Load for Sporting Clays

[nfl1990]

What number shot do you recomend for sporting clays? I'm using a Modified choke, and changing that is not an option a the shotgun is an old Mossberg 500, and the choke is built into the barrel.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

In 12 ga, 7 1/2's, you'll get some long shots and then those rabbits are tough to break also.

That said, for loads of fun, try it with a 28 ga loaded with 8 1/2's.

 

[Superreverb]

When I was living in an area that was pretty much all Sporting Clays (practically no skeet or trap) back in the late 80's early 90's, I used 1-oz #8 handloads w/IC/Mod chokes in my Citori. Never felt handicapped, and if I was on, the birds broke. Never figured why guys used to spend all this extra time making up "specialty loads" like Spreaders, long-range, etc (other than for fun, of course LOL). Sporting courses may have changed since then, but I'd still go out and feel pretty confident with my loads.

As always, YMMV

Ed

 

[HSMITH]

If I had a mod choke only I would load several variations. One ounce loaded stiff for close targets will get close to IC from your barrel. One ounce at around 1200 will pattern pretty close to modified, one ounce at 1050-1100 will hold a basically full pattern. Just because you don't have interchangable chokes doesn't mean you can't manipulate your patterns. You are lucky that you have a modified, going a step in each direction for a given shot with load manipulation is a LOT easier than two steps in either direction.

I would load ALL of them with #8 shot. If #8 won't break a clay target you missed.

 

[BozemanMT]

#8 1 oz
gets just about everything.
I use 7 1/2 for the REALLY long shots, but I usually miss those anyway:banghead:
#8 will do it all.

 

[PJR]

1 ounce of either 8 or 7-1/2 at 1350 fps. Speed kills.

 

[Dave McCracken]

This is one of those areas where you can get as complicated as Sicilian Politics.

Bruce Buck recommends 9s for close shots, 8s for medium range and 7 1/2s for long ones and bunnies. He pairs these with the choke, Cylinder or Skeet for the 9s, IC for 8s, LM for 7 1/2s.

How you shoot is as crucial as what you shoot. Try 8s and IC for starters and go from there.

HTH...