[clone]

What do you expert clay hunters use? Differant shot for differant games? What about at longer distances?

[highorder]

I am no expert, but I usually use a steady diet of #8

[Dave McCracken]

"Experts" oft use a variety of 7.5, 8 and either 8.5 or 9 shot. 7.5 is best for longer shots, the smaller stuff has more pellets per given weight of shot.

I tend to use 7.5 shot for all except for skeet.

[coltm]

As dave said it all depends, I only shoot skeet normally and I use #9 for that.

[ltetmhs]

I use 7 1/2 for trap and sporting clays, 9 for skeet.

[Snarlingiron]

On the sporting clays range I shoot mostly 8, but I also carry 7 1/2 for the occasional longer shot. I wouldn't feel terribly handicapped with either one if it were all I had.

[redneck2]

If you want to be semi-scientific, you should balance shot size versus shot quantity versus pattern quality and size. A rule of thumb is that it takes about 4 pellets to break a bird.

Years ago I bought some of the super cheapie shells at Wal-Mart. I gave some to a friend. He used one box and gave back the rest. Couldn't break diddly. I was a little miffed, but tried to use them myself. Same thing. There were easy birds that I know were in the pattern but kept right on flying. 3/4 oz of 7 1/2's didn't give a dense enough pattern.

In summer I use 8's or 8 1/2's. Winter I use 7 1/2's if the birds are frozen. I use the better grade of Remington or AA's. It makes a difference. Remember, sometimes you're just shooting mostly at the narrow edge, not the full circle of the bird.

HTH

[throdgrain]

#9 for skeet and #8 for sporting.

[LATex79]

I use Winchester AA Sporting Clays #7.5 for all games, and dove hunting as well.

[atblis]

It's all pretty much been said.
7.5s work for skeet, clays, and trap. Ideal for trap.
8s work for skeet, clays, and trap.
9s work for close in stuff. Ideal for skeet.

I wont use 9s for trap. They'll work ok off the 16yrd line, but once you start moving back. Nope, not for me. Even off the 16yrd line they don't hit very hard.

You'll see the 7.5s v 8s for trap argument come up. It doesn't really matter that much until you get to handicap. At the point the argument is stronger for 7.5s.

[Jim Watson]

Heck, I can remember when Remington was making the scientific argument to "prove" that no 8 1/2 was the perfect shot size for 16 yd and short yardage handicap Trap. A lot of calculations of pattern density and pellet energy to show that 8 1/2s had the best chance to break the bird. I know a few people who still use it but it seems not to have lasted well.

[oldgold]

Pattern both 7 1/2 and 8's in your gun.I know it sounds phony but some guns don't like one or the other. I've got two shotguns that won't pattern with 8's. One's a mid-priced Italian over and under, the other is a high dollar trap gun.

I have no explanation for why. Ten different loads of eights and ten lousy patterns. Anything with 7 1/2's and always a great pattern.

[Dave McCracken]

Oldgold, Brister said the same thing. I've one barrel that loves 8s.

[clone]

BTW, I use a 12ga NEF Pardner modified choke, with Federal bulk (100rd), 1 1/8oz, #8's. On average, I score about 20/25 on informal clays.
I guess what I was looking for was the fabled magic shot to pick up a few more on the score board. And what I'm hearing is I need to go back to the patterning board. :)

[berettashotgun]

With that shotgun/ammo combo, 20/25 is incredible.
Unbelievable:scrutiny:, but incredible.:rolleyes:
You are going to spend more on patterning than the shotgun is worth. Great fishing trip........:neener:

[ImARugerFan]

Whatever's cheapest in 7.5 or 8.

[clone]

berettashotgun,

How so?:confused:

[Zip7]

We usually shoot 7.5 and 8 1oz loads, but I have seen a many a clay bird merely split in half or a small chunk knocked out, and the bird is still able to fly, so if I were you I would be on the safe side and use #6 or #4 3 1/2 magnums out of a turkey choke, and learn to shoot better. A vaporized clay is stopped. A nicked clay could keep on coming. Be safe... ;)

[Regolith]

Heh. I vaporized a clay with a 3" T shot load once. I'd never shot a 3" load before, and I was testing it out. I was actually surprised I hit it, but I decided after shooting it that 3" shells will be unlikely to be added to my ammo bag in the future.

[publiuss]

Only game I shoot is Sporting Clays and I like to use #9 but will use whatever I have lying around with no noticeable difference.

[RNB65]

I use 7.5's.

[SN13]

7.5s with my $100 Chinese O/U Full/Mod 30" barrel (Federal 1 1/8oz 2 3/4" shells)

Best I got was 23/25.

[btg3]

#9 shot for 12ga and 20ga won a several skeet tournaments for 2 shooters in my family... and typically bagged the limit at each dove shoot as well.

[PJR]

For anything under 40 yards whether 16 yard trap, skeet and sporting I use #8 either 7/8s or one ounce. For handicap trap and long, edge on sporting targets I use #7-1/2 either 1 ounce or 1-1/8.