[Bill2e]

What Shot size do you use?

7 1/2 or #8 shot size for shooting trap. What are the addvantages & Disadvantages of either? Or does it reall make no difference at all?

Thanks
Bill

[Dave McCracken]

7.5s give you a little more energy per pellet. 8s give you about 40 more pellets per oz, IIRC.

I used 8 1/2s for my first couple dozen straights. I also loaded up 7 1/2s for handicap and during the colder months when the targets are a bit harder to break.

These days, I use 7 1/2s for everything. Simple.

As for you, I suggest trying out various loads at the patterning board and see what best works in your shotgun.

Tip, lots of folks shoot trap. Most of the better ones use either handloads they worked up or premium factory loads.

Trap is a precision game. It's hard to do well shooting cheap, trashy shells.

HTH....

[Tom Held]

If you're shooting Bunker the 7 1/2s make a difference because the targets are much harder. They are throwing them a 62 to 63 mph and over 70 meters as apposed to ATA trap at 42 mph. And your second shot on the same target might be 60 yard out (which I typically need) Same on the sporting clays rabbits. Takes a little more punch to break them. Tom

[Dave McCracken]

Hey, Tom, how ya doin'? I'm shooting this Friday if you can get by....

[Tom Held]

I might try to get out with the geezers on Friday Dave. We've got a pigeon shoot on Saturday and I sent a 21 to Turnbull because it was starting to double on me. Should be back on Friday. Quite a sensation when both barrels are going off simultaneously with 3 1/4 dram loads of 1 1/4 8s. Certainly gets your attention. I think I rattled a filling out.

I understand that PG had ordered 15 new bunker traps for the course. We need to get a little bunker league started once they get them installed.

[mnw42]

My 870 seems to pattern best with 1oz #8 shells so that is what I use for singles. I do use different loads for the second shot on doubles, handicap, and in cold weather.

[ATAShooter]

I do 7.5 for all events.

[Dave McCracken]

Hope to see you, Tom. A while back, one of the crews' pretty little Parker 20 gauges doubled on me. Not fun, even with creampuff 7/8 oz loads.

Was that the 21 you just got a few months back? Nice looker...

[mswestfall]

I shoot a one ounce load of #8's from 16 to 24 yards. I shoot a 1 1/8th ounce load of #7 1/2's from 25 to 27 yards. Both chrony at 1,200 to 1,210 fps.

In doubles I shot the #8's for the first shot and the #7 1/2's for the second...

Hope this helps...

[Capstick1]

I usually use the cheap Federal 1 1/8 oz No. 7 1/2 field loads that you get at Walmart. You can buy them in 100 rd packs for $22.00. They've never given me any problems.

[Bill2e]

Me too, I just bought some #8 to give a try this weekend.

I was just wounding if it really matterd

[Dave McCracken]

It may matter later on, but for now just work on getting the center of the pattern on the leading edge of those rascally clays.