Skeet Load
 

Gentlemen

I wanted to see what y'all considered sufficient load for skeet. I have a 3/4,7/8 and 1 oz lead load. All are 2 1/2 inch 12 gauge loads around 1150 to 1180fps. I am not a expert shot so with that in mind. How much lead and at what speed do you think I should shoot? I am wanting to shoot a lot of skeet with my new Fox AE grade and sharpen my skills. My barrels are 26 inch with cylinder and modified chokes according to the seller.
Thanks in advance for any info.

You can break skeet targets with darn near anything. Shoot light and save your shoulder.

I was hoping that was the case. If I could get it to kick like a 22 long I would. I have heard of guys shooting 1/2 ounce. In not sure I would know if it worked well or not because I would probably never hit one. I like my little 3/4 oz. and can kick it up to 1200 fps and be about 5200 psi.....Thanks Gary

It is the shooter that makes the shot, 1\2 oz. shoots many straights weekly. Only rarely in my hands, it's the indian not the arrow that needs the work. I have converted a number of skeet shooters to 3\4 and they see no difference except in cost and recoil.

The 3/4 oz. sounds good to me..... 1150 to 1200 should be okay on speed shouldnt it ??? Any advantages for going faster???

Faster=more pressure-recoil. Tom Roster wrote an article saying higher velocity is not an advantage in most applications. Claybusters makes a dedicated 3\4 wad with load info in the bag.

Now that you mention that. I read a article that stated faster loads didn't always hold a great pattern.....I hadnt used claybuster wads. All my wads are from Precision Reloading. I always get them to test the loads so I know where I am. The 3/4 wad I use fits the 2 1/2 shell perfect in my opinion. I use the same wad for 7/8s load but seems a little tight. Not sure ( amateur re loader ) it may be they are supposed to be tight. lol Anyway if I remember at 1150 to 1180 the pressure is almost 5k with 700x. I consider that good.

Sounds like you have a really good load there.

When I used to shoot skeet on a regular basis (not registered) I found the the clays seemed a bit harder to break in cold weather so I went to one shot size larger when I shot the winter league.






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Buy the Claybuster wads and save some money. I've been shooting 3/4oz loads with the CBer wads for a couple of years now and have been happy. In each bag they have a data sheet showing numerous loads. Many guys on other forums claim you want closer to 1300fps to get the load so it doesn't have a hot core. With a load this light another 100fps won't make a difference with recoil, at least I don't mind it. A article was written that 3/4oz loads at 1200fps or less were so tight at skeet ranges the author had to use spreaders or fiber wads. I load at what should be 1300 and use them for all the clay games. And pressure is not in the formula for recoil. Weight of the components and velocity is though. You are right if everything else is the same and more powder is used, you'll get more pressure/velocity and in turn more recoil. But with a different powder you could get a higher velocity with less pressure. If I was reloading 2 1/2" folded shells I'd use CBer wads meant for 1 1/8oz of shot and just put in 3/4oz of shot. The CBer wads meant for 3/4, 7/8 [ except the 4100 wad ] , 1, 1 1/8, and so on all have the same base construction, just a different cushion height, so it doesn't matter which one you use at the pressures we're reloading at. I've talked to them at CBers and was told he couldn't give a official reply, but if it were him, he wouldn't be afraid to sub in wads. If you want the load data for 3/4oz of shot try this: information@claybusterwads.com or this
Customer Service: 800-922-6287, or let me know if they don't have it and I'll help. For 3/4oz in the 2 1/2" shell I use the CB-1138-12 wad meant for 1 3/8oz. The fingers of the wad stick up a small bit, but fold right over when it's crimped.