How much shot do you use for trap, skeet or sporting clays?

[Hotshot10]

I am just curious to see what everyone uses. I usually shoot 1 1/8 oz., but I recently started shooting 1 oz.

 

[rule303]

I shot 1 1/8 for a long time, but switched to 1 oz since I am a cheapskate. I haven't noticed any difference in my scores, and recoil is lighter too.

 

[Milkmaster]

The whole story is not told with the one question in my case. Your question needs a qualifier as to WHY we are using a certain amount of shot. I use mostly 1 1/8 oz because that is what the bulk cheaper shells have in them. My ammunition dollar goes further that way. I have just as much fun.

1 oz of shot has been plenty when I have used it. I would use it more often if and when I find them plentiful and as cheap.

Good luck!

 

[Dave McCracken]

I reload, and getting 450 rounds from a bag of shot sounds better than 400 or 350. The lessened kick is a bennie also.

So,it's 7/8 oz.

No difference seen at target. I have multiple straights at Trap and Wobble with them.

 

[Hotshot10]

Your question needs a qualifier as to WHY we are using a certain amount of shot. I use mostly 1 1/8 oz because that is what the bulk cheaper shells have in them.

Yeah, a lot of what I see at my local shop is 1 1/8, although I found another shop a little ways away selling 1 oz Federal at $50. Depending on how well I shoot with those, I might be making the longer drive.

No difference seen at target.

That was kind of what I was wondering. I can't imagine another 1/8 oz. making all that much of a difference in terms of broken clays.

 

[DaleCooper51]

I am primarily a recreational skeeter and reload 7/8 oz of number 8.5 shot. I am happy with the breaks. I have tried 3/4 oz and just wasn't happy with the performance and went back to 7/8. The only time I would like some more shot are the long crossers when I shoot sporting but other then that I don't see a need to up the payload.

If it were competition, I would shoot the max payload allowable.

 

[Hansli]

My 12 ga reloads are 7/8 or 13/16 oz. That's between 457-492 loads per bag of shot. Breaks clay and have to think it improves the shooter.

 

[DAP90]

I voted 1 1/8 oz but I use 1 oz too. It doesn’t matter much to me either way.

I don’t think I’ve ever shot a 7/8 oz.

 

[single stack]

1/2 ounce.

I love my .410s for skeet and five stand.
I've used them for trap ocassionally but 15's are disappointing.

SS

 

[Ranger30-06]

I'm a little bit of a crappy shot sometimes so I like to give myself the biggest advantage I can. 1 1/8 ounces of shot hasn't hurt me yet!

 

[esheato]

1 1/8 for trap, but 1 oz for everything else.

 

[oneounceload]

7/8 oz breaks everything in sporting clays - the reduction in recoil fatigue at the end of the course means picking up an extra target or two - just choke .005 tighter than you would with 1 or 1-1/8 oz

 

[AJumbo]

I reload, am way too lazy to set up for more than one recipe at a time. My pet load pushes 1 1/8 ounces at about 1275 FPS, cycles my autos just fine, and doesn't beat me up when I use it in my stackbarrels. I have, however, considered a 1-oz just for my stackbarrels, as long as I get that same 1275 fps. I think less recoil might equate to longer service life.

As an aside, I recently shot in a muzzleloading shotgun event and used my old, tried and true load of 85 grains of FFg/1 1/8 oz load, and was missing birds that that I knew I should have crushed. For no good reason at all I changed the load to 1 ounce, and started smacking birds again. Apples and oranges, I know, and all the variables associated with BP arms make the subject even more convoluted, but sometimes a change is just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Tom Held]

7/8 oz

I've been moving to 7/8 oz. I'm not finding any difference in breaking targets from the 1 1/8 oz loads even back to handicap yards in trap and my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore.

I had a chance last month to shoot with our US Olympic Trap and Skeet teams in Colorado Springs. In international competiton you can only shoot 24 gram (7/8) loads. The targets in International Trap (bunker) are coming out at 20 mph faster than US trap and there are 15 traps on each range instead of 1. Granted those young kids have better reflexes but I managed 82 out of a 100 (they were breaking 97-99) with the 7/8 oz load so I didn't feel too bad for an old guy. (OK, I shot 50/100 on the first round). Takes a while to find the orange blurr leaving the trap.

Tom

 

[JohnBT]

3/4, but it's a 28 ga.

 

[silent_killer]

I use 1 1/8, but its cheaper. I can get the Federal Target 7 1/2, 1 1/8oz, 3, 2 3/4" for $5.50/box locally, plus the guy waives sales tax (or discounts 6%) if I buy a case. Cant go wrong!!!

 

[RUT]

Sometimes 1 oz, sometimes 1 1/8.

 

[oneounceload]

I use 1 1/8, but its cheaper. I can get the Federal Target 7 1/2, 1 1/8oz, 3, 2 3/4" for $5.50/box locally, plus the guy waives sales tax (or discounts 6%) if I buy a case. Cant go wrong!!!

I get Kemen that way, except I can get 2 different 7/8 oz loads, 3 different 1 oz loads and 3 different 1-1/8 oz loads to choose from. The 7/8 @ 1200 is very easy shooting

 

[Armchair Bronco]

I like to shoot lighter loads if possible.

With 12 gauge, I like using 1 oz. or 7/8 oz. loads of 7.5's or 8's
With 20 gauge, I like using 3/4 oz. loads of 8's

 

[Nickelplate]

A friend and neighbor, Rob just introduced me to 1 oz after a month of heavy 1-1/8th oz usage. My sore shoulder will thank me if I make the switch to 1 oz. Plus, my 870 is less than forgiving in the recoil department on those 150+ shot outings.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Nick, next time we shoot together you can try a few of my 7/8 oz claycrushers.

 

[Mark8252]

How much shot you ask........

1 ounce trap 12ga I only use 12ga for trap
7/8 skeet 20ga
1/2 skeet 410

 

[BYJO4]

I've been using 1 oz. reloads for many years. Less recoil and breaks clay birds as well as 1 1/8 oz loads.

 

[CaptainChaos]

28g for clays and PSG practice. 32g (UK) #5 for PSG comps.

In the UK, clay grounds generally won't allow anything over 28g and, hence, 28g is the most popular and cheapest 12 bore cartridge.

Regards,

Mark.