Shotgun - can I just use #7 or #8 bird/target shot?

[Lead Waster]

OK, so for the pistol/rifle, I get it ... load up some cowboy loads on the medium-low side of the powerfactor scale.

What about store bought shotgun shells? I bought some 7 1/2 and 8 bird/target shot at Walmart... is that OK, or is there some special cowboy shotshells I should be looking at?

I can reload metallic cartridges, but have nothing for shotshells.

Thanks!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Until you get to reload shot shells, just buy the cheapest in #7.5 or #8.  The variable is that some might shuck out easier than others in a double.  I've found that Remington shells slip out easier than most others. The empty hulls of the cheap stuff are often not worth bending over to pick up. The Remingtons are worth saving to reload.

[pony express]

Those are about right, LW. Our club requires shot to be #6 or smaller. Don't want or need #4s shooting at a steel plate 10 feet away! The lightest field loads you can find would be what I could get.

[Fingers McGee]

What about store bought shotgun shells? I bought some 7 1/2 and 8 bird/target shot at Walmart... is that OK, or is there some special cowboy shotshells I should be looking at?

The 100 pack field loads at Wally World are a great way to get started.  I'd still be using them if I hadn't switched to BP.

[Lead Waster]

Thanks all!

I looked into some shotshell reloading stuff. Doesn't seem too bad, I see they sell entirely brass shotshells for reloading, that's interesting. But nice since it uses large pistol primers and not 209 primers. For now, I guess it's Walmart stuff, thanks!

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks all!

I looked into some shotshell reloading stuff. Doesn't seem too bad, I see they sell entirely brass shotshells for reloading, that's interesting. But nice since it uses large pistol primers and not 209 primers. For now, I guess it's Walmart stuff, thanks!

Think of the Magtech brass shotshells as primarily for black powder, for several good reasons.  Yes shotgun reloading isn't rocket surgery, but you do need to strictly follow book data.