In Dr. AC Jones's book Sporting Shotgun Performance I noticed there was a load of 28 gr. 9.5 Express Pro skeet with approx 700pellets to the load. Has anyone here had any experience with this load or know if it is commonly used in the UK or Europe. Also it's effectiveness on skeet targets. The reason I ask is I just bought a bag of Lawrence mag 9's that are actually 91/2-10 as far as size. I will soon find out for myself but I am curious as to anyone's knowledge regarding this shot size. BTW in his book this load chrono's 1180 fps.

I am no expert but I have only seen #9 shot, no 9 1/2. Most skeet shooters use, 8, 8.5, and 9 shot.

About 3 years ago, I bought 3 flats of Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics 12 gauge shells with supposedly #9 shot at 1170 fps. After cutting open a couple of shells, I determined that the shot was actually small 9's with about 626 pellets per ounce instead of 585/oz for normal #9's. My intent was to use these shells for close range sporting clays targets and for an occasional round of skeet.

After using a couple of boxes of these shells, I was disappointed in their performance. That's why I cut them open was to find out if the shot size was correct. Turns out that the shot was small for 9's.

Since then, I have used these shells only for close range shots at the belly of a target or something right in my face. They do OK for that, but I don't trust them for edge-on or dome shots at anything over about 15 yards. I sure don't trust them for shots from stations 3, 4, or 5 on a skeet field. I have only 2 or 3 boxes of these shells left out of the 3 flats. When they're gone, I don't plan to buy any more of them.

That's my experience. Your experience may vary.

I have found that Eagle shot runs small. If you buy #9, it is probably closer to # 9 1/2.

I haven't got extensive experience but have shot several rounds of skeet using 9 1/2's.

I had a .410 and was using B&P Extra Rossa 9 1/2 loads.

Worked very well and any misses were because of me, not the load.

There is only 0.1 mm difference between 9's and 9 1/2's. I wouldn't sweat it.

That would not be a common load here for skeet in Europe. More common to find 24 grams of 9.5. The Italian mfgs use 9.5 more than anyone else.

24 grams of 9.5 have shot full many a 25/25 in Olympic Skeet over here

https://www.clevervr.com/en/competition ... upertarget

Used these today. Worked well and very clean burning. 24 grams of 9 1/2's.

The only odd ball shot size I’ve ever seen are #10’s in the 410. This guy gave them to me nearly 10 years ago and they’re still sitting on my shelf.

Well after 8 rounds of skeet here in western NY I can't see any difference in the target breaks with 9.5's in skeet. Kind of neat, a 3/4oz. 20ga load with 500+ pellets.

Interesting. My visual memory is the Lawrence Mag #9s I've used are larger than the #9s from the imported shot.

The targets loads listed at the above website are listed with 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9.5 shot sizes. 9.5 seem to be loaded in their ammo for International Skeet. If 9.5s work for International Skeet, they should be more than adequate for American Skeet.

Before you get too hung up on that interesting Italian 9-1/2 shot size, cut one of those shells open. I would wager that you’ll find shot that is sized more like American 8-1/2. That’s what I found when I cut one of those Nobel sport shells open.

IIRC, smallest legal for NSSA is #9.