Cost to Reload 12 ga

[dverna]

Folks are going down in payload to save money. I thought it I would share my thoughts.

At my peak level of trap shooting, I was going though over 400 rounds a week and about 70% were practice targets. I went with 1 oz loads for practice to save money. Shot was $38/bag. That works out to $.095/oz. By saving 1/8 oz per shot, I was saving 3.15 oz of shot per box. For a saving of $.30 a box. With a consumption of up to 14 boxes a week of practice loads, that saved me about $4/week. My scores suffered a bit and I decided it was not worth the savings.

My current price of shot is $50/bag (see link below). That works out to $.125/oz. The savings per box with 1 oz loads comes to $.40/box. I will keep loading 1 1/8oz.

For ****s and giggles, I broke out the spreadsheet I use for costing reloads and worked up the price of a box of 12 ga reloads using current component costs (the numbers in brackets are my current inventory costs)

Powder at $50/lb ($15 for mix of Promo/Clays)
Primers at $75/k ($30 for Win 209's)
Wads at $100/case ($70)
Shot at $50/bag ($38)
STS hulls at $50/k used 6 times.

7/8 oz loads cost $8.53
1 oz loads cost $8.92
1 1/8 oz loads cost $9.31

Fortunately, I still have a supply of old inventory and my cost (using 1 1/8 oz) is $4.94/box. The cost increase of shot has had an impact of $.85/box of the total cost increase of $4.37 ($9.31-4.94)...or 20%. The bulk of the cost increase is due to powder ($2.25) and primers ($1.13).

IMO focusing on reducing the amount of shot does not save much compared to the impact fewer pellets make to your score. Yes, it is easy to do, but the savings are minor. I have shot thousands of targets and scores are impacted. Common sense tell us less is never more. It is why there are rules on the maximum load you can use.

With shot at $50/bag, if you shoot four boxes, you will save $1.60 per session using 1/8 oz less of shot. If you cut the load by 1/4 oz, savings are just over $3 for 100 shells. Each person can decide the cost/benefit for themselves.

I am werid....I get my jollies from breaking clays not missing them.

BTW, here is a link to the price of shot from a company I dealt with when I was VP of the trap club:

https://www.dawsonent.com/Reloading.pdf

[HWooldridge]

Most of my shotgun work is on doves or varmints so I dropped my 12 ga loads from 1-1/8 to 1 to 7/8 ounce over the years because I couldn't see much difference in results - either a kill or a miss, and the lighter payloads were easier on my shoulder, especially in lighter guns. I used to own a 6 lb double barrel that would kill me with 1-1/8 field loads but was controllable with 7/8. I didn't really look at the cost then - it was more about enjoyment and performance rather than straight up pennies saved. However, in these days and times, every extra fraction saved adds up.

[farmbif]

ive never been in any tournaments but have always viewed it as a hobby and no matter what your hobby you've got to pay to play and since I first began shooting skeet I have always bought supplies in bulk. if your looking at shot shell reloading to save money the biggest savings is in putting together your own hunting loads.

[Half Dog]

Great insight on costs. I’ve recently purchased components and using today’s prices I reload 7/8 oz for $0.24 ea. My goal is to find the happy medium between recoil and performance.

[Soundguy]

Your primer price is lower than they can be had around here... Usually 100$/1000. Powder here..IF available is a bit under 50...someti.es 40.... But just not available usually.
Shot is about 90$ a bag plus freight. Rotometals sells 2 bags for 180 plus freight.. Freight to Florida from California isn't great.

Luckily I'm making shot now basically for lead cost. I figure by the time I make 100-125# I wi have recovered the cost of the gear...then it's straight lead cost. So usually 2$ a pound or less. Hulls are mostly free pickup or trade with lead alloy. Wads are 28$/1000

[W.R.Buchanan]

Another Excellent Post . Thanks Don!!!

Randy

[MarkP]

Money wise it is not much especially if you consider the cost of a round of clays. $6 to $8 here for Trap / Skeet, $43 / 100 for Sporting Clays. or 135 rocks for $9 and throw them yourself. Depending what vehicle I drive to the SC range that will be $18 to $28 just in gas or diesel.

My motivation is not about cost but more with conserving what I have (doing more with less) and I shoot better with lighter faster loads. Maybe it is a placebo effect and I shoot better thinking since you can not buy what I load I subconsciously tell myself they are better and I have an advantage using them.

Instead of looking at pure cost in terms of money you can get 355, 400, 457, or 533 shells per bag of shot. (1-1/8,1,7/8,3/4 oz) and everything in between.

I remember several years ago a marketing director in the shooting industry making fun of trap shooters or skeet shooters; saying they will jump over the hood of their Lincoln just to save a 4 cent hull. Implying they have tons of money to shoot competitively and drive a Lincoln but worry about a 4 cent shell.

Everyone has their quirks and reasons.

[dverna]

MarkP,
Many good points....

Love the comment about trap shooters. Seen many examples. One guy would use tape to get another reload out of a hull.

There is only one load I use in trap I cannot purchase. 1oz of 8’s at 1150 fps. Used for first shot of doubles to keep recoil down and gain that little sliver of time for the second shot. If I did not save money reloading I would buy the rest. I am too cheap to buy shells, but too competitive to lose a bird because I want to save $.50 a box. Like you said, other costs are so high it makes no sense to cut corners.

BTW, I shot a lot of 1oz loads at Singles and had some great scores. Even ran a couple of 100’s. But over the long haul I could not deny reality. I was losing 1-3 birds per hundred.

I remember taking a lesson from Leo Harrison, the best trapshooter in America. I asked him if he had ever shot 1 oz loads in competition and he looked at me like I had three heads.

Also a good point about conserving resources. If a person cannot get shot, it sucks. If I did not have 80 bags of shot, I would not be wasting shot for casual fun shooting.

[megasupermagnum]

I always thought 1oz loads were more popular for recoil reasons. That's why I load them. 1oz at 1050 fps is quite a bit less recoil than your normal store bought 1 1/8 oz at 1200 fps loads. I don't worry about the cost. If you buy at the right times, loading 12 gauge target loads is a marginal gain at all. From what I've seen, you are underestimating the prices a lot of people are paying for whatever reason, and still your listed prices are MORE than you can go and buy from the store. It's the other gauges that are much better, and of course hunting loads your savings are huge. Often less than half price or less.

[eastbank]

about FIVE months ago i was in walmart and the 12GA federal 1-1/8-#7.5 or #8 FOUR BOX PACKS WERE 21.99 +TAX MAKING IT ABOUT 6.00 PER 25 ROUND BOX. THEY HAD RACKS FULL OF THEM AND I ASK HOW MANY I COULD BUY? ALL YOU WANT AND I BOUGHT 47 FOUR BOX PACKS BOXES ON TWO TRIPS AND THEY FILLED UP THE RACKS THE SAME DAY WITH MORE. NOT LONG AFTER THAT THEY PUT ON A LIMITE ON THE AMOUNT YOU COULD BUY AT ONE TIME, I DO RELOAD AND HAVE A LOT OF SUPPLIES AND RUN TWO MEC 9000,S AND SEVERAL MEC 650 GRABBERS. I HAVE SOLD SOME TO SHOOTER FRIENDS FOR WHAT I PAID. NOW THE FOUR BOX PACKS WHEN THEY have them COST 32.00+TAX AND A 3 PACK LIMITE(12 BOXES).

[MarkP]

Today Wal-Mart had about 10 boxes of WW Super Targets 1 oz @1,150 they were $8.48 ea. Only one box of AA's $12.?? do not recall exact price but they were $12 something. I have not seen 12 ga target loads at multiple Wal-Marts around here for a while. I have been looking for some parents of HS kids that shoot trap. Was thinking about offering them to use one of my 266 to load their own.

Back in the good days the cost to load AA / STS quality shells was similar to the cost of promotional shells. So a savings of $2 - $2.50 / box.

[Ringo10x]

For the most common loads, I doubt you can reload for the bulk price over-the-counter. 12ga 1 1/8oz., 20ga 7/8oz., 9mm pistol.
I don't think you can reload these common sizes and come out ahead.
However, if you want to upp the load THEN there comes a difference.
12ga 1 1/4oz., or #6shot or heavier, or 20ga 1oz., or .45 pistol loads., the heavier loads do make a difference.

[MrWolf]

Saw a site called gunsretailer.com. I have never used them but they take credit cards it looks like. Remington gun club 7.5 1 1/8 @ $5.90 box. Must buy $200 worth so 4 cases plus like $15 shipping. I can't trap shoot any more but that still seems reasonable with today's prices. AGAIN I have never used them just did a quick search because the prices you guys are stating are unreal from when we used to shoot.

[Multra]

Saw a site called gunsretailer.com. I have never used them but they take credit cards it looks like. Remington gun club 7.5 1 1/8 @ $5.90 box. Must buy $200 worth so 4 cases plus like $15 shipping. I can't trap shoot any more but that still seems reasonable with today's prices. AGAIN I have never used them just did a quick search because the prices you guys are stating are unreal from when we used to shoot.

Looks like an obvious scam site.

[MrWolf]

Looks like an obvious scam site.

Not so sure. Take PayPal and Amex so you do have credit card protection. Like I said, never used nor heard of them. I tried doing searches and looks like a coin toss as to whether legit or not.

[Multra]

Not so sure. Take PayPal and Amex so you do have credit card protection. Like I said, never used nor heard of them. I tried doing searches and looks like a coin toss as to whether legit or not.

They don't take any credit cards when you go to checkout, the site is filled with spelling mistakes and odd grammar, and they have primers in stock. It's a scam.

[Soundguy]

For the most common loads, I doubt you can reload for the bulk price over-the-counter. 12ga 1 1/8oz., 20ga 7/8oz., 9mm pistol.
I don't think you can reload these common sizes and come out ahead.
However, if you want to upp the load THEN there comes a difference.
12ga 1 1/4oz., or #6shot or heavier, or 20ga 1oz., or .45 pistol loads., the heavier loads do make a difference.

I can reload 9mm pistol cheaper than retail using cast lead, easily.

[MrWolf]

They don't take any credit cards when you go to checkout, the site is filled with spelling mistakes and odd grammar, and they have primers in stock. It's a scam.

I believe you are correct. I never took it to the checkout page. The cart page shows PayPal and Amex but missing from the checkout page. Yup scam site don't use.

[6pt-sika]

I always thought 1oz loads were more popular for recoil reasons. That's why I load them. 1oz at 1050 fps is quite a bit less recoil than your normal store bought 1 1/8 oz at 1200 fps loads. I don't worry about the cost. If you buy at the right times, loading 12 gauge target loads is a marginal gain at all. From what I've seen, you are underestimating the prices a lot of people are paying for whatever reason, and still your listed prices are MORE than you can go and buy from the store. It's the other gauges that are much better, and of course hunting loads your savings are huge. Often less than half price or less.

I have a bunch of friends that shoot sporting and or trap with 12 gauge ounce loads as well as many that drop down to 7/8’s and even 3/4 ounce loads . I had a flat of the Remington gold Handicap ounce loads and shot them in two events last year (sporting) and my scores were right inline . Now with that being said I load 1 1/2 for the 8 , 1 1/4 for the 10 , 1 1/8 for the 12 , 1 for the 16 , 7/8 for the 20 , 3/4 for the 28 and a 1/2 for the 410 . The only time I differentiate from the payload is typically for pheasant tower shoots and I’ll go 1 1/4 in the 12 , 1 1/8 in the 16 and an ounce in the 20 . April to October I’ll average 1500 shells a month and I don’t go at it hard . I understand being thrifty etc I just choose to do what I’ve always done . I did fail to mention in my hard core skeet days a good many folks myself included shot the 20 gauge in the 12 gauge event . In my own case my scores actually got better shooting the 20 in place of the 12 . Had a couple friends that were truely recoil conscious that used the 28 in the three big guns and of course the 410 , they cut down on the amount of different components they needed to keep on hand . But I think the 28 only crowd were after decreased recoil . I never cared for an O/U 12 in the 12 event but was okay with an 1100 or 11/87 . But if you did that at a four gauge shoot the difference in feel from the tubes O/U to the semi would generally hurt one or the other score wise or atleast in my experience.

[6pt-sika]

For the most common loads, I doubt you can reload for the bulk price over-the-counter. 12ga 1 1/8oz., 20ga 7/8oz., 9mm pistol.
I don't think you can reload these common sizes and come out ahead.
However, if you want to upp the load THEN there comes a difference.
12ga 1 1/4oz., or #6shot or heavier, or 20ga 1oz., or .45 pistol loads., the heavier loads do make a difference.

Quite frankly and this is based on when ammo was easy to get and not price gouged to heck . I had a good bit more confidence in my own handloads over the promotional stuff . WIN AA or REM STS I was fine with . But then again a fair portion of my 12 and 16 took into account I was using damascus or twist steel barrels so at first I loaded to a good bit less pressure . I will say however that in the pigeon ring you have no choice factory only , so with that being said I’ve laid in 3-4 flats of 12 gauge 1 1/4 ounce 7 1/2’s traveling at 1350ish . Three flats of those will last me for all the pigeon rings I’ll frequent the next few years . As generally it’s a 15-30 bird race so you need 30-60 shells for the entire event .

[dverna]

Quite frankly and this is based on when ammo was easy to get and not price gouged to heck . I had a good bit more confidence in my own handloads over the promotional stuff . WIN AA or REM STS I was fine with . But then again a fair portion of my 12 and 16 took into account I was using damascus or twist steel barrels so at first I loaded to a good bit less pressure . I will say however that in the pigeon ring you have no choice factory only , so with that being said I’ve laid in 3-4 flats of 12 gauge 1 1/4 ounce 7 1/2’s traveling at 1350ish . Three flats of those will last me for all the pigeon rings I’ll frequent the next few years . As generally it’s a 15-30 bird race so you need 30-60 shells for the entire event .

Don’t tell the snowflakes you shoot live pigeons.

[Soundguy]

I had avoided reloading shotshell for years since a box of commons was 6 bucks.. but now when a box can be 20-50$.. I'm glad I started. Im also glad that I can now make my own slugs, buck and shot. Have 2500 primers.. that's not super great.. but better than none.

[6pt-sika]

Don’t tell the snowflakes you shoot live pigeons.

Probably shouldn’t mention the drones either [smilie=1::drinks:

[MarkP]

what are snow flakes?

[dverna]

what are snow flakes?

Drive to your closest college and observe.

[fivegunner]

A great Post Don , I`am down to 6 bags of shot, so I am only going to load 410`s and 28`s and maybe a few 20`sI will buy a flat or two of 12ga when I need them . My trap and skeet has slowed to two rounds a week .

[dverna]

TY fivegunner. I put the post up to show that cutting back on payload does not save much. I was shocked with the cost of a box of shells when I ran the numbers with current (or what I thought was current) component prices so that is why I posted the total cost information. It makes saving $.40-.50/box on shot even less attractive when the cost of everything else is nuts. Like another poster said, by the time you factor in the cost of targets and gas to get to the range, saving $2 of lead on 100 birds is not a big deal.

The only reason I load 12 ga target loads is because I have a deep inventory of stuff. At today's prices, I would try to find promotional shells like Top Gun, Estates, or Gun Clubs and stock up. Loading 28 ga, .410 and hunting loads has always saved significant $$$.

People who report 3/4 and 1 oz loads work just as well as 1 1/8 oz loads are fooling themselves. It might not matter in skeet at close range, but it matters in the other clay sports where ranges are longer. When the best trap shooters in the world use 1 1/8 oz, it tells us something.

[Scorpion8]

I reload shotshell, and do so much more than metallic now that I shoot trap. Practically the difference between my reloads and store-bought is only in that thru this shortage, I've been able to keep shooting while finding store-bought has been iffy at times. It's also a pleasurable pastime and relaxing. Having stocked up early on components was key, as I know a lot of reloaders who are high-n'-dry for components. I used to scoff many years ago at hose guys who proudly chirped "I always keep 25k of primers in stock...." and now I yearn to be one of them. Right now there's no shot to be had in my town, so would not be a good time to start reloading.

Cost? Performance? A double-blind taste test would probably be so far down in the static to be undecipherable.

[6pt-sika]

A great Post Don , I`am down to 6 bags of shot, so I am only going to load 410`s and 28`s and maybe a few 20`sI will buy a flat or two of 12ga when I need them . My trap and skeet has slowed to two rounds a week .
Last week weekend I was at a shoot in north central PA . On the way up Wednesday I stopped at Shyda’s and picked up twenty bags of West Coast 7 1/2’s . Ten for me and ten for a friend . The price was $14 a bag less than what the closest dealer in central VA is getting at the moment . I already had a fair supply but I buy it when I can get it !

[Soundguy]

Lucky people... I havn't found any in Florida..rotometals doesn't count..even with a distro here..a bag is still over 100$

[dverna]

Last week weekend I was at a shoot in north central PA . On the way up Wednesday I stopped at Shyda’s and picked up twenty bags of West Coast 7 1/2’s . Ten for me and ten for a friend . The price was $14 a bag less than what the closest dealer in central VA is getting at the moment . I already had a fair supply but I buy it when I can get it !

Just checked Shyda's site and the good shot (West Coast) is $52/bag. My current price from a distributor is $50 so that is a very fair price in today's market. The Eagle brand is $47. Makes the numbers I used look reasonable.

The issue most people have is they buy a couple of bags at a time from the LGS.

A few years ago I was at a trap shoot and bought 20 bags of shot. My buddy knew I had bought 80 bags about 6 months earlier and wondered what I was doing. I told him the price was decent and I like having stuff on hand to ride out market swings. I wound up selling him shot a couple of years later...LOL. If he had not been a good friend he would have paid a lot more, but at least he learned his lesson.

80 bags sounds like a lot but I used to load 15-20k rounds a year. Most were 1 1/8 oz loads but some were 1 oz for doubles and my lady. I would go through 45-50 bags a year. One winter day I loaded 4000 shells...over 11 bags of shot.

You are smart to buy when you see a good price. I know some of my married friends cannot do that. It is difficult to deal with a wife, who is not into shooting, when you come home with $1000 of shot. More so now that gas is over $5 and everything is up in price.

[Soundguy]

Went to a show today. Bags of 7.5 at 75$

So glad I drip shot now...

[MarkP]

I bought 2 bags of Eagle 8-1/2's today they only had 8-1/2's & 9's. $56.95 --- $121.87 with tax.


Lighter payloads of shot at high velocity loads will crush targets.

[6pt-sika]

Just checked Shyda's site and the good shot (West Coast) is $52/bag. My current price from a distributor is $50 so that is a very fair price in today's market. The Eagle brand is $47. Makes the numbers I used look reasonable.

The issue most people have is they buy a couple of bags at a time from the LGS.

A few years ago I was at a trap shoot and bought 20 bags of shot. My buddy knew I had bought 80 bags about 6 months earlier and wondered what I was doing. I told him the price was decent and I like having stuff on hand to ride out market swings. I wound up selling him shot a couple of years later...LOL. If he had not been a good friend he would have paid a lot more, but at least he learned his lesson.

80 bags sounds like a lot but I used to load 15-20k rounds a year. Most were 1 1/8 oz loads but some were 1 oz for doubles and my lady. I would go through 45-50 bags a year. One winter day I loaded 4000 shells...over 11 bags of shot.

You are smart to buy when you see a good price. I know some of my married friends cannot do that. It is difficult to deal with a wife, who is not into shooting, when you come home with $1000 of shot. More so now that gas is over $5 and everything is up in price.

I saw the same price you saw . But I wanted to call before I went to make sure they had what I wanted and they quoted it at $49.99 a bag . They wouldn’t accept our tax. Umber however so we paid tax on $999.80 which was $60 . Their price on Eagle shot when in stock was $42.99 on their webpage so makes me think if they’d had Eagle and I’d called in advance that mighta been $39.99 a bag ! I’m going to another shoot in PA in late July I might buy another ten bags .

[6pt-sika]

Last year when I did the July shoot at Rock Mountain in PA my friend that owns the club got shot for me . When I left Sunday to head home I had FIFTYTHREE bags of shot on my Toyota Tacoma of which twenty bags were for two other folks . That haul was I think $44@ bag .

[6pt-sika]

I bought 2 bags of Eagle 8-1/2's today they only had 8-1/2's & 9's. $56.95 --- $121.87 with tax.


Lighter payloads of shot at high velocity loads will crush targets.

I’ve got several friends that have a fair amount of 9’s and 8’s they wanna trade for 7 1/2’s . I used to keep 9’s , 8 1/2’s , 8’s , 7 1/2’s , 6’s and 4’s . Now I keep a bag or two of Magnum9’s for the 410 , a couple bags of 6’s a bag or two of 4’s and I try and keep 10-30 bags of 7 1/2’s now .

[6pt-sika]

Seems to me Shyda’s had CB wads for if memory serves $99.99 a case . Fortunately or unfortunately however you look at it I’ve got a good stock of CB wads for the 12-16-20-28 and 410 . Just wish CB made copies of the REM SP-10 and SP-8 wads !

[Half Dog]

You are smart to buy when you see a good price. I know some of my married friends cannot do that. It is difficult to deal with a wife, who is not into shooting, when you come home with $1000 of shot. More so now that gas is over $5 and everything is up in price.

Well...my wife quilts so I don’t feel too awful buying components.

[trapper9260]

I first started loading 12 and 410 many years ago in the mid 70s , did it with my Dad and brother . For how things was for us it was cheaper to load it then to buy it from the store loaded, I went to do center fire on my own and I still load shotgun in 10,12, 20, 410 . Since i have most of what is needed, why not load your own .I use it for hunting and I can load what ever I like in the shell for what I shooting.I am not confined to what the store will sell .

[Geezer in NH]

International Skeet dropped shot charges trying to get scores to separate on the shooter. That failed, lighter loads and scores went up.

[6pt-sika]

International Skeet dropped shot charges trying to get scores to separate on the shooter. That failed, lighter loads and scores went up.

I’ve no practical experience at International and know it’s more difficult than American skeet , however my 12 gauge average took a noticeable improvement when I quit the Remington 11/87 in the 12 gauge event and shot the Krieghoff with 20 tubes in the 12 gauge . I always thought it more the same feel . But for awhile I played with 20 gauge 1 ounce for the 12 event . The ounce loads broke the targets plenty well enough but it was a lot more comfortable once I started using the same 7/8 ounce loads I used in the 20 event .

[MarkP]

I’ve no practical experience at International and know it’s more difficult than American skeet , however my 12 gauge average took a noticeable improvement when I quit the Remington 11/87 in the 12 gauge event and shot the Krieghoff with 20 tubes in the 12 gauge . I always thought it more the same feel . But for awhile I played with 20 gauge 1 ounce for the 12 event . The ounce loads broke the targets plenty well enough but it was a lot more comfortable once I started using the same 7/8 ounce loads I used in the 20 event .

Have you ever shot a few hundred 20 ga loads consecutively then switched back to the 12 ga? I am always amazed how I react on the first shot. Only happens to me if I shoot a few hundred rounds then switch. I shoot 2,500 rnds of shotgun per year, so maybe it would be different if I shot 10,000+.

[dverna]

Have you ever shot a few hundred 20 ga loads consecutively then switched back to the 12 ga? I am always amazed how I react on the first shot. Only happens to me if I shoot a few hundred rounds then switch. I shoot 2,500 rnds of shotgun per year, so maybe it would be different if I shot 10,000+.

I am recoil sensitive and shot over 15k a year. Most were 1 1/8 oz at 1145 fps and the HC loads were 1200 fps.

The "secrets" to dealing with recoil are gun fit, gun weight and adding recoil reducing devices. It is not possible to be competitive in trap shooting using less than 1 1/8 oz in singles, HC or second shot of doubles. At most big shoots there is a 400 bird day...100 singles, 100 HC and 100 pair of doubles. Imperative that recoil get tamed.

But for most people being competitive is not important. Go to the club, shoot 3 or 4 rounds, BS with buddies and be proud they broke 23/25. But that score (92/100) will not win the lowest class in Singles at a registered shoot.

One size does not fit all. Folks can have a blast shooting 7/8 and 1 oz loads, but do not let anyone convince you less is more. There is a good reason there are upper limits to payload in competitions.

In the end it is about having fun. Lot's of guys shoot light loads but none are serious. They have just as much fun as anyone else.

[MrWolf]

....

The "secrets" to dealing with recoil are gun fit, gun weight and adding recoil reducing devices. It is not possible to be competitive in trap shooting using less than 1 1/8 oz in singles, HC or second shot of doubles. At most big shoots there is a 400 bird day...100 singles, 100 HC and 100 pair of doubles. Imperative that recoil get tamed.


....In the end it is about having fun.

This is what I found when we were shooting that much. The final thought is the most important. My Son was pretty good but did not like practicing though I wished he would. We ended up making our own games such as seeing who could break the target closest to the ground, etc.. All about the memories and we have some good ones. They grow up and move away. Such is life.

[6pt-sika]

I had a K-32 set up to shoot both trap and skeet . It amazed me how much more 12 gauge in the skeet barrels thumped me vs 12 gauge in the unsingle barrel or the 32” O/U trap doubles barrels . Obviously the stock was the same for both but the same standard 1 1/8 ounce load was different in the three barrels , granted the skeet barrels were 28” and the others were34 and 32 inches but still it shouldn’t have been that noticeable .

[6pt-sika]

I’m NO FAN of recoil reducers . Or barrel weights on an O/U . I no longer have the K-32 but I shoot a heck of a lot of 8-10-12-16 and 20 gauge in SxS events all different guns . And sure they all feel a bit different but none batter me .

[6pt-sika]

Any trap shoots I did years ago were typically 200 at 16 , 100 at handicap and 50 pair of doubles . I’ve been to some marathon shoots where they’d throw 500 16’s or handicap or 250 pair of doubles .

[6pt-sika]

But for most people being competitive is not important. Go to the club, shoot 3 or 4 rounds, BS with buddies and be proud they broke 23/25. But that score (92/100) will not win the lowest class in Singles at a registered shoot.

One size does not fit all. Folks can have a blast shooting 7/8 and 1 oz loads, but do not let anyone convince you less is more. There is a good reason there are upper limits to payload in competitions.

While I don’t disagree I don’t totally agree either . Once you’ve shot competitively and gained any upward trend in average even after you’ve quit mediocrity in score isn’t acceptable . As to shot over no problem using 7 1/2 for everything except perhaps the 410 . And dare I say I’ll beat most people at my club in trap or skeet with them being regulars and me being a by gone shooter using a SxS now . But a long time ago I had what I think as somewhat of a mental advantage , I NEVER differentiated between trap and skeet . To me if you see the target you break the target and I shot both a lot some weekends I’d shoot a skeet shoot and a trap shoot meaning 900ish targets a weekend . Now at a SxS event it seems i shoot about 700-1000 targets and just about all the events are 50 targets . Heck when I went to NC in April I had ten Guns I planned on shooting .

[Soundguy]

I find I do better with an equivalent load in a smaller tube. IE.. 1oz in a 20 vs a 12..

[atr]

I am loading for 12ga. and not sure what it is costing me. I am still using hulls, shot and primers I've had since the mid 60's. Powder is the only thing I have to buy. My loads are pretty basic,,,3drams equivalent and 1-1/8 shot. I only need the reloads for grouse and quail hunting, so overall I don't need a lot of ammunition.