I'm new to reloading shotguns(have been reloading Metallic for 30+ years). I will be playing sporting clays and skeet.
I decided on using the #8 shot and a I.C. choke. My question is do I use lead shot or coated lead shot? (Copper etc)
I know lead comes in certain hardness, what should I buy or look for.
Also I would like to obtain aprox 1150-1200 F.P.S. What powder do you recommend?
Thanks for your help

I'd use " extra hard" lead shot, or Magnum as it is known with Red Dot powdeer.

quote:

Originally posted by hglass:
I'm new to reloading shotguns(have been reloading Metallic for 30+ years). I will be playing sporting clays and skeet.
I decided on using the #8 shot and a I.C. choke. My question is do I use lead shot or coated lead shot? (Copper etc)
I know lead comes in certain hardness, what should I buy or look for.
Also I would like to obtain aprox 1150-1200 F.P.S. What powder do you recommend?
Thanks for your help

hg,

For Skeet, I use a skeet choke and the softest (Cheap) #9 Shot I can find.

For Sporting clays, I use an IC or Mod choke and 2 different shots! - that same soft #9s and the "magnum hard #7 1/2s. They will patten also most a full pattern difference, with the soft #9 being more open and the hard # 7 1/2s being a tighter pattern. This way when your on the same station but need 2 different chokes, I just switch loads.

For Dove, I use the IC choke and the same hard 7 1/2s as above.

Now I'm not changing anything else in the load just the shot. So the shell, powder, wad and primer are the same.


PS: If you have a O/U or S/S where both barrels have changable chokes you will not have to do this to shoot sporting clays - Just put in the correct chokes ahead of the station.

Ask the SC range if there are any restrictions as far as shot size and velocity.Always pattern your loads.

Most skeet ranges, at least in the US, have a rule that the maximum shot size that can be used is #7 1/2, but that is too large in my opinion -- #9 is better for skeet. For trap a larger shot is better because the distance the shot travels before it hits the target is greater, thus the greater velocity retention of larger shot, #8 or # 7 1/2, is needed.

I don't shoot sporting clays, but I understand that most sporting clays shooters use #8 shot.

In 12 gauge there's no good reason to use coated shot. Also, so-called "magnum shot" (harder shot because it has antimony and/or other things added to the lead) is not really needed and it's a bit more expensive.

In smaller gauges the argument I've heard for magnum shot is that the longer shot columns in such guns will mean that more shot is deformed by traveling through the barrel and especially through the choke, so there is some advantage to using the harder shot. Whether that argument is true I don't know, but I do use the magnum shot for all gauges from 12 to .410 bore -- mostly because I don't want to use more than one shot type for all shotgun sizes.

For 12 gauge, any of the fast target powders -- Red Dot, 700X, Hodgdon Titewad or Clays, Winchester Super Target, or any other -- can be used to create loads from about 1125 to 1200 f.p.s. in velocity (see the loading manual for that powder). For skeet you do not need velocity greater than 1125 f.p.s., and the heavier loads will just kick more and thus make you more tired as you shoot, especially if you shoot several rounds of 25 shots in succession.

Ray Sendero has the conventional wisdom right. Hard 7-1/2 for Sporting and 9 for skeet. I know some national class shooters who use #8s for everything except tournaments and it works well for them. Most sporting clays shooters use only magnum or hard shot. It helps to maintain pattern density especially on long crossing edge on targets and on rabbit targets which are tough to break. There is no reason to use copper plated shot for clay targets.

Find a good load, and don't worry about it for a while. Concentrate on your shooting. The difference between a very mediocre load and a best load is only one or two of targets per 100 at most.

I use #8's for all clay games (sporting, trap & skeet), # 7 1/2 for dove/quail hunting. With shot being so pricey for the past year or so, I bought whatever I could find at a reasonable price - - plain old "chilled" shot (softer) & "magnum" shot (hardened with a little antimony) and can't tell the difference. You certainly don't need plated shot for clay games.

Maybe I'm just lazy but about all I ever use are #9 and #4.

PS - Clays is a good powder for your intended use/velocity. Red Dot would work OK too. Depending on your other components (find a recipie)_ - 17 grains or so will give 1150 FPS, 17.8 will get you 1200 FPS - - both are safely under max pressures.

I use 1 oz. #9 magnum over 17 grains of 700X powder for 12g.

quote:

I will be playing sporting clays and skeet.
I decided on using the #8 shot and a I.C. choke. My question is do I use lead shot or coated lead shot? (Copper etc)

No need for coated shot.....#8 or 8 1/2 will do fine for clays and I like #9 for skeet but #8 will doit fine as well

Use cheap....it works as well as higher priced stuff.

Use the cheapest lead shot you can find, 8's or 9's.

And load 3/4oz loads for 12 gauge and 5/8oz for 20 gauge for skeet.

Breaks the birds fine, low recoil and you get 533 loads of 12 or 640 loads of 20.

I have to disagree with Skinner on cheap shot.That means soft lead which means poor patterns.I'd use hard shot.