What is a light load? What is a heavy load?

[mnh327]

Cruising the Walmart SG ammo isle, besides Buckshot and slugs, what is a heavy or light load?

Mostly they had 7 1/2 and 8,
DRAM 2-3 (I think)
7/8 oz or 1 1/8 oz.

What will and what won't cycle something like a Remington 11-87 or a Saiga 12?

[1lostinspace]

the lower the number the heavier it gets all the way to Buck and slugs what are you trying to do Home Defense? I would with either 4 Buck or 00 if you don't like your neighbors

[Tom-ADC]

I go by the shot charge say 12 ga the smaller the shot weight the lighter the load, I shoot a 11-87 Sporting Clays it will cycle everything BUT you can't shoot the 1 1/4 oz up stuff because of the lite contour barrel. I'd think anything from 1 oz up should cycle a standard 11-87. Mine will cycle my 12 ga 7/8 oz skeet loads with almost no recoil.

[Unforgiven]

I believe the questions were, what is the difference between light and heavy loads and what will/won't cycle in his gun. Light/Heavy refers to the Dram equivalent, basically how much gun powder is used. Light loads, less recoil, slower fps speeds. Heavy loads, more recoil, faster speeds. Some guns run light loads fine, some will not cycle. The load you choose depends on what you are using it for and how it works in your gun. Hope this helps.

[mnh327]

Thanks, it does help.

So DRAM equivalents is the number to look for.. the higher the DRAM, the higher the power?

When you see 7/8 oz shot, I know that's light, but is it necessarily weak in power (will the DRAM always be low in this case?)

So what wallmart ammo will cycle a Saiga besides buckshot and slugs??

[BigDogatPlay]

As above... choose the load that serves your shooting purpose. You'd probably want to shoot lighter bird shot rounds to practice and get trigger time without dropping the heavier cost of buck and slug rounds. You'd want to shoot the buck and slug rounds occasionally for practice, and to either hunt four legged game or defend yourself.

Mostly they had 7 1/2 and 8,
DRAM 2-3 (I think)
7/8 oz or 1 1/8 oz.

Those will be low base bird shot rounds, probably running in the 1200 FPS range. Used for hunting small game birds (dove, quail, etc.) and busting clays. Most of the Wal-Mart bulk ammo, Remington, Federal and Winchester (Universal), are all 3 dram equivalent.

Example... I bought a couple of cases of Federal "target loads" at Wally a couple weeks ago (they were out of Remington) and they are 1 oz of #8 shot, 3 dram equivalent running ~1250 FPS. My 1100 trap gun eats them just fine.

The 7/8 oz loads might be 20 gauge... check before you buy since Wally won't take back ammo once it leaves the store.

These lighter loads should cycle fine in an 11-87 field or clays gun, but likely will not in an 11-87P model or may not in an 11-87 with a special purpose barrel. I don't have experience with Saiga, so someone with some time on that platform would have to weigh in.

[Thefeeder]

Thanks, it does help.

So DRAM equivalents is the number to look for.. the higher the DRAM, the higher the power?

When you see 7/8 oz shot, I know that's light, but is it necessarily weak in power (will the DRAM always be low in this case?)

So what wallmart ammo will cycle a Saiga besides buckshot and slugs??

Yes DRAM is what you want to look for. Amount of shot is just that, has nothing to do with the powder charge pushing it.

At Walmat you will find (in 12ga 2 3/4" ) 2 3/4 Dram loads(total crap IMO), 3, 3 1/4 and full house 3 3/4 dram 1 1/4 oz of shot(Federal Game Shok)....start with box of 3 and 3 1/4.

You will also find full house Steel 2 3/4" duck loads....will pellet sizes as large as 1, BB, BBB or T

Time to experment