Trap shooting loads - Best Value

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Callicles

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Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum, so please forgive me if I'm duplicating a post someone else has already started. I'm fairly new to trap shooting, having done it for the first time in 20 years recently. Basically, I'm wondering how to get the best bang for my buck (pun intended) with 12 gauge ammo.

For instance, The Canadian Tire web site target load Federal 12-Gauge 1-1/8 oz, 2-3/4-in, 3 Dram #8 Lead Shotgun Shells for $70 for 250 rounds. Now, that strikes me as a pretty good price, but is this a round worth firing? I'm not competitive. I just want affordable rounds so I can do lots of shooting and not break the bank (don't we all?). Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Shoot the Federals. They will break any trap target.

"Challengers are what I buy at Hummason's in Ancaster, Ontario ... $54.95 plus tax per flat." That is a great deal !
 
Callicles said:
For instance, The Canadian Tire web site target load Federal 12-Gauge 1-1/8 oz, 2-3/4-in, 3 Dram #8 Lead Shotgun Shells for $70 for 250 rounds. Now, that strikes me as a pretty good price, but is this a round worth firing? I'm not competitive. I just want affordable rounds so I can do lots of shooting and not break the bank (don't we all?). Thanks in advance for any help.
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Where are you located? That's not an especially good price for Federal Top Gun. Lawry's in Caledonia, Ontario, is selling them for $55.95 for 250. Federal shells are okay except for the odour they emit after being fired.

I prefer Challengers in warm weather. Remington Gun Club when it's cold.
 
I'm in BC. I was wondering about the types of load. Target load, #4, etc. It's all pretty new to me and I read so much information online that it boggles my mind. I've always had great luck in learning stuff from people on forums, so I thought I'd go there. Thanks for the input everyone.
 
Callicles said:
I'm in BC. I was wondering about the types of load. Target load, #4, etc. It's all pretty new to me and I read so much information online that it boggles my mind. I've always had great luck in learning stuff from people on forums, so I thought I'd go there. Thanks for the input everyone.
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Most clay target ranges limit shells to nothing larger than #7.5, 1-1/4 ounce, 3-1/4 dram shells. Larger shot like #4 is generally prohibited due to larger shot fall zone.
 
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In Alberta if you can find it for less than $70/flat, buy it. #7.5 or 8, 7-8oz to 1-1/8oz, doesn't really matter buy it and shoot it. I have yet to find any truly "bad" ammo, just loads you and your gun like better. I for example very much dislike Federal Topgun loads. But if it's $70/flat for Topguns or $80/flat for SuperTargets, I'll shoot the Topguns.

There are guns that are designed for certain loads: Zoli Z-Gun barrels are supposedly optimized for 1oz loads; where as Kohlers pattern better with heavier loads. That being said, the difference is small enough that I doubt there are very many people could accredit a miss to a "non-optimized" load being used (i.e. George Digweed)

Claybuster: A number of clubs out in this neck of the woods limit to 3 dram. It's a bit of a pain in the butt as it means at the Calgary Firearms Centre (trap club) you cannot actually shoot International Target loads.
 
Claybuster said:
... Federal shells are okay except for the odour they emit after being fired....
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Ahhh , once fired Federal papers ... I keep a bag of 100 in the back seat as a vehicle deodorizer !!!

Challengers, Kent, Federal Top Guns and Remington Gun Clubs all work pretty good for $ 60 / flat or less ... I avoid the Winchester promo stuff altogether.
 
Unless getting ready for a competition does it really matter what brand of shells to use. What ever one can get locally cheap works just fine.
In the end it won't make any difference who made them for fun shooting as long as they go bang and pattern reasonable in your gun
If serious shooting I use Remington nitro 27's in 12ga. Expensive yes in canada but no problem getting 10 cents a hull back either to the reloaders
 
"I presume hauling all that lead over the Rockies adds to the cost !"

It's not any cheaper on the east side of the Rockies !
 
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westward said:
"I presume hauling all that lead over the Rockies adds to the cost !"

It's not any cheaper on the east side of the Rockies !
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All of the major ammo manufacturers plants are closer to Toronto than they are to Alberta & B.C.
Federal, however, is closer to Winnipeg, Regina & Saskatoon, than it is to Toronto ... shipping there should be less - depending on the quantity shipped.
Challenger target ammo should also be less expensive than any of the other brands,, particularly in Montreal & Toronto.
I would guess the Ontario market burns up a lot more target loads than do the other provinces, judging by the number of gun clubs, registered shooters
& the existence of both shot & target manufacturers ( Hummason & Lawry ) Maybe why Kent Cartridge (Canada)also chose to locate close to Toronto.
Remington (Lonoke, AR) Winchester (East Alton, IL) , Federal (Anoka, MN) Challenger (Ste, Hyacinthe, QC) and Kent (Kearneysville, WV) are all on
major truck & rail routes into southern Ontario, the industrial/manufacturing hub of Canada .

Perhaps logistics & economies of scale have more to do with lower ammo prices in Ontario than elsewhere.
 
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