Shot Sizes for Clays

Status
Not open for further replies.

elktrout

Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
446
Location
Gulf Coast
I am working on getting into various clays shooting activities and have some questions about shot sizes. Assuming 12 gauge one to one and an eighth ounce loads of shot, what have you found most successful for the following:

Trap 16 yd line: 27 yard line:

Sporting Clays:

Skeet:


Thanks for offering your experiences.
 
I love running 8.5 shot size all across the board, will switch to 8's during colder weather and 7.5's back beyond the 27 yard line for games. Right now I am running 7/8oz loads of 8.5's and am crushing trap targets at 23 yards. Some sporting targets are way out there, but on the courses I shoot 8's are plenty. Cold weather makes the targets a bit harder and tougher and then you might go up a size in shot. All my smaller gauges I run 8.5 shot right down to my .410.
 
I run 7 1/2 only for handicap yardages and long Sporting Clays targets. I make up a lot of them before fall to double as my dove and pigeon loads, and have no problem using them up at 16 yard trap, but I do seem to get better target breaks with the 8s. I usually use 8s for everything else. I would use 8 1/2 more for the short games, but it is difficult to find locally. I usually softball my loads, shooting around 1125fps, and they break clays just fine without the extra recoil and blast.
 
Hard magnum 8 shot are deformed less on firing. Tighter patterns. . More pellets allow a more open choke for hunters clays. Same 8 for skeet & trap. Magnum #8's best for small gauge skeet, 20, 28.

EDIT- Mag #9s in the 410 for skeet. If you count and weigh #9 pellets, there are more magnum pellets in 1/2 oz of shot. The increased amount of antimony, makes the pellet harder and lighter.

For 27 yd trap, load to 1200 fps, with 1 1/8 oz.
 
Last edited:
I have had the most success with a AA duplicate load of 7 1/2 for trap at all yardage although I often shoot an ounce of 8 as far back as 20 and can see very little difference. I don't do sporting clays and I use 9s or 8 1/2 s for skeet.
 
I am working on getting into various clays shooting activities and have some questions about shot sizes. Assuming 12 gauge one to one and an eighth ounce loads of shot, what have you found most successful for the following:

Trap 16 yd line: 27 yard line:................. 7.5

Sporting Clays:..........................8 and 7.5

Skeet:................ 8.5 or 9


Thanks for offering your experiences.
 
Thanks, everyone. I formerly thought that 8s were too light to break a clay bird that was getting out there. But, you have convinced me to try lighter payloads of 8s and get the benefit of less recoil while still having a full pattern.
 
. I usually softball my loads, shooting around 1125fps, and they break clays just fine without the extra recoil and blast.
I agree on preference for lower MV. Aside from the milder recoil (which really isn't a big factor, but if it comes without a penalty I'll definitely take it), lower MV patterns hold together tighter (because the air resistance doesn't disrupt them quite as much), and they lose velocity at a slower rate than high MV loads. The end result is that the difference in MV at the target distance isn't as much as it was at the muzzle, and the pattern tends to remain more uniform out to a longer distance.

Years ago when I did a lot of different types of shotgunning I ran hundreds of pattern tests and proved this out with my guns and my loading components (shot, wads, powder charge, and hulls). I found that there were almost zero instances where higher MV was a net benefit.
 
This thread has been real informative for a relative "noob" like me. Just began shooting sporting clays last summer and don't know all that much about this subject. So far I've pretty much settled on #7.5's for all my 12 ga. usage in two different guns. Although I have a few boxes of 12 ga. #8's that were given to me that also seem to work well. My next sporting clays "experiment" is gonna be trying some 16 ga. #6 shot "Dove & Quail" loads with a claimed velocity of 1165 fps from my dad's old 16 ga. pheasant gun. That should be interesting ( especially with a full choke), as I've never used anything smaller than 12 ga. with # 7.5 & #8 shot.
 
If you're shooting at a regular club (as opposed to your backyard), #6 is usually prohibited because it can carry too far off the property.

The largest shot allowed at the club I shoot with is 7.5. Sadly, I think a lot of people dont care or bother to know the rules.

8s are fine for just about everything that needs doing for clay games IMO.
 
My club actually allows 6's; a few guys will shot a round with their pheasant loads after they are done with Trap for the year.
 
One club I shoot at doesn't regulate shot size (unless shooting an official event). It's a rural range with a country mile of real estate. Good place to use up
"mystery shells," (makes for an interesting round of skeet when some of the AAs are a bit more and faster than 1 1/8 at 1200fps!) oddball components, or get some practice with my field loads or steel shot on the skeet or SC range. The general rule at trap and skeet ranges is 7.5 max, 7 steel.
 
One club I shoot at doesn't regulate shot size (unless shooting an official event). It's a rural range with a country mile of real estate. Good place to use up
"mystery shells," (makes for an interesting round of skeet when some of the AAs are a bit more and faster than 1 1/8 at 1200fps!) oddball components, or get some practice with my field loads or steel shot on the skeet or SC range. The general rule at trap and skeet ranges is 7.5 max, 7 steel.
What's fun is shooting skeet with a max pigeon load - 1-1/4oz running 1330..................
 
I've never heard of a shot size restriction at my club.... But maybe I should ask. Or could it be because they have over 400 acres and I'm assuming they have the shotgun ranges set up so shot won't carry off the property? That's a good point, though, and I think I'll ask.
 
My club has 7.5 as the max size. 6's carry 30-50 yards further than the smaller shot. If you have ever been peppered with shot, you would appreciate the difference. I have just been stung, without drawing blood.
 
What's fun is shooting skeet with a max pigeon load - 1-1/4oz running 1330..................
Better yet. My "tundra" backer pheasant load, real late in the season when we're walking on the ice hunting frozen cattail and bulrush shorelines, is 1 1/2oz Nickel plated 4s running in the 1350fps range over H longshot. It's loaded in an old style AA hull, and the permanent marker has long since worn off of these. One ends up in the mystery shell pile sometimes.
 
Sounds a lot like my Dad's pheasant loads (And duck load before steel shot) : Size 5 Lubaloy, as much as he could cram in, with the shortest wad and the most Blue Dot he could put in. They were skirting 1350 at an ounce and three eights.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top