doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Lowering amount of shot

Not this big of a deal, and not worth a debate. Just wondering if it would mess anything up, and clearly it won�t.

We're all subject to "doing something stupid", I guess. I almost never shoot skeet, but occasionally I will shoot a round with one of my .410 S x Ss, and on the singles I miss I will try with the second barrel, just like I would in the field. Last time I did that the trapper commented that he had a good time watching.

SRH

OK, I have been waiting for a discussion of ignition pressures.

When you drop the weight of the ejecta, then pressures will drop.
When pressures drop the environment needed to effectively ignite the powder is changed.
Now you may see this with dirtier barrels, bloopers, or nothing.
Also temperature of the ammo will be more critical.
Lots of other considerations.

But I say try it and see if it does what you want, just keep a cleaning rod handy and watch for wad to clear the barrel.

Mike

7/8 is close to the international trap load and is a great performer in the 12. Just ask the Olympic shooters. Try American Select or Clays. ClayDot is good but better in 1 oz loads. There is an abundance of tested reloading data; do not wander off the reservation if you are new to reloading

Clays, 7/8 oz #8 in a 12 is about all I shoot on skeet, SC, and trap. I�m never the top shooter but then again I don�t try to be. I just don�t embarrass myself (very often). It�s a load that shouldn�t be as good as it actually is.

I shoot the 3/4 oz claybuster 12 ga wad almost exclusively for practice. The wad bag has a load sheet inside. I got hooked shooting 21 gram loads in Europe. I was already at 7/8 oz so the next step was easy.

The load listed at the beginning was acquired from the Hodgdon online tool. I�m going for low pressure, low recoil, old gun loads, without having to pay what RST costs. I loaded some of the recipe above to test out myself, and mail off. I did notice that the crimps were deeper and unattractive. Sometimes crimps are irregular on my MEC Jr.. It�s old and sloppy. When I have the money I�ll get a new one. In the meantime, I�m just looking for a light load with what wads/powder I have on hand, and save money by using less shot. I do not shoot competively.

All that money your saving it might be time to make a donation to the website.

Decades ago I started a 12 year-old shooting with my cut down Beretta gas auto 12 with reloaded 3/4 oz. load. It was a developed load by the late rangemaster of a local skeet club. It was a good load; the boy learned to powder skeet with it and he shot it on early season dove. I also shot it out of my 3200 on dove while hunting with the boy and it was a pleasure to shoot out of the 8 lb. gun.

Ditch the SL wad and use the Claybuster 3/4 oz wad. Crimp dishing problems are cured.