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la angler
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Post subject: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 8:06 pm |
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Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:00 pm Posts: 1122 Location: north carolina
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Just wondering if anyone has downloaded the 12ga loads for small game ? Say a 7/8 or 3/4 oz. load and tried it out on game yet.
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B.L.E.
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 9:21 pm |
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Joined: Sun May 17, 2015 6:25 pm Posts: 2699 Location: On the wrong side of the river, Austin TX
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Any game that can be killed with a 20 or 28 gauge can also be killed with 7/8 and 3/4 ounce loads out of a 12 gauge. You just have to know the limits of the load. A 3/4 ounce load at game 20 yards away is far deadlier than a 1+1/4 ounce load at game 40 yards away. A shotgun in general is a short range weapon, and those light loads make it a somewhat shorter range weapon. I have shot a lot of 7/8 ounce 12 gauge loads, mostly at clay birds in trap. They are a joy to shoot and totally destroy the targets if you get a center hit and don't wait 'til the bird is dropping to shoot.
_________________ I finally figured out that lifting your head and not following through can ruin your score in a rifle match also.
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Filnez
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:06 am |
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Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 2:54 pm Posts: 257 Location: Alabama USA
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I like to load and use 1 ounce for hunting. 5, 6 or 7-1/2 shot depending upon which critters I am shooting at. Never tried lighter in the 12. Had a 20 gauge a couple of different times and 7/8 ounces of 6 or 7-1/2 worked well, don't see why the same load weight wouldn't work out of a 12 bore.
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lossking
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 1:24 pm |
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*Proud to be a* |
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Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:25 pm Posts: 9290 Location: Louisiana
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I have never shot 3/4 or 7/8 oz. 12ga loads, la angler, but can tell you that 1 oz. has worked very well in my 12ga O/U for preserve quail, woodcock and cottontails.
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oneounceload
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 3:06 pm |
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Crown Grade |
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Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2008 6:20 pm Posts: 22972
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I load 3/4 for both 12 and 20. They'll break clays past 40 yards easily enough and using the right shot size will clobber small game as well. 7-1/2s and 6s will do the job.
_________________ The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory, Aldo Gucci
Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience, George Carlin
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NH Squirrelhunter
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:22 pm |
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Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:50 pm Posts: 486 Location: Colebrook, NH
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I don't have the experience the rest of these guys do, but I tried these & rather like them: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/290019 ... -oz-8-shot I haven't taken any afield yet, but from my informal testing via a 26" Stoeger P350 with Modified choke, they hit hard and shoot well enough between 15-25 yards, I'd say they work well on small game within those ranges. They are also quieter than standard loads by quite a bit, though a far cry from reduced .410 loads. Kind Regards, ~ SH ~
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Turkinator
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 8:39 am |
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Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 5:27 pm Posts: 7560 Location: southern Ohio
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A fast 7/8 ounce load of hard 7.5s is squirrel poison in a 12ga.
_________________ biden has dementia, and is anti 2nd amendment
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la angler
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 9:06 pm |
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Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:00 pm Posts: 1122 Location: north carolina
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I have reloaded 7/8 oz. loads for clay shooting but not used on game so maybe I will load a few and give them a try.
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BBK
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:45 pm |
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Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:42 pm Posts: 1890
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la angler wrote: Just wondering if anyone has downloaded the 12ga loads for small game ? Say a 7/8 or 3/4 oz. load and tried it out on game yet. I shoot a 12 gauge 7/8 of 7.5's for doves and barn pigeons. I think it would make a fantastic rabbit/squirrel load in 6's or 5's as well but I have not tried it! I think my load is 1350fps but can't remember for sure, its over 1300fps though. Its a red dot load in a AA hull I believe. I do this vs using a 20 for three reasons, 1. I shoot the 12 gauge fantastically and love the gun 2. The 7/8 out of 12 gauge patterns WAY better than 7/8 out of a 20. 3. If needed, I can toss a bigger load in the gun in a couple seconds, I almost always carry two 4Buck loads in my pocket for coyotes.
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MikePP
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 7:50 am |
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Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 6:49 am Posts: 28
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I don't reload for shotguns but have read that light loads in the 12 gauge do pattern very well. It has something to do with the shorter shot column in a larger gauge. The theory is that this allows for an ideal, well-proportioned pattern. As is true of most shotgun loads, I think the pattern is optimized if the speed is not excessive, since too high a speed with the larger powder charge and pressures needed is less favorable to achieving the best patterns.
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saskbooknut
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 8:19 am |
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Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:11 am Posts: 994
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Many of the great British shots used one ounce loads for high driven birds with results that most of us will never attain. Light loads are not why we fail in the field. Not putting the pattern on the target is the reason for missing.
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Ratdog
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 3:39 pm |
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Joined: Mon Oct 17, 2016 5:17 pm Posts: 77
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Loaded many a 3/4&7/8oz cartridge. 3/4oz loads can sizzle on!
R.
_________________ Psalms 83:18
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B.L.E.
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 7:40 pm |
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Joined: Sun May 17, 2015 6:25 pm Posts: 2699 Location: On the wrong side of the river, Austin TX
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have been shooting ATA trap with double-light loads. By "double-light", I mean both the shot weight and the velocity is low. I seem to shoot better with such a load and when I put the bird in the center of the pattern, it turns into smoke, even when shooting at from a 20 yard handicap station.
_________________ I finally figured out that lifting your head and not following through can ruin your score in a rifle match also.
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thunderkiss65
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Post subject: Re: Down loading the 12 gauge Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2018 12:22 pm |
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Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2018 10:59 am Posts: 12
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I went on a rabbit hunt with my uncle recently with a 7/8 ounce load of #6 in 20 ga. IC. Never got a shot. Too grown up.
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