what size shot for clay targets???
If someone could help me. I'm a little new at clay target shooting and I'm not sure what size shot is best, I see target loads from size 6 to 8 and I'm not sure which is best?? and I'm mainly using 12ga. thanks for any help
Roger2fan
Roger2fan
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I shoot 8's or 9's in 1oz loads. I should say that is for skeet shooting.
My heros have always killed cowboys.0 -
It partly depends on the distance you shoot too. We often set up the trap in front of the shoot (behind a barricade) and we use 6's for that. However, we typically shoot 7 1/2's but we aren't any experts either. Just try to duplicate the loads and shooting scenarios that you are going to encounter, such as:
Quail or pheasant, thrower right in front of shooter
Dove, thrower to one side throwing high clays
duck, thrower any direction but clay is falling slightly towards shooter.
With a little practice and experimentation a person can emulate a decent sporting clays setup.0 -
Trap: 16yd line #8, Modified choke. 25yd line #7 1/2, Full Choke
Skeet: #9, Cyl, Skeet or Imp. Cyl. Choke
Sporting /5 stand clays: #7 1/2, #8, or #9, Cyl thru Full choke. Shot size and choking will depend on the specific target being presented, although #8 with a Mod. Choke will do well on the majority of shots.
A friend of mine used to say "A mind is a terrible thing to waste on a shotgunner" Because the surest way to a miss is to think about the shot.
Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.0 -
Clay birds never fail to break when I use 00 buckshot. (Just kidding--couldn't resist it)[;)]
Actually, I use 7-1/2's light game loads, the same as I use for doves. I like to get used to one load and stay with it.
Edit for bobski's question: I finally settled on my 20 ga. Browning Citori with screw-in chokes. I was doing as well with it as the Ciroti 12 ga. and it was a lot more pleasant to shoot. I use the 20 ga. for everything now days, that includes ducks, doves, quail, rabbits, and sometimes skunks.0 -
WINCHESTER-AA 7&1/2 SHOT.
I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.0 -
lots of good advice here. can you go one step further and tell me what kind of gun youre shooting and what shell youre shooting presently? are you shooting skeet, trap or home toss? thanks.
bob
former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.0 -
I reload my own. I use a 12ga winchester model 1300 with a mod choke in it. Some times I shoot my wife's 20gh 48al franchi with a mod choke in it. We both reload winchester AA hulls with 209 winchester primers. Our loads are going out the barrel at 1200fps. She shoots 7/8 ounce of reclaim shoot and I shoot 1 1/8 ounce. The shoot size is more like 8 from what I have seen. This is my advice. I can reload for less any ammo on the market; also my loads shoot the same 99.99999% of the time.
Ray
More Powder, More Lead, More Dead0 -
Generally, I use 71/2 in my 12 gauge, 8's in my 20 and again 71/2 in .410. Most of my shooting is sporting clays. I found that my 20 ga. o/u seems to hit better with 8's. The .410, once when shooting a long crosser into a head wind I could hear the pellets bouncing off the target. I think a hodgman powder catalog lists how many pellets it takes of different sizes to break clay target. This was proven to me when I went out to retrieve unbroken targets behind the rabbit thrower. Lots of targets with two or three itty bitty holes that never broke. Rabbit targets are a lot thicker. Also found regular clays with the same itty bitty holes. My guess is 9 shot. They are fine for close up (skeet), but they CAN loose a lot of energy.
I 'd like to crush them all, but I'll take luck any time I get it and a broken target is a broken target.
My best 12 ga. load (reloads) is a black remington hull, a clay buster wad, 19 gr. of red dot and 1 1/8 oz. 7 1/2 chilled shot.0 -
For any shooting game look at berreta autoloaders. They are adjustable to fit you and with choke tubes you can use the same gun for all. I like federal shot shells and use number 8 shot for all clay targets. I shoot skeet, trap and sporting clays with the same gun, and load. 0 -
I use 1 1/8 oz loads. 9's for skeet and 7 1/2 for trap. The more pellets in the air, the better. 0
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