Usefulness of #9 shot

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

I came across a bag of #9 shot that I was considering for use in spreader loads at clays. I load 3/4 oz. of shot in my spreaders and 9's would give me a denser pattern than 8's at 30-35 yards if it takes me a while to get on target. Any thoughts on the effectiveness of 9's at that range?

[Daniel Carter]

Has worked for me for years in 12 and 20. Try it i think you will like them.

[Phillip Carr]

I shoot nothing but 9’s over my dogs on Means quail. Believe me when I say a 30 yards or less it’s deadly. I hear it leaves too much shot in the birds. That’s no my experience at all.
I have used 10 shot on pigeons and it will make a believer of you that the small shot is deadly.

[Alfred Houde]

I like 9's in the early Woodcock season.

[Andrew Sacco]

I love them for short work. In 3/4 oz 12g they are amazing for skeet. It's my preferred early season woodcock/grouse size for shot.

[Bruce Hering]

I have shot 9's for woodcock and bob whites while hunting. I have also used 9's on the clays course both as spreader loads and std 1oz. loads. You will need to check your patterns with which/what ever you use. They can be devastating on face type targets but may lack some on edge targets at distance.

I had a collegiate shooter that shot 9's as his first shot in trap doubles. He was really quick on the shot and all you saw was a puff.... Some trap shooters are shooting 8.5's from the 16 yard line also. 9's are the given choice for most skeet shooters.

Just an FYI

[Brian Dudley]

It puts a lot more lead in the air.

[CraigThompson]

Honestly I'd hate to say how many tons of #9's I've shot at skeet targets , dove and quail . In every gauge from 10 down to 410:whistle:

FWIW I was shooting #9 light loads in my 26" barreled 10 gauge hammer gun last evening at skeet .

[Joe Dreisch]

20 ga. #9 shot was all we used for Eastern Shore wild quail (bobwhite) over pointing dogs back in the 80's. I never noticed excessive shot in the birds.

[Chris Robenalt]

.Like Phil, I'm shooting #9, mainly from my 410. It's a deadly 1/2 ounce load for sure. Then #8 for most other loads. Doesn't destroy the bird.

Chris, AZ

[Jim Beilke]

During WW2 the only shotshells my father could get were #9 skeet loads. They proved deadly on waterfowl.

[Rick Losey]

9's were all I shot when i was in a skeet league ( Long, long ago in a galaxy far far away ) :corn:

9's often ride in the right tube for woodcock (with 8's in the left)

and have shot a lot of them on small bore clays courses

they make a very effective target load

[Tom King]

I shoot 9 shot in my 28 gauge for doodles and quail. I find it effective.

[Stan Hillis]

Okay, I'll be the black sheep. I don't like it for anything except clay birds at 25 yards or less.

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=600698#Post600698

As can be read in the link I posted above I use 8s and 7 1/2s on quail. My hunting buddy uses 9s. Every instance I can remember of biting into a pellet in a quail breast is a 9. This is anecdotal, but is based on years of quail shooting. Anyone who understands basic physics should be able to understand that a 9 is much less likely to pass through a quail breast than an 8, or a 7 1/2, all else being equal.

SRH

[CraigThompson]

When I was big in the REAL clay target games (skeet and trap) I kept 9’s , 8’s and 7 1/2’s at all times . Chilled 9’s for 12 and 20 skeet , chilled 8’s for 12 and 20 skeet doubles at all stations as well as 16 yard trap . Magnum 9’s for 28 and 410 skeet . Magnum 8’s for 28 and 410 doubles at all stations and finally magnum 7 1/2’s for handicap trap and trap doubles . When I quit the real games I went to 8’s almost exclusively for what little skeet/trap/sporting I shot . Now I shoot 7 1/2’s at sporting in all but the 28 and 410 I still use 8’s in the two little ones . And yes I now again keep 9’s , 8’s and 7 1/2’s but they’re all magnum shot now . FWIW when I started loading chilled shot was $9@ bag and magnum $1 more . Now it all seems to be pretty much the same price .

[Bob Hayes]

Number 9 is great on snipe as well even at distance.One pellet will usually take them down.

[Andrew Sacco]

Craig I couldn't even keep track of that : (

[Randy G Roberts]

Austin going back to your post concerning the use of 3/4 ounce loads and spreaders at 35 yards in clay target games, I would think that would be no place for a spreader load with that 3/4 Oz load. At 35 yards with a 3/4 Oz load I'm wanting some choke in my gun, not a spreader. On the topic of 9's vs other sizes of shot at that distance I have no experience.

[CraigThompson]

Austin going back to your post concerning the use of 3/4 ounce loads and spreaders at 35 yards in clay target games, I would think that would be no place for a spreader load with that 3/4 Oz load. At 35 yards with a 3/4 Oz load I'm wanting some choke in my gun, not a spreader. On the topic of 9's vs other sizes of shot at that distance I have no experience.

I’ve never fired spreader loads that I was aware of in anything . Matter of fact my little 28 that’s my number one quail gun is choked full and full . Not that I have a problem with more open , but that’s my only Parker 28 and I’m darn sure not opening the chokes . Besides it does fair to middling at sporting .

[CraigThompson]

Craig I couldn't even keep track of that : (

Not hard after as many shells as I’ve loaded in the last 35+ years .

[Stan Hillis]

the REAL clay target games (skeet and trap)

Huh? As opposed to what ............. sporting clays, or FITASC?

[Victor Wasylyna]

... the REAL clay target games (skeet and trap) ...

I didn’t know people felt this way. Sporting clays is not a “real” clay target game? Come on? This comment is ridiculous.

-Victor

[CraigThompson]

Huh? As opposed to what ............. sporting clays, or FITASC?

AFter shooting skeet/trap for many years any of that other stuff is an excercise in futility , Or atleast to my way of thinking . I knew back then if I could keep my head on straight I could and would run some 100 straights , in these futility games that isn't so much the case .

Most folks that are enamored with sporting claim they like it because of the lack of oerfect scores or possibilities of them over the course of a weekend or year . I shot the other stuff long enough that I like things that perfection is more common .

[CraigThompson]

I didn’t know people felt this way. Sporting clays is not a “real” clay target game? Come on? This comment is ridiculous.

-Victor

You know what you can think me ridiculouse all you like . But I stick by what I said .

And quite frankly if you disagree thats your right and I will not loose sleep over it .

Come on, my ass :nono:

[Stan Hillis]

I am friends with a former GA State Ladies Skeet Champion, several times over. First time she and her husband tried sporting she shot something in the neighborhood of a 37/100. Her husband shot even less. He stomped away muttering that there were targets out there that could not be possibly broken with a shotgun. My buddy had just shot a 96 on the same course. They were badly embarrassed.

I've shot two 100 straights in my life, at sporting, numerous 99s and 98s. A young man just shot a 100/100 at Super Sporting at the "Turkey Shoot", at The Meadows in Forsyth, GA last weekend. He also shot a 50/50 on the competition 5 stand. This wasn't a charity shoot, but real tournament quality targets.

There's a big difference in learning the lead on hundreds of presentations, and being able to put it there, and in memorizing it on a handful that are not over 21 yards. I've shot enough skeet and trap to appreciate the mental focus that is necessary to run long straights. It's not for me, it's boring, but at least I recognize them as legitimate clay target games.

[CraigThompson]

There may be another reason you don't care for sporting. That is that you can't break enough targets to get over being embarrassed. I am friends with a former GA State Ladies Skeet Champion, several times over. First time she and her husband tried sporting she shot something in the neighborhood of a 37/100. Her husband shot even less. He stomped away muttering that there were targets out there that could not be possibly broken with a shotgun. My buddy had just shot a 96 on the same course. They were badly embarrassed, too.

I've shot two 100 straights in my life, at sporting, numerous 99s and 98s. A young man just shot a 100/100 at Super Sporting at the "Turkey Shoot", at The Meadows in Forsyth, GA last weekend. He also shot a 50/50 on the competition 5 stand. This wasn't a charity shoot, but real tournament quality targets.

There's a big difference in learning the lead on hundreds of presentations, and being able to put it there, and in memorizing it on a handful that are not over 21 yards. I've shot enough skeet and trap to appreciate the mental focus that is necessary to run long straights. It's not for me, it's boring, but at least I recognize them as legitimate clay target games. Maybe you would be better served by trying to be a bit less abrasive and offensive, and more open-minded.

You don't want people "coming on your ass"? Don't make abrasive comments like that.

Lead is a moot point to me I've shoot swing thru on everything over the years be it skeet trap sporting birds or 5 stand . I do well enough where I'm not embarresed .

[Stan Hillis]

We can agree to disagree on this, Craig. At the suggestion of a friend I had edited my original post, that you quoted, to be a bit more gentlemanly and less abrasive myself, but you copied it before I got a chance. Anyway, thanks for responding to my original post in a gentlemanly way.

Have a great day!

[Andrew Sacco]

:cool:Who really gives a rats ass? We're all SHOOTING and that's all that matters

[CraigThompson]

We can agree to disagree on this, Craig. At the suggestion of a friend I had edited my original post, that you quoted, to be a bit more gentlemanly and less abrasive myself, but you copied it before I got a chance. Anyway, thanks for responding to my original post in a gentlemanly way.

Have a great day!

Good day to you as well ! I kinda feel at this age and in today’s society if we’re upright and breathing we’ve won the game regardless of ones preference in clay target games :cool: No problem , we can have a glass of iced tea or a soft drink and discuss it further in Georgetown or we can talk about hunting tales from way back . Anyway if you make it there I’d still like to make your acquaintance!

[todd allen]

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

[Louis Rotelli]

Austin, I shoot 7/8 oz 9'S all the time at skeet and most sporting clays targets. Unless they are out about 40 yards then I'll use 8's or 7 1/2, and that is only because im usually shooting a skeet gun with skeet chokes and 26" bbls

[CraigThompson]

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

Never tried them but I want to once before they set me on fire :whistle:

[Bruce Hering]

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

Todd: Nope.... columbaire is the tough one. LOL...

[Daryl Corona]

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

Well Bruce beat me to it but Columbaire is the ultimate challenge for a shotgun sport. Right Craig, Stan and Jimmy?

Getting back on topic I'm in the same camp as Stan. I have no use for 9's but if they give you confidence, go for it. Although I've seen a number of targets dusted but not chipped with 9's, 8 1/2's and even 8's if the target is hit with the fringe of the pattern. Every time I see dust come off a target but not a chip I ask the shooter what shot size he is shooting. It's generally one of those 3 shot sizes combined with an open choke.

[todd allen]

I've shot box, hand thrown, and cannon birds. Actually, probably the toughest shotgun game out there right now might be Helice.

[Bruce Hering]

I've shot box, hand thrown, and cannon birds. Actually, probably the toughest shotgun game out there right now might be Helice.

Todd: True dat since hand thrown live birds are expensive and well "sheltered". If ya know what I mean....

[CraigThompson]

Well Bruce beat me to it but Columbaire is the ultimate challenge for a shotgun sport. .
Did you go last Saturday ?

[Daryl Corona]

Yes I did.

[Mike Koneski]

#9 works very well on clays at skeet distances, especially presentations showing lots of belly or dome which is the weakest part of the target. I haven't used 9's on clays for years though as I usually carry 8s and 7 1/2s. I shoot 7 1/2s at targets that are edgy or have some distance (50+ yards). I also like them for woodcock. I'll use #10 shot for woodcock too especially in the first barrel.

[Mike Koneski]

Everyone knows that real targets are box birds ;-)

That's where the $$ is too. If you have a very good day you can fill your pockets. :) :cool:

[Bruce Hering]

That's where the $$ is too. If you have a very good day you can fill your pockets. :) :cool:

Mike: I dont know about that.... one of the first columbaire shoot I went to there was more, and I mean a lot of money, changing hands on the sidelines then there was on the ring. It was like a back ally crap game.... where there was more betting off the table then on.

[Mike Koneski]

Mike: I dont know about that.... one of the first columbaire shoot I went to there was more, and I mean a lot of money, changing hands on the sidelines then there was on the ring. It was like a back ally crap game.... where there was more betting off the table then on.

A good day for Calcutta buyers is lucrative too!

[Tom Flanigan]

20 ga. #9 shot was all we used for Eastern Shore wild quail (bobwhite) over pointing dogs back in the 80's. I never noticed excessive shot in the birds.

I grew up shooting grouse with 9 shot and rarely had a bird that had too much shot in it. It just didn't happen that often. Maybe one or two birds a season and I was shooting between 70 to 80 birds a year back in the day. I pulled a tail feather from each bird and tallied at the end of the season.

The market hunter who introduced my grandfather to grouse used #10 shot out of an old sawed off colt double before market hunting became illegal. He shot for the New York city market. His birds wouldn't have been accepted if they had a lot of shot.

[Tom Flanigan]

Okay, I'll be the black sheep. I don't like it for anything except clay birds at 25 yards or less.

https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=600698#Post600698

As can be read in the link I posted above I use 8s and 7 1/2s on quail. My hunting buddy uses 9s. Every instance I can remember of biting into a pellet in a quail breast is a 9. This is anecdotal, but is based on years of quail shooting. Anyone who understands basic physics should be able to understand that a 9 is much less likely to pass through a quail breast than an 8, or a 7 1/2, all else being equal.

SRH

I don't know about that Stan. A lot of my grouse had #9 shot that passed all the way through the breast and stopped in the skin on the far side. I found it very common. I used to cut the skin to take the pellet out.

[Tom Flanigan]

I am friends with a former GA State Ladies Skeet Champion, several times over. First time she and her husband tried sporting she shot something in the neighborhood of a 37/100. Her husband shot even less. He stomped away muttering that there were targets out there that could not be possibly broken with a shotgun. My buddy had just shot a 96 on the same course. They were badly embarrassed.

I've shot two 100 straights in my life, at sporting, numerous 99s and 98s. A young man just shot a 100/100 at Super Sporting at the "Turkey Shoot", at The Meadows in Forsyth, GA last weekend. He also shot a 50/50 on the competition 5 stand. This wasn't a charity shoot, but real tournament quality targets.

There's a big difference in learning the lead on hundreds of presentations, and being able to put it there, and in memorizing it on a handful that are not over 21 yards. I've shot enough skeet and trap to appreciate the mental focus that is necessary to run long straights. It's not for me, it's boring, but at least I recognize them as legitimate clay target games.


I shoot sporting clays and don't find it boring. My only complaint is that a lot of sporting clay shots don't mimic field hunting. There are sometimes a lot of dropping birds that are implausable in the field unless you are shooting ducks over decoys. Also, all the sporting clays shooters I have seen shoot from a gun brought to the shoulder before the pull. Not good practice for field shooting.

I shoot low gun and generally take a 12 bore DHE for the longer shots and a 20 bore PHE for the shorter shots. Sometimes my small gun is a 28 bore Holland. I've been using the 28 bore for low gun trap shooting using the left full choke barrel. I'm the only one I have ever seen shooting trap low gun with a 28 bore. I'm always in the 20's with that gun shooting low gun. It is a real kick for me and gets people's attention.

[Daniel Carter]

I shoot sporting clays and don't find it boring. My only complaint is that a lot of sporting clay shots don't mimic field hunting. There are sometimes a lot of dropping birds that are implausable in the field unless you are shooting ducks over decoys. Also, all the sporting clays shooters I have seen shoot from a gun brought to the shoulder before the pull. Not good practice for field shooting.

I shoot low gun and generally take a 12 bore DHE for the longer shots and a 20 bore PHE for the shorter shots. Sometimes my small gun is a 28 bore Holland. I've been using the 28 bore for low gun trap shooting using the left full choke barrel. I'm the only one I have ever seen shooting trap low gun with a 28 bore. I'm always in the 20's with that gun shooting low gun. It is a real kick for me and gets people's attention.

I have voiced the same complaint about SC and 5 stand at the clubs i belong to and visit. It was brought to my attention that the majority of shooters in my area do not hunt and these targets are "normal to them. I took over the 5 stand at one club and did away with loopers and falling targets to only realistic presentations and had a number of hunters take it back up. We hunters need to realize that we will soon be in the minority in some sections of the country.

I invented another game to mimic upland birds and it is shot low gun with the puller deciding when to throw it and which trap to throw, same with the 5 stand some days you have to have all 8 traps in vision and then be able to focus and shoot.
There are no straights as yet in 5 stand and only 3 in 10 years in the other.

[Dean Romig]

I have always shot low gun at Skeet, SC and 5-stand... and sometimes at 16 yard trap.
I don't shoot these games competitively but just as practice for actual hunting situations, both realistic and "in your dreams" hard and easy shots.





.

[Stan Hillis]

I shoot sporting clays and don't find it boring. My only complaint is that a lot of sporting clay shots don't mimic field hunting. There are sometimes a lot of dropping birds that are implausable in the field unless you are shooting ducks over decoys. Also, all the sporting clays shooters I have seen shoot from a gun brought to the shoulder before the pull. Not good practice for field shooting.

I shoot low gun and generally take a 12 bore DHE for the longer shots and a 20 bore PHE for the shorter shots. Sometimes my small gun is a 28 bore Holland. I've been using the 28 bore for low gun trap shooting using the left full choke barrel. I'm the only one I have ever seen shooting trap low gun with a 28 bore. I'm always in the 20's with that gun shooting low gun. It is a real kick for me and gets people's attention.

Perhaps I didn't make it clear, but I don't find sporting clays boring either, Tom. I meant that I find skeet and trap boring. I would hasten to say that I do not look down on anyone who enjoys trap and skeet, much less excels at them. We're just not all wired alike, and I've likely got a bunch of short circuits. :)

I may not have worded that previous post properly. The only thing I find a bit boring about sporting clays is having to shoot 5 pairs on a station, on some courses. That's a little much for me. Four is aplenty, but I understand range owners trying to save money on traps. They're very expensive.

[Bruce Hering]

Perhaps I didn't make it clear, but I don't find sporting clays boring either, Tom. I meant that I find skeet and trap boring. I would hasten to say that I do not look down on anyone who enjoys trap and skeet, much less excels at them. We're just not all wired alike, and I've likely got a bunch of short circuits. :)

I may not have worded that previous post properly. The only thing I find a bit boring about sporting clays is having to shoot 5 pairs on a station, on some courses. That's a little much for me. Four is aplenty, but I understand range owners trying to save money on traps. They're very expensive.

Stan: I think we can all agree that practice on clays whether sporting, trap or skeet is worth doing. I am about like you and some others here, I shoot clays of any form for different kinds of practice. Some games I just cant get my brain wrapped around while others challenge me. Shooting more then 3-4 pairs on a sporting course station is not ok for my ADD, A type personality. I can not stay focused that long. Thats why I like FITASC, old style or new.

JMHO