How to buy shotgun ammo

[police women of America]

So I went to buy some shotgun ammo and I thought I basically knew everything until I saw the boxes. So I know I need 12 gauge  3" shells, but I totally forgot about shot size, oz, etc. From research I was thinking #7 shot but I thought I'd ask here first. I will be using it for Skeet shooting this weekend. And does oz even matter?
Thanks!

[Timberstalker]

You don't want 3".  2-3/4" will be just fine for Skeet.

Get 7.5 Shot or 8 Shot

1oz to 1-1/8oz will be fine.

It should be between $6 and $8 per box.

[lokidog]

Probably 7 1/2 shot, that will be fine for skeet shooting, the weight of the load doesn't matter IMO for skeet.  one thing to think about though is to use the same ammo for skeet as you will for hunting so that you get used to how  much lead you need for that speed of shot.

And  on thew 2 3/4".

[police women of America]

Thanks!! But do I need to do 2-3/4" shells? Becuase my shotgun is made for 3" I know going smaller is usable but isn't it better to just go with what your shotgun is made for?

[Timberstalker]

Your shotgun is chambered for UP TO 3".  You can shoot shorter shells no problem.  Just never over 3."

Also - unless you are hunting pheasants or long shot chukars, 2-3/4" is just fine (for quail, grouse and dove).  With that said, I don't ever shoot 3" at anything but ducks and geese, however I don't want a debate started on your thread.


Good luck with it all.

[JDHasty]

What shotgun do you have?  On some semi-autos, like old Auto-five or Remington model 11 you have to make adjustments to cycle different loads.   

[police women of America]

Your shotgun is chambered for UP TO 3".  You can shoot shorter shells no problem.  Just never over 3."

Also - unless you are hunting pheasants or long shot chukars, 2-3/4" is just fine (for quail, grouse and dove).  With that said, I don't ever shoot 3" at anything but ducks and geese, however I don't want a debate started on your thread.


Good luck with it all.

Oh, I see now. Thanks!

[police women of America]

What shotgun do you have?  On some semi-autos, like old Auto-five or Remington model 11 you have to make adjustments to cycle different loads.

It's a Remington 870 pump action

[Bill W]

If'n you had a box of 3 inch lead shot loads I'd be betting that you wouldn't finish your first round of skeet.  You'd take too much of a pounding.

2 3/4 inch with 1 or 1 1/8 ounce of 7 1/2 or 8 shot and either  2 3/4 or 3 dram equivalent.  That would equate to either 1145 fps or 1200 fps respectively.  Clay pigeons don't take much killing.

Actually if I was shooting a round of skeet with 3 inch lead shot magnums I might not get past station 2 before I quit.

[wadu1]

If you have a Walmart close they have some Target/field (Federal) loads for under $5 a box. They are 1  1/8 of of number 8 or 7 1/2 at 1200 FPS.  They also carry 100 packs of Federal, Winchester and Remington's for $21 something. It's what I use for sporting clays and skeet, perfect for trap as well. I buy them by the case (250 rounds) once a week, between Sporting Clays and skeet I need that much. I normally shoot 5, 000 - 6,000 of registered targets a year and another 1,500 for fun. I run skeet tubes for skeet and IC for Sporting Clays.

[JDHasty]

What shotgun do you have?  On some semi-autos, like old Auto-five or Remington model 11 you have to make adjustments to cycle different loads.

It's a Remington 870 pump action

You are good to go w/either target loads or dove/quail loads for skeet. The dove/quail is usually really cheep this time of year.   

[police women of America]

What shotgun do you have?  On some semi-autos, like old Auto-five or Remington model 11 you have to make adjustments to cycle different loads.

It's a Remington 870 pump action

You are good to go w/either target loads or dove/quail loads for skeet. The dove/quail is usually really cheep this time of year.

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind

[police women of America]

If you have a Walmart close they have some Target/field (Federal) loads for under $5 a box. They are 1  1/8 of of number 8 or 7 1/2 at 1200 FPS.  They also carry 100 packs of Federal, Winchester and Remington's for $21 something. It's what I use for sporting clays and skeet, perfect for trap as well. I buy them by the case (250 rounds) once a week, between Sporting Clays and skeet I need that much. I normally shoot 5, 000 - 6,000 of registered targets a year and another 1,500 for fun. I run skeet tubes for skeet and IC for Sporting Clays.

Wow that's a lot cheaper then Cabelas. Thanks I'll have to check that out

[huntingfool7]

I'd buy 2-3/4'' with an ounce or less if I could find them.  I shoot skeet weekly with 7/8 ounce loads out of a 12 gauge.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=443436&sid=405be06992464b9d9b3a97772db69de3

[nwwanderer]

International trap and skeet shoot 24 grams of shot, less than 7/8 ounce.  Try it you will like it.  A couple of guys I know on another countries team always laugh at our loads.

[police women of America]

International trap and skeet shoot 24 grams of shot, less than 7/8 ounce.  Try it you will like it.  A couple of guys I know on another countries team always laugh at our loads.

I'd buy 2-3/4'' with an ounce or less if I could find them.  I shoot skeet weekly with 7/8 ounce loads out of a 12 gauge.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=443436&sid=405be06992464b9d9b3a97772db69de3

7/8, interesting. I'll have to try it. Thanks!

[JDHasty]

International trap and skeet shoot 24 grams of shot, less than 7/8 ounce.  Try it you will like it.  A couple of guys I know on another countries team always laugh at our loads.

I have never seen international loads for low price.  They are specialized, high quality loads for target competition.  They work well on chuckers, but you would expect a fast load that is designed to produce near perfect patterning would.

[12Gauge]

 I second Wal-Mart's value packs of 100 rounds either Winchester or Fedderal's #7.5 or #8 for $21.97.  I like and use the Winchesters.

Get the feeling you're new to shotgunning,  Make sure that your gun fits you, (you can google "shotgun fit").  It is very important other wise you may miss more than 50% of your shots regardless of practice.
 

[Henrydog]

3rd vote for Wally World Winchesters.  My kid and I shoot ATA and burn a lot of shells per month. I stopped reloading when Wally had $5 a box.  That said I would not buy the Federals.  We where at a shoot in Plains Montana a month ago, one shell did not have a primer at all and 2 shells were not correctly round and would not fit into a bt99

[huntingfool7]

3rd vote for Wally World Winchesters.  My kid and I shoot ATA and burn a lot of shells per month. I stopped reloading when Wally had $5 a box.  That said I would not buy the Federals.  We where at a shoot in Plains Montana a month ago, one shell did not have a primer at all and 2 shells were not correctly round and would not fit into a bt99

Winchester promo loads have soft, thin heads that cause feeding issues in a lot of shotguns.  No issues dropping them into a break action like a BT99.  The ejectors in break open shotguns support a larger portion of the rim than the extractor claw in a tube fed gun.  Some pumps and autos will have ejection problems as they tend to stick in the chamber.

[Bill W]

International trap and skeet shoot 24 grams of shot, less than 7/8 ounce.  Try it you will like it.  A couple of guys I know on another countries team always laugh at our loads.

I'd buy 2-3/4'' with an ounce or less if I could find them.  I shoot skeet weekly with 7/8 ounce loads out of a 12 gauge.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=443436&sid=405be06992464b9d9b3a97772db69de3

7/8, interesting. I'll have to try it. Thanks!

Since I reload I'm using 7/8 and 3/4 oz loads in my 12 gauge for skeet.

Amazing how things change.  30-40 years ago we thought anything less than 1 1/8 oz of shot would be too sketchy for trap.  Now these light loads wouldn't cause a 2nd thought.

[huntingfool7]

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/ammunition/federal-lead/federal-12ga-2-3-4-7-8oz-extra-lite-top-gun-target-loads.html

Those 7/8 oz. loads in the link will cost a buck a box more than the Walmart promo loads but I'd bet the difference that you'll think it's worth it.

[wadu1]

International trap and skeet shoot 24 grams of shot, less than 7/8 ounce.  Try it you will like it.  A couple of guys I know on another countries team always laugh at our loads.

I have never seen international loads for low price.  They are specialized, high quality loads for target competition.  They work well on checkers, but you would expect a fast load that is designed to produce near perfect patterning would.

As JD said "I have never seen international loads for low price." the last two boxes I found were over $11 a box. I would stick with Walmart. I have never seen much or any difference while shooting High end ammo VS low end. The only time I shoot high end ammo is when I'm in a large completion and then it's 8 1/2's for the 28ga and .410 bore.

[BigGoonTuna]

3rd vote for Wally World Winchesters.  My kid and I shoot ATA and burn a lot of shells per month. I stopped reloading when Wally had $5 a box.  That said I would not buy the Federals.  We where at a shoot in Plains Montana a month ago, one shell did not have a primer at all and 2 shells were not correctly round and would not fit into a bt99

Winchester promo loads have soft, thin heads that cause feeding issues in a lot of shotguns.  No issues dropping them into a break action like a BT99.  The ejectors in break open shotguns support a larger portion of the rim than the extractor claw in a tube fed gun.  Some pumps and autos will have ejection problems as they tend to stick in the chamber.

i've actually had a couple of those walmart winchester shells get the case heads ripped off in my benelli 20 gauge.  noticed it when the bolt didn't fully go into battery after a shot.  good thing i checked the chamber instead of ramming the bolt home and taking another shot!

[h2ofowlr]

If skeet shooting most ranges limit you to 2-3/4" shells and a max size of 7-1/2 shot size.  7-1/2, 8 or 9 shot size can be shot.  Most shoot 7-1/2 or 8.

[police women of America]

If skeet shooting most ranges limit you to 2-3/4" shells and a max size of 7-1/2 shot size.  7-1/2, 8 or 9 shot size can be shot.  Most shoot 7-1/2 or 8.

Good to know! Thanks!

[theleo]

For up close stuff I've always preffered 7/8 ounce of #8's myself, just to limit the amount of abuse my shoulder takes. For handicap shooting I prefer 1 oz loads through a tighter choke.