Shot size for Trap and Skeet

[usa259]

Thanks All!

[JFoley001]

Old thread, but...

+1 on #9

ETA: I shoot 20ga skeet

Edited July 27, 2016 by JFoley001

[NTH]

I shoot 8's for skeet and 5 stand, 7 1/2's for handi cap trap and anything longer than 30 yards. 7 1/2 for any rabbit target also.

[FWSixgunner]

9 for skeet, 7.5 magnum for trap.

[mfs]

On Thursday, October 01, 2015 at 2:47 PM, usa259 said:

Is there much of a difference between 7.5 vs 8 vs 9?

I mostly use 8

sometimes shot goes through without breaking clay.

going to go up to 7.5

[Old_Skeet]

I've been shooting skeet for well over thirty five years.  In all guns I shoot #9 shot.  Now being a veteran shooter I shoot 1oz loads in 12 gauge and, at times, 3/4 oz loads in the 20 gauge.  In shoot offs from stations 3, 4 & 5 I use #8 shot in all guns.

[verla]

Use #9 for skeet- gives maximum amount of shot in your hull- except for the winter time where the clays may have moisture in them and may be frozen. They are harder to break when this happens, so use #8 shot.

 

For handicap trap use #7.5 shot- you will need the extra energy in the pellet as you approach the 27 yard line to break the clay. Remember the golden BB. In doubles trap use #8 shot and shoot quickly. Use #8 shot when shooting 16 yard trap- this will break the clays and you have lots of BB's in your shell to do so.

[683beretta]

1 oz of #8 will get you to the 25 yd. line, if you do your part.

[Jim Watson]

When I was shotgunning, all serious Skeet shooters I knew used No 9, period.

 

I normally shot Trap with No 8, I did not seem to get as good breaks with 7 1/2, which may have been my barrels response.

No 8 1/2 was a fad for a while, I shot a little and could not see a difference in scores or appearance.

[hceuterpe]

7 1/2 for trap. 9 for skeet.

[davidb72]

I use #8 for trap. #7.5 for Handicap

[SSGGlock]

Skeet 12ga #8/8.5 magnum, 20/28/.410 #9. All at 1200 FPS

Edited November 24, 2019 by SSGGlock

[BigGabe]

#9 shot for skeet. 7 1/2  or 8 for Trap, and when others say magnum they are referring to the type of shot used in the competition shell (Remington STS or Winchester AA) which is harder then the regular field shotshells, not the powder load.

[Philip Dedmon]

1 1/8 #9's is my sheet load

[verla]

You do not need magnum powder charges to shoot from the 27yd line. The only thing that will do is hurt your shoulder and possible disrupt your pattern.

[verla]

On 12/7/2019 at 9:57 AM, BigGabe said:

#9 shot for skeet. 7 1/2  or 8 for Trap, and when others say magnum they are referring to the type of shot used in the competition shell (Remington STS or Winchester AA) which is harder then the regular field shotshells, not the powder load.

 

Just now, verla said:

You do not need magnum powder charges to shoot from the 27yd line. The only thing that will do is hurt your shoulder and possible disrupt your pattern.

 

[Sinister4]

1 oz 7­½  extra light for everything except handicap, there I use 7½ 1 1\8 federal paper 3 dram..... i`m AAA 27 AAA  and have zero issues smacking them with those loads, also my 2 chokes are full and ¨like a rifle¨ full  lol   But 8 is fine as well, 9 for skeet, shot with a good guy once who mixed 8 and 7½  then loaded it up, said it was one less thing to think about lol    Far more important is to have the gun shoot exactly where you look

Edited March 10, 2022 by Sinister4

[warpspeed]

I don't shoot skeet but I understand that #9 is the way to go.

 

For trap, I would be perfectly content with only shooting 1-1/8 oz #8 for everything.  Light for 16yd & 1st shot of doubles and Heavy for Caps and 2nd shot of doubles.

 

I've shot 7.5 and my scores are the same but my head tells me 8's are better and as we all know, the game in 90% between your ears.

[frankge]

you could always load Eagle shot which measures out to 7 3/4

[Johnny_Chimpo]

Shot my absolute best sporting clays scores (mid 90s) with Winchester 1 oz of #7 steel.  Unbelievable pattern density and unlike ducks, clays are real easy to kill.

[Yeti]

I remember this thread.  Just a comment on steel shot.  

 

Keep in mind that steel shot will pattern one to two choke settings tighter than similar sized lead shot.