Rio Ammunition
Rio Ammunition manufactures shotshells for competition, hunting, and defensive use, including the Star Team EVO and Top Target competition loads, Royal Buck buckshot, and a full range of upland game loads. Rio shotshells are offered across 12 gauge, 16 gauge, and 20 gauge, with shot sizes and payloads tuned for trap, skeet, sporting clays, and field use. Impact Guns carries Rio Ammunition for shooters who want consistent patterns and reliable cycling without paying a premium.
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Rio Star Team EVO and Top Target: Choosing a Competition Load
Rio’s Star Team EVO and Top Target lines are built for clay target disciplines like trap, skeet, and sporting clays, offered in shot sizes such as 7.5, 8, and 9 across various payload weights. Star Team EVO is tuned for consistent pattern density at the ranges typical of registered competition, while Top Target rounds out the lineup for club and practice rounds.
Rio Royal Buck: Buckshot Loads for Home Defense and Tactical Use
Royal Buck is Rio’s buckshot line, available in payloads ranging from a handful of pellets up to 9-pellet loads in 00 buckshot, primarily in 12 gauge with a 2.75" shell length. These loads are built for home defense and tactical applications where reliable buckshot pattern and terminal performance matter more than the lighter payloads used for clays or upland birds.
Rio Game Loads: Upland and Small Game Hunting
Rio’s game load lineup covers upland and small game hunting with birdshot payloads across 12, 16, and 20 gauge, including higher-velocity options for longer-range shots on game like pheasant. These loads prioritize pattern spread and knockdown power for field use rather than the tight, competition-tuned patterns of the target line.
Which Gauge Does Rio Ammunition Offer?
Rio produces shotshells in 12 gauge, 16 gauge, and 20 gauge, covering the most common gauges used for clay sports and upland hunting in the US. Shell lengths and payloads vary by load type, so match the specific product to your gun’s chamber length and intended use.
Target Loads vs. Game Loads vs. Buckshot: What’s the Difference?
Target loads like Star Team EVO and Top Target use lighter shot (7.5–9) and consistent payloads tuned for breaking clays at known distances. Game loads use similar shot sizes but are loaded for field conditions and sometimes higher velocity for longer shots on live birds. Buckshot loads like Royal Buck trade small shot for large-diameter pellets meant for defensive or tactical use, not clays or birds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What gauges does Rio Ammunition make?
Rio produces shotshells in 12 gauge, 16 gauge, and 20 gauge.
Is Rio Royal Buck buckshot good for home defense?
Yes. Royal Buck is Rio’s buckshot line, offered in payloads suited to home defense and tactical use in 12 gauge.
What’s the difference between Rio Star Team EVO and Top Target?
Both are competition-oriented target loads for clay sports; Star Team EVO is tuned for the tighter, more consistent patterns used in registered competition, while Top Target serves practice and club rounds.
Does Rio make ammunition for upland bird hunting?
Yes. Rio’s game load line covers upland and small game hunting with birdshot payloads across 12, 16, and 20 gauge.
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