I've been shooting a 7/8 oz load for skeet over about the past 2 years (AAHS case 17.3g Promo 209 primer 7/8oz #9). The load seems to work well, but lately I have wondered whether I should stick with it, especially for things like the club championship, which usually involves some skeet, and even for competition, which I would like to try sometime, before I get too old. Is it a good idea to practice with this load and use a 1 oz load for matches? I'm shooting somewhere in the 20's in practice. Most of the guys I have shot with, so far, appear to use 1 oz in practice, and I shoot with one chap that even uses 1 1/8th. I sure would like to hear what others think about this and what they have settled on for skeet loads. Thank you. Fred
12ga Skeet Load
- Thread starter BCFred
- Start date
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The serious shooters that I know that compete on a Provincial or national level for the mpost part shoot in practice what they shoot in competition, and a lot of them use a fast7/8oz load for both skeet and trap.
I am firm;y convinced tha going to 1 1/8os from 7/8oz would not be a good thing, because skeet is a game of timing,and cchanging your shot speed would require a change in your tiing as well.
FWIW, I would stick to the 7/8 loads and concentrate on your training mreso than the load, it works for me!
Cat
I use my 7/8 oz #8 loads over 18.2 grains of promo and do well with all my guns. It patterns so well I use it for skeet trap sporting clays and even small game hunting. I've found going back to a factory shell I can drop at least 2-3 birds
Hi Fred:
For me it came down to was I there for just the hell of it or there to try to put up the best scores I could and try to win.
The hell of it competitions I would shoot the 28ga in the 12ga events if they allowed me so I would stick to the 1 oz in the 12ga.
The rest for 12ga I would practise with mostly 1oz reloads all year and switch to the 1 1/8 factory ammo ( some places would not allow reloads) about a month prior to the competition. Using the 1 1/8 factory in the competition . Every pellet counts when trying to break them all. With respect to the speed all of mine were tested , and patterned and I kept pretty much the same speed regardless if 1 oz or 1 1/8. Only difference I would see is more ink spots
with the heavier load. I know guys that would weight every shot drop and ream out the bushings on their loaders if only a couple of pellets light.Back then to win I would shoot 1 1/4 if they would let me
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
The differenc is not surprisng sat all, the timeing however has to change of you are going to center the pattern and worry about stuff recoil and everythig else that goes into shooting clean.
Cat
The difference in lead when using shotshells of different velocities is primarily in the head of the person shooting. But if you convince yourself that there is indeed a difference, then I guess there is. Personally, adjusting my lead by a couple of inches is beyond my capabilities.
superd222
CGN frequent flyer
Back then to win I would shoot 1 1/4 if they would let me
Ha ha - I know guys who would shoot a pound if they could!!!
Some great comments here and thank you very much for that. There were a couple of things that I didn't say in the beginning. One was that, while I don't drop below 20, or haven't for quite some time, despite close calls, I seldom shoot straights. It turns out that the times I have done it I have used 1 oz loads. Now here is something else. Whenever I have shot 24 I have dropped one for some technical reason that I can specify, e.g. mental lapse, bad swing etc. and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the load I am using. The other day was a good example. I was working on a straight, missed station 8 high house then shot 8 high house and low house for a 24. A good score for me, of course, but frustrating because I had the feeling I was mentally off on the shot I missed. Maybe psychoanalysis would help.
.Some great comments here and thank you very much for that. There were a couple of things that I didn't say in the beginning. One was that, while I don't drop below 20, or haven't for quite some time, despite close calls, I seldom shoot straights. It turns out that the times I have done it I have used 1 oz loads. Now here is something else. Whenever I have shot 24 I have dropped one for some technical reason that I can specify, e.g. mental lapse, bad swing etc. and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the load I am using. The other day was a good example. I was working on a straight, missed station 8 high house then shot 8 high house and low house for a 24. A good score for me, of course, but frustrating because I had the feeling I was mentally off on the shot I missed. Maybe psychoanalysis would help
Hi Fred:
The straights will come. Focus on each bird , shoot them one at a time and stop counting. I was a 23/24 shooter for a long , long time before I could put a string of 25's together.
All of a sudden you will get on station 8 and think hey where did this shell come from and that will happen more and more. The load to me or the ga other than the 410 had zero impact on my shooting. The mind was a different story
For me it is simple I count and I miss. Relax , focus and break them all.
That's a very telling statement. Intellectually you know that it probably doesn't matter but your subconscious is telling you that you hit more targets with 1 ounce. Go back to using 1 ounce loads for competition and practice. If you believe you will hit more targets with 1 ounce loads then you will.
If you don't want to change your payload, you can always practice with a tighter choke, and then go back to the more open one for competition...
Also, you can match velocities with your 1.1/8oz load to your 7/8oz load without much trouble.
If it was me I would use the tighter choke trick. I wouldn't like the recoil differences between loads.
Brad.
Also, you can match velocities with your 1.1/8oz load to your 7/8oz load without much trouble.
If it was me I would use the tighter choke trick. I wouldn't like the recoil differences between loads.
Brad.
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
This is exactly what I was trying to get at.
The diffetrence in the two shells is going to make enough of a mental difference , coupled with the added recoil, that I truly believe higher scores will be shot with the lighter load.
I still shoot better scores with my 28 than a 12 because the recoil weighs on my shouldr AND my mind, not because of anything else.
I guess I should have been more explicit.
Cat
We have no idea what type of gun he is shooting to bring recoil into it.If it is a semi what recoil will you feel between 1 oz and 1 1/8 oz???
You shoot better scores with your 28 because a 28 is the bomB
If I was to guess I would say Fred is an over /under guy
Last edited:
Fred,
I think it has been a long cold winter and some of us especially me have been thinking about shooting instead of shooting. Some of the shooting we manage to get in is not our best because be are too bundled up. Too much thinking and not enough shooting! When spring finally gets here and I am ready to get back to my game, it will be back to basics. I will start with easy fluffy targets and concentrate on form.
If I made a list of all of the things that would cause me to miss a target, the list would be very very long. Near the bottom of the list would be not enough pellets to score a target. Closer to the top of the list would be worrying about choice of load. For me I know that any target at skeet distance that I deserve to score, I do score. Actually I get the odd extra ones from time to time because....because it just happens with a shot gun. I shoot light because of comfort and economics but I am also confident that light will do the job. Look at all those real skeet shooters who choose a 20 in the 12 gauge event? If your choice load is comfortable and you have confidence in it, shoot it. A little shot or a lot of shot, as a reloader you can choose the same speed for both.
For skeet I like 7/8 oz of 7 1/2!
I think it has been a long cold winter and some of us especially me have been thinking about shooting instead of shooting. Some of the shooting we manage to get in is not our best because be are too bundled up. Too much thinking and not enough shooting! When spring finally gets here and I am ready to get back to my game, it will be back to basics. I will start with easy fluffy targets and concentrate on form.
If I made a list of all of the things that would cause me to miss a target, the list would be very very long. Near the bottom of the list would be not enough pellets to score a target. Closer to the top of the list would be worrying about choice of load. For me I know that any target at skeet distance that I deserve to score, I do score. Actually I get the odd extra ones from time to time because....because it just happens with a shot gun.
I shoot light because of comfort and economics but I am also confident that light will do the job. Look at all those real skeet shooters who choose a 20 in the 12 gauge event? If your choice load is comfortable and you have confidence in it, shoot it. A little shot or a lot of shot, as a reloader you can choose the same speed for both.For skeet I like 7/8 oz of 7 1/2!
Thank you very much for some very helpful comments. It's kind of hard responding to them all. Changing chokes for practice sounds soooo simple once someone suggests it BM, but I didn't think of it. I'm going to use IC for practice and change to Skeet chokes in matches. The skeet chokes do pattern 7/8 oz #9 very well at 23.5 yards (where I pattern for skeet). I think the comment about what the subconscious is saying by Cat in the Hat and Claybuster is bang on for me and I'm going to change my self talk. You'd think by now I'd realize when I am setting myself up for failure... 3macs1 I am shooting a Beretta Silver Pigeon II with 28 inch barrels. I love the thing though recoil is a bit more of a concern with it because it is lighter than my other guns. Still, I've been blessed all (most of?) my life with low sensitivity to recoil, some unkind types would say no sensitivity, so far the loads don't bother me at all. Looks like I change to IC chokes for practice. Stay with my 7/8 oz load. Get my mental game going better and keep practicing.
3macs1 I am shooting a Beretta Silver Pigeon II with 28 inch barrels. I love the thing though recoil is a bit more of a concern with it because it is lighter than my other guns. Still, I've been blessed all (most of?) my life with low sensitivity to recoil, some unkind types would say no sensitivity, so far the loads don't bother me at all. Looks like I change to IC chokes for practice. Stay with my 7/8 oz load. Get my mental game going better and keep practicing.Fred,
I think it has been a long cold winter and some of us especially me have been thinking about shooting instead of shooting. Some of the shooting we manage to get in is not our best because be are too bundled up. Too much thinking and not enough shooting! When spring finally gets here and I am ready to get back to my game, it will be back to basics. I will start with easy fluffy targets and concentrate on form.
If I made a list of all of the things that would cause me to miss a target, the list would be very very long. Near the bottom of the list would be not enough pellets to score a target. Closer to the top of the list would be worrying about choice of load. For me I know that any target at skeet distance that I deserve to score, I do score. Actually I get the odd extra ones from time to time because....because it just happens with a shot gun.
For skeet I like 7/8 oz of 7 1/2!
I agree with you about winter CR. I think you know that I let the skeet field fill up with snow this winter at our range and we have been shooting trap there. We had a fair amount of snow and I couldn't keep up. So, was only capable of keeping trap open. I've travelled over to North Okanagan Trap and Skeet to shoot skeet (nice venue, good bunch...seems typical for the shooting sports don't it
) over the last month or so and when I've had the chance. I take your point about the 20 ga. It's kind of 'fun' trying to shoot the same scores with my 12 that the other guys are getting with 20 ga and even 410 at that club. The day I shot the 24 there was a chap there that shot his 14th or 15th 24 with his 410, makes my subconscious look like a pussy doesn't it. I've wondered if a guy gives anything away using 20 ga. They can shoot the same payload I am with the 12. So much for agreement though...jeez 7 1/2 for skeet!!! It just doesn't sound right CR. Fredgoosegetter
Member
- Location
- south of Hamilton
only shoot 1 1/8 oz loads ,higher scores better breaks and more confidence rides with them . why handicap yourself? if the recoil is too much then you better shoot 20ga tubes but keep your pellet count as high as you can and that also means #9 shot , it has over110 more pellets than #8 and often thats what is needed.
A good reason to use light loads, apart from recoil as you mention, is to save money. Shot is an expensive item in reloading and shooting a light load can save a fair amount. One gets 'roughly' 355 reloads from a bag of shot using 1 1/8 oz loads; 400 using 1 oz and 457 using 7/8. So, as you can see, there are pretty good savings to be had when you are getting an additional 50, or even 100, shells per bag for the same cost, especially when you don't see a difference in results using the lighter loads. I just don't think 1 1/8 oz loads will lead to better scores for me in skeet...pretty sure about this...less sure about 7/8 vs 1 oz. The heavier loads probably do help me in trap beyond the 20 yard line or so. Another reason I am monkey braining 7/8 vs 1 oz is that it would be more convenient to reload solely 1 oz for everything outside handicap trap and some sporting clays shots. I think there might be less chance for errors and you only need one type of wad and to set your loader up for one load. There may be some other benefits to just shooting one load across activities too. For one thing the velocity and recoil of the load you are using is the same and, as a result, you have less to adjust to moving across disciplines. I prefer to shoot trap and skeet and doubles and sporting clays, when I get the chance, rather than specializing in one. I was thinking that it might be nice to use the same load for close shots in clays, first shot in doubles trap, 16 yard trap and in skeet. One might use one other load, e.g. 1 1/8 or 1 1/16 oz for second shot in doubles, long shots in sporting and handicap trap. Sorry for the run on here. I really found the question of why one would want to consider using smaller loads to be a good one.
You are giving me flash backs Fred when I read this. When you start adding up how many extra shells per bag it may be too late. I know it was for me but it was one of the best things that ever happened.
They might be able to bring you back but I am not sure it may be too late.
The only cure I can see is a new
Just kidding with you load 1oz for it all and see how you do. I shoot 28ga for everything just change barrels and choke tubes for trap and switch to 7 1/2 shot from no.9. Makes it easy to load for sure, one wad, same hull and powder just change shot size.
