Best 12GA Load for Trap for a 12yr old?

I'd recommend a Beretta RL 391 with 1 oz or 7/8 oz loads. Speed is relative, keep it under 1200 fps, he'll be fine. Make sure, if you get an auto, you also either get a shell catcher or deflector.

The more experienced (with kids) shooters will probably recommend something better -- this is my suggestion.

682Gal said:

I'd recommend a Beretta RL 391 with 1 oz or 7/8 oz loads. Speed is relative, keep it under 1200 fps, he'll be fine. Make sure, if you get an auto, you also either get a shell catcher or deflector.

The more experienced (with kids) shooters will probably recommend something better -- this is my suggestion.

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Ditto this recommendation.

If you keep the payload no more than 1oz. and the MV no more than 1100fps, your son will thank you.

My son who is almost the same age and size but shoots trap with a Beretta A390 in 20 ga not 12. He shoots 1150 FPS 7/8 oz loads in 7 1/2 or 8 and he is nearly shooting clean rounds from the 16 yard line. He has no issues with the recoil from this combination. He has shot my 12 gauge with light 1 oz loads but does not do as well as with his 20.

I shoot trap just for fun so top performance is not my thing. However, I am quite satisfied with the 5/8 and 3/4 oz loads of #9 I use at 16 yd and 20 yd trap. Since you reload you might give it a try.

make your loads a soft shooting 1oz of #8's around 1180-1200 fps. i think green dot would be a good powder choice. that is my preferred 1oz load but you can back off the grains some to right around 1150 and he can shoot those all day long.

your son will love shooting on the school team. my kid was 12 when he started and he was maybe 100# soaking wet and he just ate up shells. he now shoots around 15k shells a year through a perazzi fitted with a PFS - zero recoil.

find a gun that fits him half decent and make sure there is no cheek slap.

after he has shot a couple of boxes of the 1oz give him a few shells of 1 1/8 and a few of 7/8 to shoot to compare the difference.

in my opinion the 1oz load is the perfect load for trap singles. stay away from 7/8 oz until he has more experience.

Thank you all for the advise. I thought that 1-1/8oz loads would be too much and I just needed to confirm it.

Thanks,
SBC

shouldbecamping said:

Thank you all for the advise. I thought that 1-1/8oz loads would be too much and I just needed to confirm it.

Thanks,
SBC

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He should be able to handle 1 1/8 oz at 1090 fps. As other's have mentioned though, 7/8 or 1 oz in the 1100 to 1200 fps range will probably be best for him.

~Michael

7/8 oz. #8 shot, 17 gr. Hodgdon Clays powder, Fed. 209A primer, WAA12L wad, produces 1250 fps.

1 oz. #8 shot, 18.4 gr. Hodgdon Clays powder, Fed. 209A primer, WAA12SL wad, produces 1235 fps.

These are copied from the Hodgdon web site, and are two recipes I have been using for practice and shoots.

Double check to make sure, as I copied and edited the data. But in a semi-auto, these break clays without breaking your shoulder.

Danny