I'm just getting back into reloading and was thinking about loading some 7/8 oz. loads for singles. I don't know if its a mental thing or what but it just seams like there is not a lot of shot in that load. I usually shoot 1 oz. and they work well. Any opinions would be appreciated. P.S. if this has already been discussed I apologize, but I missed it. thanks, Dale
The last two years I've been shooting 7/8s 18grains of American Selects,Downrange pink 7/8s wad,81/2s in summer 8s in winter , STS shell and Win.209 primer 1200 fps soft shooting and breaks great and save some money!
I've shot a 7/8 oz. load that probably tops 1300 fps for close to twenty years and it's the only thing I load or use in 12 gauge. I like a B&P T2 wad, which is hard to find and won't go into new AA hulls, but it does fine in old AA's and in STS's. I've used it every time I've shot a perfect score.
Had one time many years ago when I was lots younger that I shot a double registered match (short match, offers of more targets - took advantage of it) - 600 targets in one day with a Remington 3200 and I could still move my arm the next day!
Right in line with Danby... but I think quicker is a little better. 7/8s hard shot. 7.5 in winter, 8.5 when it warms up. 19.5gr of American Select, Downrange XXL pink in an STS shell and WW209. You'd be surprised how long it takes to empty the tube of shot!
7/8 oz is required for Olympic Trap. If it's good enough for 75 meter, 45 degree angles and variable elevations, it damn sure is good enough for benchrest trap.
I'm s;owly changing from 1 ounce to 7/8 at the moment myself.Being in the poor catagory I feel saving the lead especially when shooting at my local club,makes sense.Also save a tad of powder too because it'll take less to get same as 1 ounce.Using Promo,cheddite primers in federal hulls with claybuster pink wads.Some at the club are using 16 gr of prono,however in my alliant catalog it reccommends 17 for 1200 fps as the lowest.Using a 30 mec seems to drop 16.6 gr,might give it a try.
I tried 1 oz loads with reclaim shot in very windy conditions and had a rough time staying in the 20s----Changed to 1 1/8 oz with 7 1/2s and had two 24s
Same gun and same person----I think I'm using the 1 1/8s for now---Just saying.
Speaking of saving money, I gave up shooting singles except for leagues some time ago. Found it boring. Would rather focus on practice for handicap...and sometimes use 7/8 oz. for this practice. Regards, Ed
Dale, First off I'd ask why you want to lower your load from one oz to 7/8 oz??? Do you want to save on shot??? Or do you want to save your shoulder from recoil??? I'f its to save your shoulder I say just go for it. If its to save a few pennies a round I'd say buy a l000 wads and shoot them only for practice and keep 2 seperate ave.'s for both shot drops. Until "You Know" what works best for you and you have "absolute confidence" in your 7/8 oz. loads you'll never know. Only you can answer that question for you. Since you've gone this far as to ask for advice, it seems clear to me that you need to try some and find your own answers. This is one of the reasons we reload??? Is it not??? Best of Luck and break em all. Jeff
PS I would not change your shot speeds at all. 1100-1145 for singles, and 1045-1200 for handicap are fine. Remember that 2 years ago the Big money handicap was won from the 27 yard line with ll45 fps. shells.
The main reason I am thinking about using 7/8 0z. loads is to reduce recoil. For me in long days of shooting, recoil starts to take its toll. It beats up my shoulder and I also believe it causes an occasional flinch. I agree with Jeff that shooting 7/8 oz. loads only saves a few pennies, so thats not the issue. Thanks for your opinions. Dale
What kind of recoil pad are you using, do you have a reducer I have one own my gun and it really helps, been shooting 7/8 for practice, going to start shooting (new gun clubs) for HC at events. Just my 2cents. Have a good shoot.
Yeah, I gave up on Singles too with 1 1/8 oz. Way too boring breaking 100 straights endlessly. I'm now focusing on Handicap with 3/4 oz. loads-more challenging. I did get really mad last week when I missed one from my current 25 yds. (out of the first 5) and ended with a 69/100-not bad.
I always play the ticket too. Watch out Leo-I'm comin'!!
When I was loading my trap ammo, I shot mostly 1 Oz loads at modest velocities. These were (and are) great shells for singles and doubles. I dabbled with 7/8 Oz loads for awhile but was never satisfied with their performance. Yes you can break targets with them but you don't get as many 'smoked' targets. So the savings on shot costs wasn't a good enough reason for me to keep trying the 7/8 Oz loads. The modest speed 1 Oz shells are real easy on the shoulder so I didn't find any recoil advantages there.
These days I buy factory loaded shells and since there are no real price breaks between 1 1/8 Oz and 1 Oz target loads, I just shoot the 2 3/4 dram 1 1/8 Oz shells. No problem with recoil and I believe they work better than the 1 Oz shells especially when you get to the longer HC distances.
I find that 7/8 oz of 8 1/2 shot at around 1225 fps is all you need for singles practice unless you ride the bird a long way. Even then, one of the shooters at our club with flinch problems regularly breaks birds at 50+ yds with a 7/8 oz load.
Having said that, when things get serious I use 1 1/8 oz of 8's for ATA shoots. I broke a lot of 98's and 99's with 1 oz; didn't get the 100 straight till I went to the heavier load.
I switched from 1 1/8 to 1 and I'm going back to 1 1/8 until I get a little more consistant again. I had a sweet spot using a load with my gun and when I switch it they everything off. If yo have something that works don't screw with it.
Shot my 7/8 load last night.If I was on,it smoked them from the 16.I did notice less chips,it either smashed them or missed them.Then again I shot some 1 oz.,later and didn't do any better even with a few chip jobs in the mix.Was a lousy night over all,not going to judge it on one night shoot.Going to run out my previous 1 0z. reloads before I start shooting 7/8 regularly.This of course is just at the local club,I'll go up to 1oz during league shoots,and factory for ATA if I shoot them.The way reloading supplies keep jumping,I may just start buying the Walmart 4 packs for a while.Sheeesh,getting primers around here is like asking for gold,I think I'll hoard the little I got until things straighten out.
Doug H.
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