hunting load with 6.5 shot

[beeker]

I usually don't load hunting loads.. but i just scored a 25# bag of 6.5 lead shot for 15$. so since I can't pass up a deal and can't shoot clays with 6.5 (per nsca rules). anyone have a recipe for a decent hunting load?

[thunderpout]

Beeker, just load em into hulls that say 7.5 or 8...

[beeker]

I had the thought to just mix em with the 7.5's I have and double my lead inventory... but I would hate to get busted in a registered shoot with em. I'm thinking I'll just load up a bunch of 1 1/8 once loads at about 1250fps and call it good..

[thunderpout]

Yep, thats what I shoot... the more lead in the air the better... till we get too old and feeble, then ya pull out the light loads, eh? beeker, do you shoot on a league or tourneys?  If ya do, where do ya shoot mostly?  A couple guys and I on MNO shoot on a league at Wild Marsh Sporting Clays up near Clear Lake... we had a get-together up there with a bunch of MNO guys last summer that was pretty cool....

[beeker]

i used to shoot at wings north.. but they went steel and canceled all their tournements I thought they were going under for a while, but I guess not. then I shot league at metro for a while, but with the cost of everything I cut back to just registered shoots last year. hit a few at the horse and hunt, rice creek, old vermillion, forest lake.. and the state sporting shoot. I like wild marsh I seemed to miss the shoots there this year. good course clean, nice people, quality targets... hate the tower. kicks my butt.

[thunderpout]

I hit shoots at all those places also, I really like Old Vermillion, dont shoot my best there, but they set great targets, shot the state shoot at MHHC this year also, Ive probably seen you at shoots... yeah I know what you mean about cuttin back,  I didnt get in 1000 registered targets in this year for the first time since I started shooting tourneys, but My avg was the highest its been, go figure huh?  What class do ya shoot in?  Hey, keep in mind, if ya want to shoot leagues this spring/summer, we will probably have some room on our squad, some other guys that hit Wild Marsh this summer, from MNO may give it a go too so we may get another squad goin if need be...

[beeker]

I like old vermillion they do set some great targets.. and when your dropping a few targets from your average the view is rather nice. I started in the nsca in 2006 in D class.. then I got dropped to E... I won my division an MHHC this year, and I also won my class in 5 stand there. so I've punched my way back into D class. I'm hoping to get out of D this next year I just need to hit the shoots as my scores would have placed me in the punches a few times this year in D class,, the problem with E was there are hardly ever enough shooters to punch ya out and I didn't want to petition my way out.  I'm sure we seen allot of the same targets. look forward to shooting with you guys.

[thunderpout]

Yep ... D is tough to get out of, E can be even tougher, theres always some guy, that will win those classes that will go on a tear and shoot B or A scores... he'll punch out, but some one takes his place, but sooner or later its your turn, then its all the sweeter!  Ive wondered if they should start shooters up further, but then there'd be even fewer shooters in E & D.  I used to think it was a plot to keep more shooters in those classes cause they are so crowded at the top... Maybe lowering the amount of shooters needed to punch out at C level and down, I dont know... Im in C now but I may have to petition to stay there, had near misses all year, same deal, not enough shooters in my class when I shot well... same old story.  Ended the year shooting mid a 90's at our league banquet though, so Im ready to do some damage this year.(thats the plan anyway )

[beeker]

the mhhc has a winter shoot this weekend. I was thinking of trying to shoot it.. maybe get "off season" punch to ensure I don't get dumped down a class.. once you punch into a class you shouldn't get demoted.  I just need to shoot more in the winter months... and I never do.. then when the time comes around I chump the first couple shoots of the year.

[thunderpout]

I cant make the shoot there this weekend, but theres another there in Jan & Feb maybe we'll have to meet up & give those a whirl... I hardly ever hit the winter shoots either, but it would be smart to do a few to keep from gettin that "shooter atrophy" as ya said... I do the same, try to catch up each year, but when  I do its usually later in the season.  Probably smarter to spread the shooting out so ya dont get too rusty...

[beeker]

sounds like the NSCA changed the rules this up coming year where 1st place in each division gets a punch? I need to find an updated copy to make sure I'm stating this right, but i think the days of driving to a shoot across the state and shooting your best score ever to not get a punch may be over...

[thunderpout]

That seems like a good idea, it'll definatly get more shooters motivated to shoot more registered events, and not just the larger shoots.... I hope yer right!

[beeker]

I was wrong... i copied this from the nsca website, these take effect jan 2009

The shooter with the highest score and all ties in an event, where there is a minimum of ten (10) total shooters, shall receive a minimum of one (1) punch no matter what class the shooter is in.

Number of Entries in class: Punches earned
0-2 No Punch
3-9 One (1) punch for high score and all ties
Explanation: This will change the minimum number of shooters required from 5 to 3 in class for earning punches. This too will help shooters at small events to move up in class.

 does help a bit.

[GRIZ]

I usually don't load hunting loads.. but i just scored a 25# bag of 6.5 lead shot for 15$. so since I can't pass up a deal and can't shoot clays with 6.5 (per nsca rules). anyone have a recipe for a decent hunting load?

I would say either 1 1/8 oz for small game or 1 1/4 oz loads for pheasant.

[thunderpout]

Yeah Beeker, thats pretty cool, That should help me out a bit....