Shot shell for CAS?

Sporting Lad

Sporting Lad

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I'd like to know what ammo is recommended for the Stoeger sxs in CAS matches.
I want to try some matches this year, so I'd like to be proficient/familiar with the three gun types before I arrive.
What do you suggest I load my 12ga with?
 
I'm just starting CAS this year myself, but I'm pretty sure a standard target load of #7.5's is the typical choice. Most shots are very close and my local club has a max shot size of #6 (I think - I'll be using 7.5's) to minimize the chance of any pellets bouncing back off the steel.
 
the normal shot used is any lead between #8 and #4 shot being the highest (SASS rules) however unless you reload yourself most people including myself use normal trap loads 7.5 to 8 just because there the cheapest to buy a flat of. as for stoegers... i have found that most of the stoeger's don't like Winchester rounds as they expand to much and are stiff to pull out of the gun after it has been fired, however federals...i have always had good luck with them ...they seam to fall right out without having the chambers honed out
thanks
zeek
 
My wife has 2x IGA/Stoegers SxS 12 gauge shotguns with chambers that have been polished with a 12 ga flexhone for CAS matches. She likes Winchester "AA" #8 shot, Low Velocity, Low Recoil. At least this is what she used the last 2 US Nationals and will use at the 2015 US Nationals in Phoenix next month. She finds that it doesn't bruise her.

Do to the cost of "Low Recoil, Low Velocity", I just use the cheapest #7.5 shot I can get at Canadian Tire or Walmart. Happy Wife, Happy life.
 
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I've tried a few and found that Federal Target seems to leap out of the chambers the best on my SxS. Some Remington and Fiocchi I've tried expand a touch more without shrinking back as much as with the Federal and they tend to not slip out with a little bit of a jerk to clear the hulls. So all in all I'd suggest trying to find some Federal Target and see how it works out for you.

Lots of folks love the Winchester AA. But it tends to be about $20'ish a flat more than the Federal.

Like as not I'd start with a box of 25 from a few of the cheaper priced options and see which your Stoeger likes.

I know that none of this pertains to grouping, shot size, accuracy or anything else. And that's because for CAS shooting all that stuff takes a distant back seat to how well the hulls shuck out of the chambers.

A very common mod for cowboy action shooting is to get a brake hone and polish the chambers to a few thou larger then run some super fine wetordry in the chambers with some light oil to polish them back out close to a mirror like shine. Again the goal being that they'll slide out of the chambers like a fresh caught fish off a wet cutting board. So if you find that even the best ammo is sticking by all means fix it or get it fixed.
 
I/we have found that almost anything brass will come out easily but steel or aluminum, when fired, will often swell to the point that is very difficult to extract or eject.
I can not use Challenger shells in either my SxS or my '97 clone.
I have no problems with Winchester AA's.
 
Well, I know that I can pick up my Federal hulls with the cleanup magnet when shooting some trap. So those are steel with brass plating. Yet they slip out easier than some other stuff. So it would seem that some of the brass flashed steel bases are OK.
 
I've been trying to get out to the range for some testing all month. I'll come back when I have something to report.
So far all I've shot was some Winnie "Super Target" 2-3/4" #8 shot which, at ~20yd, made a pattern that looked like somebody
hurled a bucket of sand at the paper. About a hundred Teeny-tiny holes everywhere.
Next up will be:

1) Federal 'Heavy Field Load' 2-3/4" #6
2) """""""" 2-3/4" #4 buckshot and
3) """""""" """""" 1 oz rifled slugs.

In my Alaskan Bear Defense gun I loaded 3" 000 buckshot and
slugs (only fired in practice) and my shoulder was pretty sore afterwords.

Our range has a bunch of steel bunnies, etc that are supposed to fall over, but that #8 didn't seem to
worry them at all. I don't think they'll allow those heavier loads at the next CAS meet.
 
OK, I'll be a lightweight!

Thx, John. Those Winnie #8s were just about the wussiest ones I could find at Cabelas last week.
OK, that's what I'll use for the CAS. Just seemed like they wouldn't even be enough to knock over a bunny.
Maybe I can take my recoil pad off ?

(A steel bunny...).
 
SASS rules seem to call for knock-downs to fall with a standard .38spl load. If you are using Super Target 12 gauge #8 shot the targets should be set to fall or credit given for the hit. At least my SxS knocks them down using Super Target, AA's or anything else for that matter.
SASS/CAS doesn't require power that could damage the steel, just a solid hit on the target, be it knock-down or swinger. The spotters or the RO will make the call for another shot if they don't think the hit was on. Certainly 3" 000 is not allowed under SASS rules, the max being # 4 bird shot.
The steel bunnies you mention may be for silhouette and not conducive for CAS purposes.
 
During a CAS match I generally carry 6x 7 1/2 shot on the front of my gun belt. I have shot at a number of un- sanctioned club matches where at time the targets are a bit of a problem using 7 1/2. In that case I have 2x #4 shot on the back of my gun belt, "just in case". At the most I've used 4x #4 shot through out a 20 match shooting season. If you shoot sanctioned Wild Bunch matches, the rule book specifies that the maximum allowable ammunition is #6 shot.
 
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