What type of shot is best for trap shooting?

Question

I will be shooting some clay birds with a mossberg 590 cylinder bore barrel. I was just wondering what type of shot I should buy. The targets will be no more than 50 yards away.

Answer 1

For shot, either 7 1/2's or 8's. Personally, I prefer 8's as a rule, if factors (high wind, winter cold) don't make me grab 7 1/2's instead.

I've been known to use 8 1/2's (which were intended for trap singles/doubles) and sometimes 9's on doubles (first shot).

Either size in a 1 1/8, 2 3/4 or 3 dram equiv. load will do fine. Don't bother with anything heavier, (handicap loads) right now.

You'll definitely want a choke for trapshooting - modified or full. Anything less for singles, handicap, or second shot in doubles will be a frustrating exercise.

You'll most likely be shooting singles, which means you stand 16 yards from the traphouse, on the line. Most targets are hit 25-35 yards out for a total of 41-51 yards for your shot. You really need at least a modified choke, if not anything else up to a full choke for this.

Answer 2

The idea when shooting clays is to get as much shot in the air as possible, and this can be accomplished with 28 grm cartridge whether its any thing between a 7 and 9 its your perogative..
The higher the number the more shot with in the cartridge.
The chokes on your gun will also play a key factor.
I tend to use anything between a 7 and 9 through half and 3quater at pigeons and crows and have a great kill ratio over 30 to 60 yards.

Answer 3

50 yards is a long shot for trap and skeet. Your shotgun is a no choke barrel and you would have a lot of trouble hitting anything with it at 50 yards. For shorter than 50 yards you could get by with 7 1/2 shot but I don't give you much of a chance hitting anything unless you are on them real fast while they are within 25 yards. I use modified and full chokes when shooting handicap trap. And skeet choke with #8 for all skeet shooting.

Answer 4

Well, i use 7 1/2 or 8 with an improved cylinder (its just a bit tighter than a cylinder). In your situation, a 7 1/2 sounds like it will work, but you are going to have some good spread at 40 yards, maybe too much. I tend to shoot as fast as i can because i seem to hit them easier if they are still climbing.

Answer 5

7 1/2 or 8, shot with either a skeet or modified choke. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I shoot trap, we shoot 16 and 20 yard (from the pit) in leagues.

We use 8 or 9 shoot, 12 guage 1-1/8 ounce, 20 guage 7/8 ounce. Modified or Improved Modified.

Answer 7

I favor number 8 or number 9 shot for targets. It is small and gives you many more pellets to hit your target than, say, number 6 shot that you might use for hunting upland birds. You need the larger shot for birds bcause you need the penetration the heavier pellets give you. You don't need the penetration for targets, what you need is the extra pellets in each load that the smaller shot gives you to give you a better chace of hitting the target.

Answer 8

i use #8 7/8oz for skeet
never shot trap but i would probably use #8 1 1/8oz with an improved cylinder or modified choke

Answer 9

Try 7 1/2 size shot, 1 1/8 ounce is perfect. try using a mod. choke

Answer 10

71/2 or 8's>>>>> Full choke for trap shooting.*