Discipline Specific Ammo

[BobbyH]

Hey all!

Next year I’m going to be going to registered CPSA comps for DTL, Skeet and Sporting.

I’m looking at trying different ammo sizes and manufacturers. Can anyone recommend me the best ammo, ***NOT brands or anything***.Just what size and gram’s would be best for each discipline.

OR…Does shot size and grams not really matter? Would you have better chance of hitting skeet with #9 shot or #6 shot? Ditto for DTL and Sporting.

 

Thanks all!

 

 

 

[TOPGUN749]

Most clays are limited to 28 grams maximum loads, though 21 or 24 are almost as effective especially for skeet and close sporting targets. For DTL 28 gram is best as the target is always edge on and quite small. Size 8 for skeet or close sporting is my choice and 7.5 for DTL.

Choke choice plays a part too of course.

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, My take would be all 7.5s 21, 24, or 28 and use appropriate chokes, 21g skeet, 24g, sporting, 28g DTL 

[Yellow Bear]

If you are a relative newcomer keep thing simple to start with 28g 7.5 for all,  and 3/8 or 1/2 choke in both barrels until your scores are up in the 70+ range.

It seems to be the most common size and you will get better deals, you don't need anything bigger.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Well at REGISTERED COMPETITION you can only use up to 28 gramme shells.

I would suggest you buy a load of fibre 28 gramme 8's and use them for everything.

Then sort out what chokes you will need for each discipline.

Good luck.

[HantsRob]

As a different angle, it is often the load and size that counts and NOT the name on the box.

That's to say, contentiously, a 30g 6 load is a 30g 6 load.

30g 6 - pigeon popper = £310 / thou

30g 6 - pheasant popper = £300 / thou

 

Different brands may have different recoil, but ultimately shoot the load you like and try to stay with your brand of choice/budget and stick with it.

 

To actually answer, for your sporting, skeet, and DTL.... do not use below a 7 shot, and probs a 7.5 or 8 for everything is a good all rounder. Personally I'd say go for 28g 7, 7.5, or 8, and shoot it for everything til you become good. If anything, skeet I'd be using 8, sporting I'd use a 7 or 7.5, and I've never shot DTL. 

But if you're a newish shooter? Buy a load of 1 cart, and shoot it loads to get used to it. 

Choke 3/8 for everything in both barrels personally, and as you become stable, then consider trying other chokes with the same cartridge, and see how it affects your shooting per discipline.

Good luck

[BobbyH]

Thankyou all, I’m not a newbie to shooting atall, but new to Reg comps. 
I usually use 24’s and 28’s in 7.5 and 8.

 

just didn’t know if 28gram 9’s are better for skeet is all and that sort of thing.

 

Thankyou all for the advice, I genuinly take every bit of advice on!

[HantsRob]

7 minutes ago, BobbyH said:

just didn’t know if 28gram 9’s are better for skeet is all and that sort of thing.

Don't forget for Olympic skeet, you're limited to a 24g load. In which case, it also depends on gun, choke etc, so you are best off patterning your chosen cart. I'd suggest a number 9 at 24g may be preferable, and 8 at 28g.

But, that's just my personal preference and may be psychosematic.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

46 minutes ago, BobbyH said:

Thankyou all, I’m not a newbie to shooting atall, but new to Reg comps. 
I usually use 24’s and 28’s in 7.5 and 8. just didn’t know if 28gram 9’s are better for skeet is all and that sort of thing.Thankyou all for the advice, I genuinly take every bit of advice on!

At the range of any shot in English Skeet there will be absolutely NO difference.

[Cawdor118]

If you purely go on the mathematics and a statistical approach to it; there is a significant gain to be had by changing shot sizes for appropriate ranges. The problem is the application and ultimately the person behind the gun. If you're not on the target, no amount of pellets will help. If its too far, there isn't enough energy in a 2.0mm pellet to break an edge on target. I could go on, but I hope you get what im implying.

So, shooting skeet with 7s would be akin to using a sledgehammer to break a nut. Conversely, using a size 9 on skeet offers a massive statistical advantage on a 7. You have circa 44% more chance of hitting it assuming you are in the right area.

If you offered a 400m runner the legal potential of a 44% gain, they would bite your hand of. 

28gm 7 shot has roughly 352

28gm 7.5 shot has roughly 394

28gm 8 shot has roughly 448

28gm 9 shot has roughly 630

 

Just my 2p worth. 

[BobbyH]

Thabkyou all!

I really do love the wealth of knowledge and advice offered on this forum!

 

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Let us know what you get up to.

Good luck

[Westley]

12 hours ago, BobbyH said:

Thabkyou all!

I really do love the wealth of knowledge and advice offered on this forum!

 

 

So why not experiment when NOT shooting Comps.,  then go into the Comp., with what YOU believe is the best possible combination, including the chokes. I am shooting +70's with 1/4 & 1/4, 24 's and 28's  both fibre and plastic, in 71/2s & 8's.. solely because  I have confidence in that set up. I no longer do Comps., I enjoy my shooting instead  !  😆

[London Best]

17 minutes ago, Westley said:

I no longer do Comps., I enjoy my shooting instead  !  😆

A very telling statement! 
I’m with you all the way on that one. 
Any hint of a competition kills all the enjoyment for me.

[Westley]

5 hours ago, London Best said:

A very telling statement! 
I’m with you all the way on that one. 
Any hint of a competition kills all the enjoyment for me.

I did more Comps., than you could shake a stick at between 1974 and 2001, then I retired and was doing more pigeon, game and Wildfowling with only occasional clay shooting.  However, nothing lasts for ever, and landowners change for one reason or another. New housing estates appear in what were superb partridge drives. Doggy walkers by the thousand tramping all along the river where duck used to flight. A lot of Council owned land..........a Labour Council.....need I say more  ?

After last season, where I joined a team of mainly unknown shooters, and a driven day turned into a Competition ! I shall stick to clay shooting for fun.

[London Best]

45 minutes ago, Westley said:

I did more Comps., than you could shake a stick at between 1974 and 2001, then I retired and was doing more pigeon, game and Wildfowling with only occasional clay shooting.  However, nothing lasts for ever, and landowners change for one reason or another. New housing estates appear in what were superb partridge drives. Doggy walkers by the thousand tramping all along the river where duck used to flight. A lot of Council owned land..........a Labour Council.....need I say more  ?

After last season, where I joined a team of mainly unknown shooters, and a driven day turned into a Competition ! I shall stick to clay shooting for fun.

Never, that’s never, join a team you don’t know unless you can trust the recommendation of at least one of them known to you. 
 

On the rare occasion I go clay shooting I will not have a score card. Pay and play only for me.

[Westley]

The group I shoot with always use scorecards, it helps to analyse things afterwards.  Although days like today.....it can be a bad thing.  😄

To be fair, regarding the game day, it was solely the behaviour of 3 guns. They had been on a simulated game day and forgot that THIS was not another of them.

Edited September 15 by Westley