I am starting to get into skeet shooting and all I have is my 870 + 28" rib barrel. I see a lot of 20ga, some 16ga and few 28ga shotguns out on the field. I shoot last weekend ~80rds of 12ga target loads and my shoulder was a bit tender. Are there any lighter, but effective 12ga loads out there? I loaded up 2 3/4" hulls with 1 1/8oz #9, 20grs Unique and Fiocchi primers. The factory loads were Winchester Super Target 2 3/4" 1 1/8oz #7.5. These have a much stronger recoil than the 20ga my buddy let me shoot. I'm not ready to purchase another shotgun so I'd like to keep using my 870. Eventually I'll get an O/U, but I think I need to improve my skills first then worry about another shotgun.
12ga Skeet load questions
- Thread starter distra
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Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
7/8 oz loads are your new best friend. Plenty of moxie for trap singles, so skeet is a gimme.
My pet load, right from Hodgon's website...
STS hull
Win 209 primer
WAA12SL wad or CB clone.
17.3 gr Clays.
7/8 oz hard shot. For skeet, soft 9s are perfect.
About 1200 FPS, less than 9K PSI pressure.
HTH....
My pet load, right from Hodgon's website...
STS hull
Win 209 primer
WAA12SL wad or CB clone.
17.3 gr Clays.
7/8 oz hard shot. For skeet, soft 9s are perfect.
About 1200 FPS, less than 9K PSI pressure.
HTH....
First tell me about your gun
With proper fit 200 shots in evening, no pain. I found I need almost an inch added to make my favorite make and model fit to no pain in several hundred shots. How the gun fits, effects are bringing it to your shoulder, and setting the stock in the right spot. drop of the comb and pad angle effect this also.
Second there are factory target loads, and there are light factory loads, and lighter.
Although I shot 1 1/8oz maybe medium loads for a few years.
I load a sub 7/8oz load right nowit is not quite down to 3/4, downrange XXL PINK wad and since people will laugh an unnamed powder, wicked just plain wicked!
With proper fit 200 shots in evening, no pain. I found I need almost an inch added to make my favorite make and model fit to no pain in several hundred shots. How the gun fits, effects are bringing it to your shoulder, and setting the stock in the right spot. drop of the comb and pad angle effect this also.
Second there are factory target loads, and there are light factory loads, and lighter.
Although I shot 1 1/8oz maybe medium loads for a few years.
I load a sub 7/8oz load right nowit is not quite down to 3/4, downrange XXL PINK wad and since people will laugh an unnamed powder, wicked just plain wicked!
My shotgun is an Rem 870, synthetic butt stock and fore grip (Remington) with a 28" ribbed barrel. It feels a little long in the reach to the fore grip, but I'm not sure if that is just me not being used to the gun. Are there any guidelines for butt stock length as a function of arm length?
length of stock
Using the messure of length of forearm is a general guide.
It is more important that your head is on the stock right. that is you are not stretching you kneck or having to scrunch up your shoulders to be on the comb right with your cheek, and is your nose right around an inch to inch and a half behind your thumb.
Also
There is a natural pocket on your shoulder where the pad should fit into naturally, anywhere else will hurt. Some people are more comtfortable with a flat or convex pad, some like a halfmoon or concave pad. If either the length of pull or the shape of the pad make it so you can't put the stock on your shoulder right, and place your cheek on the comb properly, you are fighting an uphill battle even with the lightest loads, IMHO.
Using the messure of length of forearm is a general guide.
It is more important that your head is on the stock right. that is you are not stretching you kneck or having to scrunch up your shoulders to be on the comb right with your cheek, and is your nose right around an inch to inch and a half behind your thumb.
Also
There is a natural pocket on your shoulder where the pad should fit into naturally, anywhere else will hurt. Some people are more comtfortable with a flat or convex pad, some like a halfmoon or concave pad. If either the length of pull or the shape of the pad make it so you can't put the stock on your shoulder right, and place your cheek on the comb properly, you are fighting an uphill battle even with the lightest loads, IMHO.
243winxb
Member
Distra, less shot less recoil. If you go to 7/8 oz loads, put in an I/C choke for skeet using #9 shot. Stocks, shooting with the gun on your shoulder, a longer stock is needed with a high comb, much like a trap gun. If you shoot starting with the gun off your shoulder a hunting type stock is fine. Practice is all thats needed.
Shell Shucker
Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2006
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- 189
1 oz 1200 fps loads are soft shooters, 7/8 oz at 1200 fps are softer! If you want the ultimate in low recoil (factory loads) try the Winchester "low recoil/low noise" shells.
romeo212000
Member
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2007
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A 1oz 12gauge load should do you just fine. I shoot a very light Yildiz o/u with a very effective 1oz load i do myself. If you are interested I would be more than happy to share it with you. Otherwise, walmart has 1oz remington 12gauge loads for $4.14 a box down here in oklahoma. Not sure what they go for elsewhere.
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