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getting back into trap shooting, checking out my 16 ga reloading supplies and realize what I thought was a 4 lb keg of universal turned out to be 8 lbs. Thats enough for 3300 loads, got 100 lbs of shot, 1600 rds, trap range still has a bunch for sale and 2700 primers, so I am good to go.

GREAT News !!
Fantastic

Mike

Joined: 07 Sep 2011 Posts: 567 Location: wheeling, wv

Try dropping your load to 7/8 oz or even 3/4 oz. May surprise you how effective they are.

Joined: 27 Jan 2016 Posts: 490 Location: Oswego, Kansas

I can agree with the recommendation to drop to a 7/8oz load. Works great for reducing recoil, makes the bag of shot last longer and breaks clays just as well. I started doing that after cutting all of my hulls to 2 5/8 for my short chamber LC Smith and they work great. I can still get a full ounce in the loads with the SG16 wads but they must be roll crimped. Makes it easy to tell which loads to use.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

For quite a while I stayed away from 7/8 oz. loads in the 16. Then someone on this forum mentioned a 7/8 oz. load using 700-X. I use 700-X in my 12 gauge loads so that seemed like a good idea, only needing to stock one powder for target loads.(I only shoot the 12 and 16).

I shot quite a few targets last summer using the 7/8 oz. loads in the 16. I really like them, and my 16 ga. 1100 cycles very well using the light loads.

I gotta admit though, it was tough giving up the 1 oz. loads.......and I still debate whether I should go back to them. Believe it or not that little bit extra recoil is somehow comfortable and feels solid.....don't know how to explain it any better.

i'm just the opposite Mark-loads feel BIG till I get down to 3/4oz !! Really starting to go heavy with my 410 .

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

I have tried 3/4 oz. loads........not for me. They won't cycle my 1100 reliably. I have no confidence in them for longer targets. The way the targets break is not confidence inspiring. Gotta admit though, I still broke decent scores shooting the 3/4 oz. loads, but yuck. Gives me chills just thinking about it.

A bunch of years ago when I first tried the 3/4 oz. loads I actually got a punch using them in a NSCA pump side event. But yuck!! If I had used my 1 oz. loads I would have won the class and gotten 2 punches. LOL (and seen Elvis)

Mark , I've been the lite load champ in this area for probably 40 yrs now . i was shooting trap with 7/8 and kinda blew my eye out with them . Recoil wise on a slight left angle . Took a couple weeks and eye was OK . Then a month after that , did it again ! Again fixed itself , but did it a 3rd time ! end of anything heavier . Fortunately , when I got the pink Panther 48 , it was fine cycling down to 5/8oz . Most other shooting has been with my 28's . Developed everything under the sun including up tp 27/8'' 1ozers . They would only be for a trip out there - all targets are 3/4 or less . Have even broke traps OK with those 5/8 28's , so no thought of going back to heavy !! No thought of telling the eye doc !

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

Wow. I would shoot 3/4 and 5/8 oz. loads too, if I had eye problems.

I like the 7/8 oz loads for skeet in 16ga. I may possibly make some up in a slower speed for woodcock-only covers (I prefer 1350-ish for ducks & grouse). I have loaded some 3/4 oz loads for skeet, and they work fine, but I haven’t found that mix of pattern/speed/ease of loading…yet.

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 817

Since I shoot mostly trap games for money I take very seriously what my loads are. I only shoot 16 ga. Except special events with 410's. 410's are shot on the 18 yard line and from the 27 yard on shootoffs. But all the rest are from wherever the first shooter wants to shoot during the shootoff. And that can be 25 to 35 yards behind the 27 yard line. Now about all the shooters have their hopped up loads for shootoffs. I don't. Many shoots I'll use 7/8's for 16 to 23 yards but on back I'll shoot 1oz. I have no special load for shootoffs. Just my regular line load with 7.5 shot. Which chronograph out at average 1248 fps.I still keep right in their with the 12ga's where ever they shoot from. Only reason I use 7/8's up front is to save on shot. I have and do use from time to time 5/8 oz. Reason on piece protection is to give my backup partner a bigger piece to shoot at. Mostl shoots on piece protection are from the 23 line.
I don't shoot skeet anymore because just to break the target in the air and no chance to get anything for it is nothing thrilling for me.
But all in all the 16 will keep up with any 12ga regardless of what is packed in that 12 ga hull. And that's against the guys with their famous rainbow powder. That's a nother subject. Bill

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1308 Location: Western WA

I must be doing something wrong because I find 7/8 oz to be about 7/8 effective as 1 oz for trap. I’m seeing little or no difference with skeet however.

B.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

Sure.

This load was checked by Precision Reloading, March 2021.

16 ga. Federal 2 3/4" paper basewad hull
Winchester 209 Primer
16.0 Grains 700-X
DR-16 wad
7/8 oz. magnum lead shot
Crimp depth .060" to .065"

1,260 FPS / SD 11 FPS / EV 30 FPS
8,163 PSI

I wouldn't back off on the crimp depth. If anything make it closer to .065" to .070".

I hope you have the DR-16's. I am kinda sorry I used those wads, because of availability.

I am planning to try a similar load soon using the Remington RGL hull and the Claybuster CB0078-16 wad.