidly adjust their flight patters accordingly. Two-legged critters will "get the message" real fast.

I am a firm believer in pattering shotguns. We all have heard the TV Old Western stage coach folks tell about "Double Ought Buckshot." I suggest shotgun user pattern 00 Buckshot at 40 yards compared to #4 Buckshot at the same distance; I did. The 00 Buck of 9 balls had occasionally a hit on a B-27 silhouette target while the #4 had 6 or 10 hits on the body.

Slugs are useful at hand-shaking distance with big bears, but for daily utility, give me #4 Buck.

Adam

its what my son runs in his 500 and it throws at nice group from imp 18" barrel