But that's just it. Everything else ISN'T equal. So we can't make the blanket statement that reducing shot load will automatically reduce scores. In some shooters, it might increase their scores due to the fact that they may flinch less, stay in the gun better, and be less tired during the later part of the round than if they were shooting the heavier recoiling heavy loads.

So, the correct answer for the average shooter or general public is that the effect of changing loads depends on the individual shooter. For some it may increase their scores and for others it may decrease their scores.

The correct answer for the "average shooter or general public" is that a reduction in payload will result in lower scores. A very small minority of shooters who are so recoil sensitive that an extra 1/8 oz of shot causes them to flinch or pull their head off the gun may see a benefit but this is not the average shooter.

Sorry about going round and round with you earlier. You are spot on with this.

Recoil effect doesn’t necessarily result in pain and flinching. It is the equivalent of body punches in boxing. It can wear on shooters without them realizing it. Making blanket statements like a lower load will cost you targets is nonsense and unprovable. Recoil fatigue can easily cost you more. It depends on the shooter.

One can turn a 50 yd clay to dust w/ a 12b 1 oz load thru a Mod choke. I don;t do it every time , but I do it enough to know that it isn't a fluke.

That does not mean anything. No one is arguing that you can't break a target with a reduced payload, because it only takes a few pellets to create a visible chip.

However, it's not logical to believe that every target you miss when shooting a reduced payload would also be a miss if you had an extra 1/8 oz of shot in the pattern. There will absolutely be times when those extra pellet's will be enough to give you a visible chip and very few people are so recoil sensitive that the extra payload will influence their shooting.

In skeet, competitors can shoot light 20 gauge in the 12 gauge events, but only a few do this because they know their odds of breaking more targets with 1 1/8 oz, vs 7/8 or 3/4 oz, is much greater.

I disagree. When shooting heavy loads , I get tired and lose concentration. That is a negative trade off that I am not willing to make.

YMMV

This is why I love gas operated semi-automatics - you can shoot heavier loads and still get less recoil than the light loads shot through over-unders. Big generalization, I know, but ya gotta admit.

May i suggest a Wild Hare shooting vest with a Shock Ease pad.

Recoil not much of an issue for me with this vest on.