Types of Skeet Shooting Ammunition

Video Transcript

Types of Skeet Target Shooting AmmunitionHi, my name is Don Snyder, Executive Director of the National Skeet Shooting Association and what I want to talk to you about is the different types of ammunition that are shot and competition is conducted within the National Skeet Shooting Association. First of all, and most everybody is familiar with the shotgun, is the 12-gauge shotgun. We have 12-gauge competitions. People can shoot the 12-gauge, and this is what most people will have when it comes to their hunting gun, are 12-gauge shotgun shells. So if you’ve got a 12-gauge pump gun or side by side, over and under, or automatic, even a single shot shotgun, shooting the 12-gauge you can practice your hunting skills on a skeet field. The 20-gauge is a little bit smaller, it holds a little less shot, it has a little less recoil. It’s another caliber, or gauge, that’s used in competitive skeet shooting. This particular shell shoots seven eights’ ounce of shot as opposed to the ounce and an eighth of shot that’s shot in the 12-gauge cartridge. This shell is used extensively by ladies and junior shooters because of less felt recoil. The 28-gauge is an even smaller cartridge which shoots a three quarter ounce load of shot. It’s a little bit more difficult to hit the target because of the less shot that it projects, but this is one of the shells that we use in competition. A little less recoil is generated from this cartridge. And last, but not least, is the 410 cartridge, and we shoot two and a half inch 410 cartridge that shoot a half ounce a shot. It’s a little bit more difficult to get to the target with these because of the reduced amount of shot, however, many, many people in skeet have run a hundred straight targets with this cartridge. And they’re fun to shoot, there’s very little felt recoil and it’s an enjoyable gun to shoot. Now, in skeet shooting, it is a four gun event. Basically 12-gauge, 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and 410 bore are used in competition. Most competitions consist of all four, however, if you only have a 12-gauge, or you only have a 20-gauge, or you only have a 28 or 410, you can participate in that event at a skeet tournament, or you can practice with those at your local gun club for your hunting skills.