Ask The Instructor: No Game Loads

Question: What’s the difference between a game load and a target load?

Answer: When it comes to the shells permitted in clay target sports, the difference between shells marked “game” and “target” is typically only the text on the box. For 2-3/4 inch shells with a shot size between #7-1/2 and #9 and a load of 1-1/8 ounce (32 grams) or less, the difference is usually zero. Some ammunition companies label shotgun shells as “game” to attract wingshooters at retail stores. Pay attention because some “game” shells might exceed the 1-1/8 ounce, 2-3/4 inches and #7-1/2 shot permitted in clay target sports. Shells with shot sizes between #2 and #6 tend to be for waterfowl and larger upland birds like pheasant. The other label one might see on a box of shells is “waterfowl.” Since lead shot is largely taboo for bird hunting over wetlands and bodies of water, steel shot is the most common shot used for this purpose. Bismuth and tungsten yield tighter patterns but are significantly more expensive and so are rarely used for any species of bird except Turkey. Tungsten shot, in particular, has risen in popularity among Turkey hunters, but a box of 5 shells can cost between $50 and $90. Getting back to clay target sports, the main differentiating factors between shell types and brands are: 1) the amount of shot (expressed in ounces or grams), 2) the amount of powder (expressed in drams) or the speed of the shell (expressed in “fps” - feet per second), 3) the quality/burn rate of the powder, and 4) the quality of the wad. The latter two are not usually expressed on the box. There are other factors that effect a shell’s performance such as the percentage of antimony and the coating used in the manufacture of the shot (also not disclosed on the box), but this is really getting “into the weeds.” So, if the shells are 2-3/4”, between #7-1/2 and #9 shot, and 1350 fps or less, whether the box says “game’’ or “target” is more about promotion than performance.