#4 too big?

Mikey66

Mikey66

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I know #7.5 or 8 are best for the job, and that is what I use, but
I have a few boxes of #4 shot left over, and was wondering if I would be just throwing them away if I use them to shoot trap. Don't want to start if I won't finish the whole box.
Any advice?
 
I'd use it up hunting. It won't go bad if it sits taking a few seasons to use up. The bigger shot sizes aren't used in clay target shooting for two main reasons. First patterns are not dense enough for nice consistent breaks and secondly safety. It carries much further requiring a much larger overshoot distance. As well again safety oriented it's pretty heavy stuff to be hitting a trap house roof or wall in the event of an errant shot which if you do any amount of shooting at various clubs you will see where houses have pattern marks on them. The larger shot is generally factory loaded into field loads as well which of course generate much more recoil. A day of shooting off a large volume of field loads at clays is not a pleasant day. Its nothing like being in the field dressed in heavier clothes and firing a few rounds here and there. The combination of light clothing and repeated firing can feel rather unpleasant.
 
Canadian Range Standards specify no larger than number 7 1/2 or 8 shot on licensed Trap and Skeet ranges. Up to number 4 shot is permitted on our Cowboy action range with reactive or angled targets and full height berm at 25 meters.
 
Foxer2373 said:
I shoot trap on my land and I'll use #2 and #4 for practice right before bird season.
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If you have an actual trap field set up on your land, then you are one of a very small minority of shooters. Most people that shoot clays on their own land , just set up a portable thrower that doesn't oscillate, and then shoot from one position. It isn't trap, but it is still practice.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

I was not aware of our club not allowing anything bigger than #7.5, but I will ask. And I did not even think of the safety issue, which makes sense. Even though our trap field is essentially cut into the side of a hill, so no issue with overshoot.

If pattern density is a big issue for shooting trap with these for consistent breaks, I think I will save them for the bush, even though it may take a few seasons.
What is the reasonable storage max for shot shells? I have some slugs that are approaching the 10 year mark. Best get cracking!!

Cheers
 
I have ammo that was purchased in the 70's and not an issue. Ammo will keep very well if stored in a cool dry environment such as in your home. Store it in something where you have issues like extreme temperature fluctuations causing condensation and eventually it may go downhill but I have seen some pretty rough looking ammo with corroded bases and swollen paper hulls and if you could squeeze it into the chamber it went bang! Use them up hunting. Go kill some bunnies and birds. Do a little patterning and see what range they would consistently kill turkeys at and go get your thanksgiving and christmas turkeys each season!
 
Mikey66 said:
I know #7.5 or 8 are best for the job, and that is what I use, but
I have a few boxes of #4 shot left over, and was wondering if I would be just throwing them away if I use them to shoot trap. Don't want to start if I won't finish the whole box.
Any advice?
Click to expand...

Keep them, they don't go bad. I have boxes of old Imperial that are probably 40 years old or more. They still go bang.
 
This form should have a section for registered target shooters and one for novice shooters the term clays as a generalisation is just to confusing case and point next discussion below this one where can I shoot if I don't want to pay a club
 
struff55 said:
This form should have a section for registered target shooters and one for novice shooters the term clays as a generalisation is just to confusing case and point next discussion below this one where can I shoot if I don't want to pay a club
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Registered shooters are not the only shooters shooting at trap, skeet or sporting clays clubs. There are more non-registered shooters using club facilities than registered shooters at pretty much every club I have shot at. I think what you mean to say is have a forum titled "informal clay target shooting" geared to do it yourselfers who buy a box of clays and head out with their own manual or electric thrower. Just like the guys I was standing behind at Canadian Tire the other day with a box of "skeets" and going out back of the farm for new years day to shoot "trap" with the wives.
 
the spank said:
Registered shooters are not the only shooters shooting at trap, skeet or sporting clays clubs. There are more non-registered shooters using club facilities than registered shooters at pretty much every club I have shot at. I think what you mean to say is have a forum titled "informal clay target shooting" geared to do it yourselfers who buy a box of clays and head out with their own manual or electric thrower. Just like the guys I was standing behind at Canadian Tire the other day with a box of "skeets" and going out back of the farm for new years day to shoot "trap" with the wives.
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Exactly! The club that I shoot at now doesn't have any shooters that have shot registered targets in the last several years, but many of the shooters have earned their 50 or 100 straight badges, so they are not really novice shooters. The same would be true of the previous club that I shot at. And none of the shooters that I shoot with on a regular basis would ever refer to the clay targets as "skeets".
 
Mikey66 I see your from Vancouver, none of our local clubs allow larger than 7 1/2, #4 shot travels to far, when it leaves club property bad news is soon to follow.
 
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