Gone—as are inexpensive shotgun shells in 2021 of any brand. Shotgun shells now cost triple what they did just a year ago under Trump and center fire rounds have gone from $.10 each to $1.00 a round for rifles and handguns. If you can find it, as there remains year long waits for various ammunitions due to national shortages.
Our wingshooting instructor, Buz Fawcett, always recommended Estate Cartridge Company Mighty Lite loads in 3/4 oz loads for 12 gauge. We used to special order them by the pallet from the factory at near wholesale rates from Texas. They were just under $2 a box delivered in 2996-2006. But Buz said if can no longer get Estate Cartridge, which happened around 2011, try Winchester 7/8 oz load, or shells by Caladre, Fiocchi, or Buschare-Ilagre, all Italian made shells. Well the day has come and Estate Cartridge Company has been acquired by Federal and the new company is no longer making the Mighty Lite loads. And, as of 2021, all of the above cartridges sell for $10 a box, some are $16/box such as those by RST, which are made for side by side guns.
Modern factory shotgun loads are often labeled in “drams equivalent” or “dr. eq.” A dram of black powder is 1/16 of an ounce. Dram equivalent means the powder charge in the shell is supposed to produce the same shot velocity as the listed dram equivalent of black powder. So if the box is labeled 3 drams, that means the velocity will be the same as a black powder shell containing 3 drams of powder.
In 12-gauge, 2 1/2 dr. eq. s is a very light or low recoil load, 3 is typical for skeet and 3 1/2 or more is common for high brass hunting loads. This does not include shells greater than 2 3/4″ in length, which is a whole ‘nother story. In 20 gauge, 2 1/4 dr. eq. is a standard load.
For the past 20 years, I have been shooting, nearly exclusively, the Mighty-Lite target load from Estate Cartridge Company, which is the shell favored by Buz Fawcett in his Wingshooting Workshop. Since graduating from the workshop, this has been the shell in my cartridge bags. As luck would have it, Estate Cartridge was a small Texas specialty loader and they were sold to a larger competitor who abbreviated all of their lines. My favorite shells are now a thing of the past, but I was not immediately affected, as we purchased these shells by the pallet, so I had plenty on hand for some time and had first bought them at $3.50 a box (1997), and we thought that they were expensive when then had gone up to $5. They were excellent for patterns, with high velocity, low deformity, and low recoil. A box of quality shells 2 in 2018 now often goes for $7-10.
The Mighty-Lite in 12 gauge, was a 2 3/4″ shell, with 2 1/2 dr. eq., 7/8 oz. of shot in #8, at 1350 fps. The new Estate Cartridge Competition Load made by Federal instead of the formerly acquired company is now 2 3/4 dr. eq., 1 oz with 1180 fps. So more shot, more kick, and slower. Not what you want in a sporting clays shell.
Typical Winchester ammunition is 3 dr. eq., and 1 1/8 oz. for 1200 fps. Short of reloading, I began looking for a substitute when Mighty-Lites were discontinued. Not wanting to leave any stone unturned, I bought (in quantities) every 7/8 oz. shot shell I could find in 12 -gauge (and it turns out there are only 4 available in 2012, and a few more have come along since then, but aren’t worth mentioning as these were better):
| Vinci Premium Shotgun Target Loads, 12 gauge, 2 3/4 in, 7/8 oz., 1345 fps, #8 Lead Shot, 2 3/4 dr. eq. |
$7.99 |
|
| Fiocchi Extra Low Recoil Trainer 12 Gauge, 2 3/4″, 7/8 oz, 1200 fps, #7 1/2 Lead Shot, 3 dr. eq. |
$6.95 |
|
| Fav. | Fiocchi Extra Low Recoil Trainer, 12 Gauge, 2 3/4″, 7/8 oz, 1200 fps, #8 Lead Shot, 3 dr. eq. |
$6.72 |
| Winchester Super Target, 20 Gauge, 2 3/4″, 7/8 oz, 1200 fps, #8 Lead Shot, 2 3/4 dr. eq. |
$5.90 |
Besides these four, of which I like Fiocchi Extra Low Recoil Trainer the best, in 2020, I am now trying these:
Fiocchi Low Recoil Ammunition 12 Gauge 2-3/4″ 7/8 oz #8 Shot 1200 fps same as “Low Recoil Trainer” just a different name with less shipping from midwayusa.com than from ableammo.com?
Kent Cartridge Elite Low Recoil – Training 12 Gauge 2.75″ 7/8 oz 8 Shot
RST Shotshells 12 Ga. • 2 3/4″ • Falcon Lite • Vel. 1200 • 7/8 oz. Load – Case
Besides just the small amount of pellets (if you really want to see an increase in recoil, get more pellets than these very light loads), but the slight variation in dr. eq. has a lot more effect than I had thought. The Winchester and Vinci have noticeably more kick in my traditional (and non-padded) side by side. The Fiocchi shells were the only tolerable ones for 100+ rounds of sporting clays. They have a very similar high velocity, as did the Mighty-Lites, with a good pattern. I just wish they offered this 7/8 oz. load in the 2 1/2 dr. eq. of my old favorite #8’s. The Winchester Super Targets are not bad shells, they are the same dr. eq., but much slower fps for some odd reason, but the price is significantly less than the Fiocchi and they are more widely available. Vinci and Fiocchi are not and have to be special ordered from Able Ammo and come with a high price tag.
Click the link below to order from Able:
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OLD NOTES FROM BUZ’S WINGSHOOTING WORKSHOP:
Notes on Ammunition:
Mighty Light from Estate Cartridge, Inc. loads from Texas which are no longer made. This was the ultimate low recoil load.
12 gauge, 2 ¾ length, 2 ½ dram, 7/8 shot, #8 = 1350 fps
20 gauge, 2 ¾ length, 2 ¼ dram, ¾ shot, #8 shot =1350 fps
The best ammunition used to be made by Estate Cartridge Company from Texas, under their Mighty Lite brand.
In 2002 $54 flat, Estate12 ga., 2 ¾ length, 2 ½ dram, 7/8 shot, #8 = 1350 fps
In 2009 $80 flat, Vinci 12 ga., 2 ¾ length, 2 ½ dram, 7/8 shot, #8 = 1350 fps
In 2009 Mirage 1 oz. loads cost $69/flat and Sportsman Mobile 1oz are $79
The major wholesalers are Sears and Southwest Shooting.
Typical AA Winchester ammunition or Federal Gold Medal
12 gauge, 2 ¾ length, 3 dram, 1 1/8 shot, #8 shot =1200 fps, in 2009 $83/flate
Reloading may be the best option, given what is currently available in 2009, but there are now suitable low-recoil shells from several Italian manufacturers which are worth trying.
The best patterns are given by high velocity, low deformity, and low recoil shot.
Use #8 shot for practice, clays, and quail.
Late in the quail season, use #8 in right barrel and #7 ½ in right
Use #6 for pheasant.
Can use #4 for ducks and geese.
High base Remington for quail in 1 1/8 or 1 ¼, #8 shot in the left barrel.]
Low base 7 ½ mighty light in right barrel.
Use 7 /12 high base in right barrel if cold.
You may save up to half the cost of a box of ammunition, by reloading. You should reload to learn about the physics of the gun, not to save money. Use Rex 24s or Super Spark wads. Use a MEC 600 Jr., (15 minutes per box) and get a primer dropper attachment. A MEC Grabber is better and reduces the time spent to 5 minutes per box. Winchester AA shells can be reloaded up to 10 times, but most others can only handle 3 reloads while still maintaining a tight crimp. Buz’s favorite hand load is Winchester primer, 18 grains of Red Dot, 40 lbs wad, super spark or Red 24 wads, and 7/8 of hardest comp shot, with a 1/8” crimp. You should use nickel shot for hunting. A MEC or Limon book will give you a good start and read the book thoroughly. Apex and Ajax loaders are also good, but don’t buy a 366 loader.
