What shells do you use for Sporting Clays?

[Cuda440]

Just curious, I shot my first ever sporting clays match at Raahauges a couple weeks ago, and I cant wait till the next "fun shoot" match in a few weeks.

I was using some Winchester Universal shells I bought about 4 years ago, and now I need to order more ammo for the next match. Should I just grapb the cheapest stuff? or something better? I'm not recoil sensitive, so heavier loads are fine if they help out at all.

What weight, shot size, brand, etc. do you prefer?

[ysr_racer]

Me, I shoot 1oz of #8 going 1200 fps.

I buy Estate by the pallet, and it works out fine.

[Newshooter]

I shoot, 1 oz, #7.5 @ 1200 fps.

1 1/8 oz shells have a bit more shot than the 1 oz in case you are a bit off.

[Cuda440]

Thanks. I looked up the shells I had, apparently they aren't made anymore and were known for being under-powered. I was using winchest U127 shells, they are 1 1/8 oz of 7 1/2 shot supposedly at 1200 FPS- but there's many complaints of them not cycling semi's and being slower than advertized.

The Estate ammo seems pretty affordable, I'll look into it. As a newb, should I grab the heavier #7 1/2 shot or the wider spread of the #8 shot?

[ysr_racer]

The Estate ammo seems pretty affordable, I'll look into it. As a newb, should I grab the heavier #7 1/2 shot or the wider spread of the #8 shot?

Next you're going to ask, coke or pepsi, chevy or ford, chocolate or vanilla

[Cuda440]

Next you're going to ask, coke or pepsi, chevy or ford, chocolate or vanilla

LOL, so I assume it doesn't matter. Buy a shell, put it in my gun, and point at the clay. Seems simple enough, I'll post up a 100/100 in a few weeks

Thanks for the help man. I really suck at clays, but it's so much fun. I cant wait for the next match and I'm thinking about a membership but the ammo cost might break me. Maybe if I refinance my house......

[lewdogg21]

Estates are great. I use them and buy them exclusively for ducks and geese.

[uh2oguy]

I use Estate #8 at 1200fps, consistent and shoots clean
try buying at Cabela's, if you buy enough shipping is free or at least cheaper by the time you break down the total cost

[Capybara]

Just shot my first case of Estate light loads, they were great, I will be buying more of them through Cabelas.

[prc77]

check out J&S wholesale for Estate and Rio shotshells

[drunktank]

Didn't know universals were discontinued. I just use whatever is cheap at Wally World. Haven't had any issues cycling my Winchester.

[NapalmCheese]

Coke, Ford, Vanilla.

Pattern your gun with 1 oz and 1-1/8th ounce loads of 8 and 7.5s. Might not make a huge difference at all, or, as with the mod choke in my gun, you might find that 1oz Fiocchi #8s pattern great, don't generate a ton of recoil, and smoke a lot of clays. If I was better, they'd smoke more clays.

[BigDogatPlay]

I get best results from my guns with 1 ounce of shot, either 7.5 or 8 at ~ 1150 fps from Federal. I've used the same Estate loads at 1200 fps as mentioned above with very good results also.

Lately I've been shooting 1 1/8 ounce of 7.5 because thats what has been handy. It works, but my guns, particularly my 1100, seem to like the lighter load better.

[ysr_racer]

If you're shooting a semi-auto then you might have to use something a little heavier.

If not, use the lightest load that will get the job done. I've shot targets from station 8 on a skeet field, to monster battues at World FITASC, and 1oz of number 8's broke them all.

[Rover]

I shoot a lot of Federal "Top Gun" shells, both 7.5 and 8 shot. I find myself hitting the very long shots with 7.5s just slightly more often, but that may be luck of the draw/mental more than anything. Cabela's has them cheap, Walmart usually has them in stock (until I show up and buy them all), and my range stocks them by the pallet, so if I shoot more than I planned and run out, I don't have to switch shells halfway through the day.

Estate makes a good inexpensive shells too, shot them plenty, and they work great.

Both options are better IMHO than the 100packs, if nothing else, they're a little less expensive. If you're going to buy the 100 pack multi-purpose loads, I think the Federals are the better of the bunch.