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

I've been shooting 11/16 oz(found the bar in a loader I bought) over the same charge of 700x and 9's but in a 2 1/2" Euro hull for skeet and close in SC birds. 7/8 oz of 8's with in a 2 1/2" hull for SC. I don't bother loading any 2 3/4 or buying any, that way I can grab any shotgun for a day at the range.

And still load 7/8 oz of shot?

The Sherman Bell 7/8 oz load is very good. Fed. paper base economy hull, the short Fed wad, 18 gr. Clays or Clay Dot. WW 209. And you can shoot it in everything. Pitch the hulls after 2-3 loadings. I used it for years before going to 3/4.

I am surprised at the lack of comments on the (near) 7/8 oz international clay loads. Only one comment. How many American trap shooters (competitors) would rather be caught cheating on their wife�s than shooting 7/8oz shot🤫🤗

I would bet on the European shooters against our average trap man (w/7/8 oz) any day.

I shoot lighter loads in all of my target guns too

My wife used to shot her best with some 3/4oz noble sport in her rem 1100 I once bought on close out


Fun discussion
Jerry

I still shoot 1 oz. for vintager type sxs competitions but I often use 7/8 oz. loads for dove and informal clays. I don't really see much of a handicap shooting the lighter loads.

Some of my guns are from the late 1870s and early 1880s and I feel better shooting lighter loads in them. They aren't fragile, I just think less stress is a good idea especially since 7/8 oz. 12 ga. loads are plenty effective. A few of my guns have had wood cracks repaired and light loads are in order. I do beat guys shooting autos and o/u guns pretty regularly at the local 5 stand. All of them shooting hot 1 1/8 oz. loads. It pleases me to show them the error of their ways!

Reportedly, when the AMU had to go to 24 gr shells, their scores went up. Sometimes less is more.

I like the 7/8 oz load & have used it a lot in pest control.
I found by mixing half/half #3 shot & #7 1/2 shot that it is a very effective load at about 1150 fps.
Shot from an I Hollis & sons 12 g. originally 2 1/2 chambered hammer gun with 32" barrels choked full & stupid.
Someone before me had the chambers re cut to 2 3/4.
I Like to keep the stresses down on that gun.
O.M

"Little powder much lead. Shoots far kills dead." Was it ever applicable?

Yes ........... and it still is.

SRH

Sure, but it's more applicable to shot size that shot number. I think that saying comes from rifle bullets, or at least that's what I associate it with. Little lead pellets don't retain energy (shoot far) any better than in a 7/8 oz load than they do in a 1.5 oz load, and little pellets don't penetrate as well as big ones, all else being equal.