Shotgun Shot - What Size Is Best?

[Lucky R. K.]

11 hours ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Refer to the MEC Bushing Chart for an approximation of the needed bushing.  Weigh powder charges to adjust to the needed bushing.  BTW, I like Perfect Pattern for light loads.

The only way to know for sure how much a certain MEC bushing will throw is to weigh it, always a good idea when setting up the press for a loading session.

Lucky 😁

[J-BAR #18287]

If you make ANY change in your shotshells, shoot a couple of the new shells at paper; make sure you are getting a usable pattern from YOUR gun.

 

A match is not the place to discover a blown pattern.

[Sedalia Dave]

On 9/1/2026 at 7:57 PM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Never/ever trust the MEC bushings to throw what they say they will.

I use and adjustable bar on my 600jr. 

 

23 hours ago, Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 said:

Refer to the MEC Bushing Chart for an approximation of the needed bushing.  Weigh powder charges to adjust to the needed bushing.  BTW, I like Perfect Pattern for light loads.

 

12 hours ago, Lucky R. K. said:

The only way to know for sure how much a certain MEC bushing will throw is to weigh it, always a good idea when setting up the press for a loading session.

Lucky 😁

 

Here's the deal when figuring out which MEC bushing to use. This also applies to setting up an adjustable powder bar,

 

Most important thing to consider is whether or not you are using a powder baffle. A powder baffle will make for more consistant charges but with a little work you can get consistent results without one.

 

When setting up a Single stage MEC keep in mind that you will pull the handle 5 times between every powder charge. ( Takes 6 cycles of the handle for every finished shotshell ) Each time you cycle the handle the press shakes and this causes the powder to settle. How hard you cycle the press determines how much it shakes and how much powder winds up in the bushing. With a powder baffle, the settling is not as pronounced but it still occurs. Without the powder baffle, the amount of settling is also dependant on how much powder is in the bottle, All things equal, a full bottle will drop a slightly heavier charge than a bottle that is only 1/4th full.

The density of the powder also factors into the mix. Fluffy flake powders will settle more than ball powders.

 

Progressive MEC presses are less prone to settling because after the 3rd shell is started the press drops a powder charge for every cycle of the press. However the same issues with the type of powder, how full the bottle is and if you are using a baffle still apply.

 

As for MEC's bushing charts, MEC only publishes one chart. This chart does not take into account if you are using a powder baffle or if you are using a single stage or progressing press.

 

When you consider all the above, use MEC bushing charts as a starting point and not as Gospel.

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

I use #8 shot only because I get a few more pellets per my 3/4 oz loads then if using 7.5 shot.

[mean gun mark]

On 9/1/2026 at 5:11 PM, Jeb Stuart #65654 said:

Better check page #27 of the shooters handbook, #4 shot is legal

 

sass legal , yes....many ranges have stricter rules. mine included size 7 or smaller.   personally I think sass needs to revisit the #4 shot thing. It would be splashing back hard onto my shooters. Be sure to check any range rules if you travel anywhere to shoot.

[Lucky R. K.]

10 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said:

As for MEC's bushing charts, MEC only publishes one chart. This chart does not take into account if you are using a powder baffle or if you are using a single stage or progressing press.

 

When you consider all the above, use MEC bushing charts as a starting point and not as Gospel.

As I said earlier, if you weigh the charge, you know exactly what you are getting within the tolerances of the loader. Temperature, humidity, phases of the moon, baffles, trapdoors etc. all affect the load but that is as good as you are going to get.

Lucky 😁

[Griff]

 

On 9/1/2026 at 4:40 PM, Whip Assalot said:

Any ramifications if I am loading 1 ounce?

On 9/1/2026 at 4:45 PM, Eyesa Horg said:

Nope! Just a tiny bit more recoil and expense. Knock em down!

I might be wrong... but 1 ounce of #8s would be the exact equivalent of 1 ounce of 7.5s... felt recoil is result of velocity vs. mass... pushing 1 ounce of feathers will give the same recoil if done at the same velocity.  The sole difference will be the amount (number) of pellets in the load.  Ergo:

On 9/1/2026 at 3:39 PM, WindyCity Red said:

More BBs for flyers.  😆

 

[Sedalia Dave]

47 minutes ago, Lucky R. K. said:

As I said earlier, if you weigh the charge, you know exactly what you are getting within the tolerances of the loader. Temperature, humidity, phases of the moon, baffles, trapdoors etc. all affect the load but that is as good as you are going to get.

Lucky 😁

 

I agree. Was just pointing out all the variables that affect the charge weight.

[Old Man Graybeard]

There are some ranges that have a smaller shot size limit than the SASS rule book. I believe there a couple that no larger than #6 shot and one at least that states no larger than #7 1/2

[Von Dutch, SASS # 7995]

On 9/1/2026 at 8:12 PM, I. M. Crossdraw, SASS# 8321 said:

I have used from #6 to #9 shots and no difference.  

Same here! for over 30 years in SASS #6 thru #9 have all worked the same for me too so I buy accordingly.

[Straight Arrow Hombre]

On 9/1/2026 at 5:34 PM, Eyesa Horg said:

Never experienced anyone using it however! 

Also don't believe 8s have less recoil than 7.5s. An ounce is an ounce, or 7/8 in my case. 😉

Actually an ounce isn’t an ounce unless you’re weighing your shot charge. Since almost everyone is using a volumetric measurement, the actual weight will change with shot size. Not much but is there. That’s the reason mec sells a skeet special bar as #9 can exceed an ounce in a standard bar. But Doc Pain is spot on…for CAS it doesn’t matter 

[Eyesa Horg]

34 minutes ago, Straight Arrow Hombre said:

Actually an ounce isn’t an ounce unless you’re weighing your shot charge. Since almost everyone is using a volumetric measurement, the actual weight will change with shot size. Not much but is there. That’s the reason mec sells a skeet special bar as #9 can exceed an ounce in a standard bar. But Doc Pain is spot on…for CAS it doesn’t matter 

I don't disagree, but I highly doubt that you could perceive a recoil difference between the 2 sizes assuming the same powder charge and bar, only changing shot size from 7.5 to 8.

[Don Jorge]

I heard that those who load black powder prefer #4 or #5 shot in their BP shot shells.  Is that true?

[Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971]

31 minutes ago, Don Jorge said:

I heard that those who load black powder prefer #4 or #5 shot in their BP shot shells.  Is that true?

Not true.  I prefer smaller shot for both my BP and smokeless loads.

[watab kid]

ive always used reclaimed - not sorted sizes , and i load a 3/4 oz load that knocks them down just fine if i do my part , loaded light at about 950fps 

[El Chapo]

16 hours ago, Don Jorge said:

I heard that those who load black powder prefer #4 or #5 shot in their BP shot shells.  Is that true?

 

I use the same load of #8s in all my shells now.  I used to use 7.5s for trap but my scores didn't change, and I tried some 9 for skeet, but it did nothing to improve the fact that I'm terrible at skeet.  The result was that everything gets #8 now, 1100-1150 fps for trap and something less than that for cowboy/wb.

[Sedalia Dave]

On 9/4/2026 at 5:04 PM, Don Jorge said:

I heard that those who load black powder prefer #4 or #5 shot in their BP shot shells.  Is that true?

7.5 or #8 for me. I load a lot of reclaimed shot. Which runs between 7.5 and #9. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Sedalia Dave