[shotgun minster]

I'm just wondering what you guys buy for busting clay pigeons and general shooting? I usauly buy No.6 But I'm wondering if maybe I should buy something a little lighter like 7.5 or 8. I alsways figured it was a little bigger shot for the same money but maybe I'm wrong? I'm thinking if I buy lighter shot it will have a slightly better pattern. BTW I'm using a modified choke.

Any thoughts?

 

[JMV]

Buy 7.5 or 8, you get more shot in a shell=better odds. Most clubs don't allow bigger than 7.5 now anyways. Has to be a reason for that like not ripping a hole in the top of the trap house! Woops, I don't think anyone here has ever done that.?!

 

[parshal]

Most sporting clays, trap and skeet courses don't allow shot larger than 7.5.

 

[New-N-TX]

I shoot 7.5 for trapp but at the club closest to me they like to play annie oakley a lot. If I'm the first shot then I use the 7.5 if I'm backing someone up I like to use No. 6. Just because the shots are farther out.

 

[deadapair]

Most sporting clays, trap and skeet courses don't allow shot larger than 7.5.

+1

The two kinds of people who shoot large shot and 3" mags are either newbies who don't know any better or hacks who can't shoot and think they can make it up with more power.

Clays are pretty fragile. One ounce of #8 will break them easily if you can shoot.

If you can't shoot, no amount of shot will break them. :wink:

 

[Swamp Yankee]

The main reason clubs limit shot size to #7-1/2 or smaller is shot drop distance. A #6 will carry farther than a 7-1/2 (a larger shot will carry farther than a smaller shot). I agree with what the others say about clay targets being fragile but I know I've had more than a couple rabbit targets that I wanted to use about 1-1/4 oz of nickel #6's.

 

[astomb]

I like 1 oz. of 8.5 shot for the close ones and 7.5 for rabbits and the long ones. You might want to get a IC choke tube as about 70% of the targets on most courses are under 35 yards.

Good luck!

 

[Worc]

deadapair wrote:

The two kinds of people who shoot large shot and 3" mags are either newbies who don't know any better or hacks who can't shoot and think they can make it up with more power.

-1

Or it's hunters that know exactly what they are doing and are practising with some of their hunting loads.

 

[deadapair]

deadapair wrote:

The two kinds of people who shoot large shot and 3" mags are either newbies who don't know any better or hacks who can't shoot and think they can make it up with more power.

-1

Or it's hunters that know exactly what they are doing and are practising with some of their hunting loads.

Or dickheads who ignore the virtually universal club rules and shoot excessively powerful ammo. You decide.

 

[Worc]

deadapair wrote:

Or dickheads who ignore the virtually universal club rules and shoot excessively powerful ammo. You decide.

Your language and attitude is already getting old, even for a new member. Once again you jump to a conclusions. Busting clay piegons is not only carried out at gun clubs. One of my local trap ranges will let you shoot anything you want (non leauge) because of their location. I don't recall the original poster saying anything about being at a club/range. Just because someone is using a big load to smash some clays, does not mean that is the only load they use for clays.

 

[BobK]

The problem with the bigger shot sizes is that there are fewer (but larger) pellets in the pattern. In other words, you may have holes in the pattern that a clay pigeon on edge could slip through. You don't need the power of a larger pellet to break a clay, it just has to get hit with some pellets!

And yeah, I am aware that it usually requires a hit by more than one pellet to break a clay pigeon!! If you don't believe that, go to the range and look at some of the unbroken birds that guys thought they missed!

BobK

 

[parshal]

I'll admit to sometimes using my hunting loads (1 oz. or 3/4 oz. of 7's) at targets. What I've found, though, is as little as 3/4 oz. of 8's will reliably break targets at surprisingly long distances with the correct choke. I hit 4 out of 5 of a crossing target at 40 yards last week. I would have never guessed I could hit the target let alone break it 80% of the time with 3/4 oz. of 8's.

 

[blunder]

deadapair wrote:

The two kinds of people who shoot large shot and 3" mags are either newbies who don't know any better or hacks who can't shoot and think they can make it up with more power.

-1

Or it's hunters that know exactly what they are doing and are practising with some of their hunting loads.

Or dickheads who ignore the virtually universal club rules and shoot excessively powerful ammo. You decide.

Guess I must be one of those "dickheads"
because over the years I have tested thousands of different loads, barrel configurations, and chokes on those lil clay birdies.

tom-- who is damn sure gonna find out how a load performs before I use it on real birds

 

[deadapair]

deadapair wrote:

The two kinds of people who shoot large shot and 3" mags are either newbies who don't know any better or hacks who can't shoot and think they can make it up with more power.

-1

Or it's hunters that know exactly what they are doing and are practising with some of their hunting loads.

Or dickheads who ignore the virtually universal club rules and shoot excessively powerful ammo. You decide.

Guess I must be one of those "dickheads"
because over the years I have tested thousands of different loads, barrel configurations, and chokes on those lil clay birdies.

tom-- who is damn sure gonna find out how a load performs before I use it on real birds

I guess shot fall considerations don't mean a damn thing to you?

Go right ahead doing whatever you want, even if it's at a detriment to the club or facility. Just don't do it where I'm a member, because I would do my level best to get you expelled.

If the shoe fits.......

 

[blunder]

I guess shot fall considerations don't mean a damn thing to you?

NO,,,,
The shot fall considderation is a major considderation to me. Quite often I will be shairing the marshes with other hunters, and knowing the "safe zone" of the loads I am using is paramount for safty reasons.

Your problem is that you are only willing to look at one side of what is a very important issue. There are people out there that turkey hunt, goose hunt, and even deer hunt with shotguns, and they need to practice, pattern, etc,etc just like anyone else. While your club may not have the facilities to cater to these people, there are plenty of clubs that do.

tom

 

[Bill M.]

Gee, you guys can make a flap out of the simplest questions.

Is it a 12 gauge? Buy 7.5 shot. With the modified choke you really don't need the extra pellet count from 8's or 9's and the 7.5's will work at all ranges. you can use it for bird hunting too.

 

[sawzall]

Instead of starting a new thread I'll just ask here.
Someone gave me 10 boxes of 7.5 - 7/8 and 3/4 oz. shot.
My question is, is this O.K. to use shooting sporting clays and also, will this be enough to eject shells from an 11-87?
There are some Winchester boxes, Remington boxes and others I can't remember.
Thanks

 

[deadapair]

Instead of starting a new thread I'll just ask here.
Someone gave me 10 boxes of 7.5 - 7/8 and 3/4 oz. shot.
My question is, is this O.K. to use shooting sporting clays and also, will this be enough to eject shells from an 11-87?
There are some Winchester boxes, Remington boxes and others I can't remember.
Thanks

What gauge are these shells and gun?

If they are 20 gauge, the 11-87 will definitely cycle the 7/8 oz. and most likely cycle the 3/4 oz.

If they are 12 ga., the 11-87 might cycle the 7/8s (mine does), but most certainly not the 3/4.