Abstract This study comprised 57 patients with gunshot injury of the distal pancreas. There were 16 grade II, 29 grade III and 12 grade IV pancreatic injuries. The intraoperative mortality rate was 12 per cent. Patients with the most severe grade II injuries and all those with grade III and IV injuries had distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, with a 14 per cent fistula formation rate and 2.3 per cent postoperative mortality rate directly related to the pancreatic injury. The remaining patients with grade II injuries were managed by debridement and drainage; there were no fistulas or deaths. The method of closure of the pancreatic resection margin is unrelated to fistula formation, and identification of the duct for ligation is unnecessary. Liberal use of distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy for gunshot injuries of the distal pancreas is suggested.