Shot Distance

At the club I shoot at they don't allow #5 shot because they say it will reach places outside the range like houses but yet they allow longshot to be used so the question is what will fly further, longshot with #6 shot traveling at 1450' plus or #5's at 1200'?

 

We had that problem out at the Old Phx club if anyone shot anything bigger than 7 1/2's the kinetic energy and trajectory would carry the shot onto the road that ran on the east side of the club ... We posted signs and asked people nicely to not shoot anything bigger than 7 1/2's but you know how that goes sometimes ( that means anyone but them) and we catch all of the hell about it ... I'm not sure exactly how far it was to the road but obviously it was at a safe distance if everyone played by the rules we set forth ... I would guess 450 yards (???) to the shoulder of the road from the trap line ... We would drive over and check it from time to time and there was always shot on that damn road that was bigger than 7 1/2's ... We had been warned and some how never got fined for the violation which would of been cause for them to (!) close the club , or (2) close the road or move the road ... Thanks to urban sprawl the club was closed and the land developed into a housing project which is what it is today ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The absolute best cure to and for this problem is the way they did it at Red Lands, think "Shot Curtains" and forget it ... The cost over time is minimal compared to what a lawsuit could cost the clubs ... The Curtains would also make reclaiming shot a lot easier if the base was designed in such a way to be able to clean up the shot without mining ... Containment is the name of the game and the curtains eliminate a lot of problems ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Here is a reference sheet from Lyman.

Max Horizontal Distance in Yards.

#5 1125fps - 274 yards, 1200fps - 277 yards, 1275fps - 284 yards, 1350fps - 290 yards
#6 1125fps - 257 yards, 1200fps - 260 yards, 1275fps - 267 yards, 1350fps - 274 yards

 

Thank you Jhunts, we were obviously closer to that road than I thought ... The amount of shot we would find out there was not just a few pellets by any means ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The question is though will Longshot at 1450 plus FPS with #6 shot fly as far or further then a load of say 700x at 1200 with 5's.

 

I do not reload and would not have any data on loads like you are talking about ... Those loads should not be used at any club for any reason ... Had a guy shooting (loading ) big boomers destroy a really nice Model 12 from shooting all that magic stuff ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Pressures are withing specs on these loads.

 

Bill. El mirage road was paved with lead. We forgot to reclaim it. Roger C.

 

jmunsell,are you asking this as a Trapshooting question or a Hunting question? If your asking for trapshooting 5s, and 6s aren't legal anyway. If your shooting trap games 7 1/2s are plenty, as long as you do everything right on the shooters end. JMO though

 

This is for games and we shoot clear out in the parking lot I would say close to 18' beyond the 27 or more and there isn't a person there that shoots 7 1/2" shot at that distance. THIS IS NOT FOR TRAP EVENTS.

 

We used to shoot games from 45/50 yards (flag pole) , many used factory loaded 7 1/2's (Nitro's or Silver Bullets ) and they would break targets ... We shot 5 targets for $5 , winner take all after the Annies, Protections, steak and fish fry and what have you every Friday night ... Those big bad boomers don't do anything but destroy guns and shooters, seldom do they come out winners ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Well when you say big boomers you would be talking about those who exceed spec I'm not saying that at all I'm referring to within spec loads and which would travel further. There is a difference in breaking power from 7 1/2's and 6's. Don't see many people picking up a 4th shot from the parking lot with 7 1/2's. Anyway seems no one can answer the initial question of which would travel further.

 

JM,
You answered it for yourself , obviously the 6's or 5's would travel further because of the kinetic energy ... I do not and have reloaded since 2 years after I started shooting (1975) trap so to try and get my take on re loads is futile at best, I will seldom even shoot another shooters re loads but have on a rare occasion ... I can tell you we had shooters picking up 3rd and 4th shots from 15/20 yards beyond the 27 yard line ( call it a lucky shot , if you must ) but it happened to many times by to many shooters for it to always be lucky shots ... People would stand there in awe watching as we played our games ... Those were the days, Roger C. kept a target on my back ...(%#@$) on many nights ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

I think you can answer to your own satisfaction with the information given, or at least argue a distance. It isn't what "is" however, it is what could be, that probably keeps the club from allowing #5 shot.

One problem is who can guarantee the velocity is 1200fps or less. A 1200fps load is +/-.

Good luck in your quest, if it is a quest, to get the club to change.

 

Nope was just curious as to what people think. My thought would be the longshot at 1450fps would fly further given the higher velocity. I don't think the extra weight of a 5's pellet considering the extra drag would go further although at the same fps it would. I think we all should shoot 7 1/2 and that's it but that will never happen.