7.5 or 8 shot for trap?

sharp shooter

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
83   0   0
Okay everybody, here is the big question. Who prefers 7.5's and who prefers 8's? I just started out trap shooting a few months ago and do reload. I've been happy with both from 16 yards. Shot my first three 25's with 7.5 but have been trying 8's lately and like them too.
 
I think it depends on your choke. If shooting 1 ounce of 7.5's I prefer Full choke because there's only 350 pellets. There is a slide rule gizmo called a Choke Chooser that calculates patterns and recommends chokes based on shot size and payload.
1 ounce #7.5, Full choke gives 22" pattern at 35 yards.
1 1/8 ounce #7.5, IM choke gives 23" pattern at 35 yards.
1 ounce #8, IM choke gives 24" pattern at 35 yards.
1 1/8 ounce #8, M choke gives 25" pattern at 35 yards.
The above assumes a 2 pellet hit threshold to break a target.
So to answer your question, I prefer #8. There is an opinion that 7.5 has more energy and it only takes 1 hit but there's less pellets and more chance of a hole in the pattern the target can fly through. So, full choke.
 
I think it depends on your choke. If shooting 1 ounce of 7.5's I prefer Full choke because there's only 350 pellets. There is a slide rule gizmo called a Choke Chooser that calculates patterns and recommends chokes based on shot size and payload.
1 ounce #7.5, Full choke gives 22" pattern at 35 yards.
1 1/8 ounce #7.5, IM choke gives 23" pattern at 35 yards.
1 ounce #8, IM choke gives 24" pattern at 35 yards.
1 1/8 ounce #8, M choke gives 25" pattern at 35 yards.
The above assumes a 2 pellet hit threshold to break a target.
So to answer your question, I prefer #8. There is an opinion that 7.5 has more energy and it only takes 1 hit but there's less pellets and more chance of a hole in the pattern the target can fly through. So, full choke.

My skills are not good enough to advise anyone but I have two friends that can go 100 straight all day long . One uses 1oz of #8 with a IM choke the other uses 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 shot with a full choke . One breaks targets early the other rides them out . 1 oz of #8 has more shot than 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 . It all depends what works for you.
 
The reality is that from the 16 yard line, if your on the target and the shell goes bang... it will break if you don't dilly dally! That's not nessesarily my strategy in a competition though, I'd prefer 1 1/8 oz of #8's with Improved mod or full choke.
 
As mentioned, at 16 yards shot size ( and to a lesser extent choke, shot payload) make no difference if the shooter is doing their part. Use whatever you’re confident with.
 
My personal preference has always been 7.5's but I shoot whatever I can lay my hands on cheap enough. I just picked up 30 flats of AA's for $135/flat tax in. Half were 1 1/8oz 7.5 Super Handicaps and the other half Lite 8's...I also picked up 10 flats of Challenger 1oz 8's @1200 fps for $110/flat tax in. My wife likes to shoot 1oz loads under 1200 fps for the lower recoil and we just got her 10 flats of Super Target 1oz 7.5's @1150fps for $105 tax in. We should be good for next two seasons now but we always keep an eye out for deals to keep stocked up.
 
Its funny how the mind works. I have always shot 7.5's with confidence. I have several flats that I loaded with 7.5's and have been very happy with them. I tried a new load and wad with 8's last weekend and had a really good day shooting with them. My gut tells me it was just me shooting good and not the load but try telling my head that. I have lots of 7.5 shot here to load with but since I shot my best day with 8's its messed me up. Before that I would have been more confident with 7.5's. I guess its time to rip the labels of my boxes of reloads.
 
Your best bet is to pattern your gun......at he ranges you will be breaking the targets!!!
Use recommendations as guidelines only!
If you handload your fun is just starting, if you have screw in chokes you are lucky and will be spending money fine tuning and adding chokes to your collection,
but only after adjusting your handloads. Your choice of shot means nothing i the gun does not pattern well with our handload at the required distance.
In this order:
1. Pattern your gun.
2. Adjust your handloads, do not make adjustments before validating loads (shoot more than one pattern shot)
3. Try different wads and powders.
4. Document everything you do and don't even think about not chronographing! You have to know your speeds.
Good Luck
BB
 
Okay; then from the 24yd line, what would you pick and why?

When going to long yardage most shooters opt for ‘handicap’ labelled ammo which typically is 1 1/8 oz of shot at 1300 fps. They also usually go with #7 1/2 shot to maximize retained energy at these longer ranges. Naturally this needs to be teamed with tight (full) chokes to provide the needed pattern density. Which in turn requires above average skill to consistently post good scores. I have occasionally seen handicap matches won with standard velocity # 8’s but rarely. Winners shoot what wins and always strive for perfection. If it was easy ther would be no challenge, it would get boring.
 
I think I'm going to stick with 9/8oz of 7.5 for now. My BT99 has a full choke and until I get consistent, I will revisit the shot size later. Maybe using 7.5's with a full choke at 16 will make me a better shot.
 
It doesn't matter unless you think it matters then it matters very much. I've heard the pellet count vs. retained energy argument for years. Ballistics, patterns and other opinions aside I have more confidence in targets beyond 40 yards with 7.5 and that's all that matters.
 
It doesn't matter unless you think it matters then it matters very much. I've heard the pellet count vs. retained energy argument for years. Ballistics, patterns and other opinions aside I have more confidence in targets beyond 40 yards with 7.5 and that's all that matters.

Confidence does indeed matter, if you even suspect that your ammo isn't up to the task then mentally you're at a disadvantage. When you start to step back towards the 27 yard line or have a long crossing shot at sporting clays you need to be using good ammo designed for long range. Hard premium shot that can get slammed through the forcing cone and choke tube with little deformation so the shot colum will hold together way out there and heavy #7.5 shot to carry the energy. Not that you can't break targets way out there with lesser ammo but if that ammo costs you even one target in an important match then it's 1 target too many since competitions are often won and lost by 1 target!
 
A few more pellets in a load of #8, which might break any extra bird or two for you once in awhile.

Mainly depends on your gun and confidence.

Personally, I normally shoot 8s on the 16 yard (unless super windy) and 7.5 on handicap and a combined load on doubles. (8 then 7.5)
 
Back
Top Bottom