Usefulness of #9 shot

[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

[Mike of the Mountain]

#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.

[Jim Beilke]

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

[OH Osthaus]

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

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...698#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

[6pt-Sika]

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 .

[Victor Wasylyna]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

... 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

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Victor Wasylyna

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

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by 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...698#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.