I've been competing since September and I learned a lesson this weekend and got spanked learning it. I had previously bought ten flats of my regular Estate 7.5's, 1-1/8oz, 3d loads and apparently mistakenly grabbed two flats of 7.5, 1-1/8oz, "HDCP" loads. As I was unpacking the flats at home, I saw that these "HDCP" shells were 50 ft/sec faster than my regular loads.
Since I had recently been bumped to 24 yards I thought these might just be the ticket for my new yardage. So, without practicing with the "HDCP" loads, I went to a shoot this weekend, taking them with me. I shot an 85 in my first handicap and thought I was having an off day. Next day I shot an 80. I felt like I couldn't hit the traphouse if I tried.
I was disappointed, then a friend told me it was probably the "HDCP' shells. So to test the theory, immediately after the competition, I went and practiced at +1 yardage with my regular 50ft/sec slower loads...shot a 24,24,24 and 22 (my arms were getting tired from shooting by myself)...shot a 94 within an hour after shooting an 80!!
Lesson learned, shoot with what you know...or as my friend put it, "stick with the chick who brought you to the dance"
Since I had recently been bumped to 24 yards I thought these might just be the ticket for my new yardage. So, without practicing with the "HDCP" loads, I went to a shoot this weekend, taking them with me. I shot an 85 in my first handicap and thought I was having an off day. Next day I shot an 80. I felt like I couldn't hit the traphouse if I tried.
I was disappointed, then a friend told me it was probably the "HDCP' shells. So to test the theory, immediately after the competition, I went and practiced at +1 yardage with my regular 50ft/sec slower loads...shot a 24,24,24 and 22 (my arms were getting tired from shooting by myself)...shot a 94 within an hour after shooting an 80!!
Lesson learned, shoot with what you know...or as my friend put it, "stick with the chick who brought you to the dance"