Skeet & Clays Ammo
Clay target shooting — skeet, trap, sporting clays, and 5-stand — is the fastest-growing shooting sport in America and requires purpose-built target loads optimized for breaking clay birds rather than hunting game. Target loads use lighter shot charges, smaller shot sizes (#7.5, #8, and #9), and lower velocities than hunting loads — reducing recoil for high-volume shooting while delivering the pattern density needed to break clay at typical distances. Impact Guns stocks target loads from Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi, and Remington in 12 and 20 gauge.
Read our full Clay Shooting Ammo Buying Guide ↓
Shot Size Guide: #7.5 vs. #8 vs. #9 for Clay Sports
#9 shot (the smallest) provides the densest pattern and is the preferred choice for skeet shooting where birds are close (15–40 yards) and a thick pattern is more important than individual pellet energy. #8 shot is the most versatile all-around choice for trap and sporting clays — it patterns well at moderate distances and maintains enough energy to break birds out to 40+ yards. #7.5 shot carries more energy per pellet and is preferred for longer crossing shots in sporting clays and international trap where targets are fast and distant. Most shooters stock #8 as their primary load and #9 for skeet.
Target Load Velocity: 1,145 fps vs. 1,200 fps vs. 1,300 fps
Target loads are available in three general velocity categories. Low-recoil loads (1,145–1,150 fps) minimize fatigue during 100+ round practice days and are increasingly popular with competitive clay shooters who value consistency over raw performance. Standard loads (1,200 fps) are the most common and cycle semi-automatic shotguns reliably without being overly punishing. High-velocity loads (1,250–1,300 fps) are used by some sporting clays shooters for longer crossing shots where extra energy helps break harder presentations. For beginners and high-volume practice, low-recoil 1,145 fps loads reduce fatigue and flinching significantly.
Best Target Load Brands: Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi & Rio
Federal’s Top Gun and Gold Medal series are the most widely used target loads at registered competitions — consistent, reliable, and available in bulk. Winchester AA hulls are the most reloadable target load cases available, popular with competitive shooters who handload. Fiocchi produces excellent Italian-made target loads at competitive prices with very consistent velocities. Rio produces budget-friendly target loads popular for practice rounds. For competition, Federal Gold Medal or Winchester AA. For high-volume practice, Fiocchi or Rio offer the best cost-per-round value without sacrificing reliability.
Clay Sports by Discipline: Matching Ammo to the Game
Trap shooters typically use #7.5 or #8 at 1,200 fps — birds are straightening away and distance varies. Skeet shooters prefer #9 at 1,145–1,200 fps — close, predictable crossing birds where pattern density matters most. Sporting clays requires versatility — most shooters carry both #8 and #7.5 to handle varied presentations from close rabbits to long crossing teal. 5-Stand is similar to sporting clays in ammunition requirements. All disciplines benefit from consistent factory ammunition — handloaded or varying factory lots can produce pattern inconsistency that makes reading missed birds difficult.
Clay Ammo & Related Pages
For the shotguns used in clay sports, see our semi-auto shotguns page for Browning, Beretta, and Mossberg options. For 12 gauge hunting and defensive loads, see our 12 gauge shotguns page. For over-under shotguns popular in clay sports, see our over-under shotguns page. For reloading clay target hulls, see our reloading page.