Shotgun Shell Velocity

[bhaubold]

I have been using #8 -1 1/8 oz. 1200 FPS velocity shells for trap shooting. Would changing to 1145 FPS make a big difference? It being so dang hard to find shells around here, I'm thinking I need to broaden my choices somewhat. Any comments would be welcome.

Thanks,

[AAShooter]

I would doubt you would notice the difference. I often shoot 1 oz loads for trap. Since I reload, it saves shot for an extra shell every eight.

[CK_32]

Yea it would make about 55FPS of difference


Honestly your "1200 FPS shells probably average 1100FPS. But no that's almost like having barber cut one hair from your head and you say your head felt different from the weight difference.

[Hamilton]

Depending on how much you shoot, you might feel it in recoil but a clay going an average of 45 mph away from you would only move about .05 of an inch further away from if using a 1145 fps load, assuming you fired one second after the clay was launched. To get a more accurate estimate you'd want to determine an average speed of the shot as it closes on the clay.

[ysr_racer]

I would doubt you would notice the difference. I often shoot 1 oz loads for trap. Since I reload, it saves shot for an extra shell every eight.

I shoot 1oz for everything. Believe it or not I can feel the difference between that and 1-1/8oz like night and day.

[Tom-ADC]

Many many years ago I had a 8 pound can/keg of Bullseye I wanted to shoot up, the American Rifleman had a article on 12 ga 7/8 oz loads using it, shoot it all up at skeet, they ram about 1150 FPS was like shooting my 20 in a heavier gun, but man was it dirty.

[epic1856]

As most folks stated. No you will not notice a difference between the velocities or going to a 1 oz load when it comes to hitting the clays, but you will notice the recoil. I can feel the difference between shooting a 1 oz 1150 fps (this is what I reload) and 1 1/8 oz 1200 fps load.

When I practice I use 7/8 oz at 1250 fps to keep the cost down and it brings down the clays just as good as the 1 1/8 oz loads.

//all 12 g loads

[Socalman]

The OP asked about a change in FPS, not the load. I certainly would not notice the difference in that little of change in velocity, though if it involved the 1/8 of an ounce load change I think you would feel it.

[Dattebayo]

I shoot 1oz for everything. Believe it or not I can feel the difference between that and 1-1/8oz like night and day.

I agree with ysr_racer. If you move up in load weights, the change is significant, but a slight reduction in power I don't think makes as big of an impact on perceived recoil. I have loaded top end and low end loads for 1 oz and the recoil properties a very similar, with hardly any change. All though going up to 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 oz loads, the shell will kick significantly more.

[Tom-ADC]

Why not think about reloading? A MEC entry level press not sure they still make a 600 JR but I've loaded thousands of shotgun shells using one, I use Winchester AA cases and load mild 1200 FPS all loads 1 1/8, 1 or 7/8 oz all pretty much shoot same poa just less pellets. I get 8-10 reloads I watch the cases and since I shoot O/U they don't get beat up to bad.

[Newshooter]

I shoot 1 oz load for trap and sporting clays.

For trap, a 1 oz load at 1150 works great. I bought some low recoil 900 FPS shells for my wife to try and they smash targets. The bottom line is if the barrel is where it needs to be, the target will break.