12 Ga, 1 1/8oz VS 1oz

[sargenv]

I tend to agree with AAShooter... For most plinking I generally go with the light fast loads (7/8 oz @ 1250-1300) but when there is money or prizes on the line, I tend to go 3 1/4 dram - 1 1/8 - 7.5 or 3 1/4 dram - 1 1/4 oz - 4's or 6's (first load is 1255 fps, second load is 1220 fps with more weight and larger shot).. If I want even more range/downrange energy I switch up to hunting loads and wads or tactical buckshot.. but this is speaking in terms of multi-gun or action shooting more than registered trap events..

Sometimes the lighter loads can leave you wanting if your choke is too open and your shot size is too small. It really is all about knowing your gun/load combinations that work at different distances on different targets..

Another thing I tell competitors who go long distances to compete is to pay the extra few bucks a box and buy target grade (read as high quality) ammo.. if you are paying over $1000 to travel somewhere, $20/case seems silly to risk snafu's where shells are concerned.. AA's, Top gun, or STS shells are good insurance that nothing bad will happen..

[Wodsworthy]

I prefer the cheapest one

[Newshooter]

I tend to agree with AAShooter... For most plinking I generally go with the light fast loads (7/8 oz @ 1250-1300) but when there is money or prizes on the line, I tend to go 3 1/4 dram - 1 1/8 - 7.5 or 3 1/4 dram - 1 1/4 oz - 4's or 6's (first load is 1255 fps, second load is 1220 fps with more weight and larger shot).. If I want even more range/downrange energy I switch up to hunting loads and wads or tactical buckshot.. but this is speaking in terms of multi-gun or action shooting more than registered ..

Registered events do not allow shot size larger than 7.5. Most ranges don't allow larger shot sizes either for clays fields.

[Bill Steele]

I always thought "handicap" level 1 1/8 oz loads gave you the best chances, especially when shooting doubles and, ah, handicap.

As I have aged, I have become more recoil sensitive and found a few 1 oz loads that seemed like a nice compromise.

Most recently, I picked up my first gas operated Beretta with their fancy kick off recoil setup. I have to say, that gun allows me to tolerate my old 21.5 grains of International under 1 1/8oz of 7.5 all day long. The bad news is I now have to bend over and pick up my hulls, maybe the problem just moved from a tender shoulder to a sore back. Life is one big trade off...

[pakk]

get a shell catcher

[Capybara]

1 oz loads = the sweet spot for the majority of average trap shooters.

[Bazerkly]

Last but not least, going from 1 1/8oz to 1oz means you get a free shell every 8 reloads!

[sargenv]

Registered events do not allow shot size larger than 7.5. Most ranges don't allow larger shot sizes either for clays fields.

Hence my disclaimer about:

"but this is speaking in terms of multi-gun or action shooting more than registered.."

Handicap loads tend to be a bit higher velocity.. usually in the 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 dram range with 1 1/8 of hard # 7.5's.. (which is 1250-1300 fps). The hardness of the shot means more uniform patterns and more consistent downrange performance.

[rsrocket1]

3/4 oz reclaimed shot works perfect on the skeet range and does well on the 16 yard trap line. If I shot 27 yard trap, I'd go with a higher weight, but I also wouldn't be using my IC choked Remington 1100 for it either.

I've shot 6 rounds of skeet in a day and with 3/4 oz, you don't even notice the recoil and at $3.30/box, your wallet feels pretty nice too.

I load to get about 1300 fps because the lighter loads like a higher velocity to get a better shot pattern (no hot spot in the center), so I use 19.2g Red Dot to get the pressure up to where the powder likes to burn. Clays or Extra Lite would be preferable, but you can't find the stuff locally at the moment.