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Do any 27 yard shooters use #8 shot ?

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#22 ·
Well said Gary, I have done my long range pattering at 45 yds. and using the same new Fed shells both in 7 1/2 and 8', concur with the larger number of pellets, my 5 perfect scores from the back fence have been with 7 1/2 my best with 8 shot have been 97's, my take is with eastern altitude and air density targets, the retained pellet energy of 1.17 vs .83 with the 8's have been the best for me. Many of us do not take the handicap targets at blistering speeds, hence our mental need for more retained pellet energy... incinerate em!
 
#24 ·
Question: Do #8's drop more than #7 1/2's at 45 yards? I've never seen testing data that validates the difference in shot drop at long yardage.

I assume 7 1/2's are the long handicap choice of Northerners and those who deal with high humidity. I've seen birds that sat on the arm of a trap machine sag and curl from their own weight when it's 85-90 degrees and high humidity. That has to affect the brittleness of a target, especially if they've been in the trap house for weeks.
 
#25 ·
Setterman: Of course smaller shot, because it loses speed more quickly, drops a bit more than larger shot (given that the initial speed was the same, of course).

The question is whether the extra drop means anything. I'd say no, because the difference is only a fraction of an inch.

-Gary


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#26 ·
I'm not a big dog.. but unless there is a heavy wind.. or extreme cold, my barrel enjoys 8's from the 27..

I do have to say.. not all shells are created equal. I strongly suggest you pattern with different loads to see which one your barrel likes the best.
 
#29 ·
Most 27yd shooters in my area use 7-1/2s, some of them are very good shooters but I wouldn't compare any of them to guys like Leo Harrison, Harlan Campbell or other well known shooters. I do recall Leo telling a friend of mine why he used 7-1/2s, because they don't allow 6s. I let the barrel decide which one it likes and don't worry about it after that.
 
#36 ·
I had a conversation with Frank Hoppe a few years ago about this topic. He said that he usually shot light 8s but he was in a shoot off one time and the only shells he had were some 1 oz. 8s that he used for the first shot of doubles. He ran them and won the shoot off. He said that he didn't feel he was handicapped with the 1 oz. loads but the 1 1/8 oz. broke the targets better.
 
#37 ·
I shot on a squad with Dan Bonillas last year and I noticed he shot two boxes of #8 Nitros and two boxes of #7.5 Nitros. I think most of the difference is in our heads.

I also saw an bunch of top shooters using lite 8's in Handicap events at the California State Shoot last year. I tried it in practice quite a bit. They worked great until I missed a bird and then the gremlins creeped into my head.
 
#38 ·
Fearnot, I was in a handicap squad right behind Dan;s at a Grand in Vandalia, his kicked out shells were Federal paper 3 dram 7 1/2 's, I think he realized the difference in lower elevation and air density on targets here in the east, incinerate em!
 
#40 ·
Would seem elevation/air density are a huge factor. Seems the barrel wizard Tom Wilkinson say as much in a post on here. People wanting to shoot Spanish fork to get the 100 @ the 27 for their grand slam would reiterate that assumption. Scott
 
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