#8 Lead Shot Ammo: #8 Lead Shot Explained

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Ethan Smith
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#8 Lead Shot Used in everything from casual shooting to Olympic-level shooting events, #8 shot is typically popular for trap, skeet and sporting clays – as it offers good range and a dense pattern, but still relies heavily on user skill to accurately break the targets. #8 shot is also a decent size for varmint control, but you should stick within 30 yards to make sure you actually hit it.

This type of ammo has more power than the same load with steel pellets, and is something to consider if you prefer steel and are shooting on your property. Pros recommend using a steel shot up to two sizes larger as a substitute, but you will lose a few pellets. Find #8 shotgun shells easily in 12, 16 and 20 gauge.

For those who frequently engage in trap, skeet, or varmint control, considering bulk 12 gauge ammo purchases can be an economical and convenient option, ensuring you always have enough shells on hand for your shooting needs.

Hunting Use

Number 8 shot isn’t considered a hunting round unless you’re shooting doves, pigeons or maybe quail. You’re going to get quite a nice spread at about 30 yards, allowing you to take smaller birds down easily as long as you stay in range. However, most hunters won’t chance losing the bird due to lack of penetration, and many hunters won’t go afield with anything smaller than #7.5 shot. Larger birds aren’t going to be an option with this shot, because they are simply too well padded by feathers and their skin is too thick.

See also  6.5mm Creedmoor for Coyote Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load, Cartridge) for a Successful Coyote Hunt Hunting Calibers 04 Apr, 2020 Posted By: Foundry Outdoors Is the 6.5mm Creedmoor a viable caliber/load/round/cartridge for coyote hunting? The accurate answer is “it depends”. However, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether the 6.5mm Creedmoor is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest coyote. As with anything, the devil is in the details. To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the downrange distance to the coyote, the bullet type, the grain weight of the bullet, the physical condition of the firearm, the size of the coyote in question, the shot placement, the local wind conditions, the expected accuracy of the shooter, the ethics of the ideal maximum number of shots – the list goes on. [Click Here to Shop 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo]What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a coyote in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. Let’s dive right in. In the question of “Is the 6.5mm Creedmoor within the ideal range of suitable calibers for coyote hunting?” our answer is: Yes, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is A GOOD CHOICE for coyote hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement.Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. Assumption Value Caliber 6.5mm Creedmoor Animal Species Coyote Muzzle Energy 2300 foot-pounds Animal Weight 30 lbs Shot Distance 100 yardsWhat is the average muzzle energy for a 6.5mm Creedmoor? In this case, we have assumed the average muzzle energy for a 6.5mm Creedmoor round is approximately 2300 foot-pounds. What is the average weight of an adult male coyote? Here we have leaned conservative by taking the average weight of a male individual of the species, since females generally weigh less and require less stopping power. In this case, the average weight of an adult male coyote is approximately 30 lbs. [Click Here to Shop 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo]What is the distance this species is typically hunted from? Distance, of course, plays an important role in the viability of a given caliber in coyote hunting. The kinetic energy of the projectile drops dramatically the further downrange it travels primarily due to energy lost in the form of heat generated by friction against the air itself. This phenonemon is known as drag or air resistance. Thus, a caliber that is effective from 50 yards may not have enough stopping power from 200 yards. With that said, we have assumed the average hunting distance for coyote to be approximately 100 yards. What about the other assumptions? We have three other primary assumptions being made here. First, the average bullet weight is encapsulated in the average muzzle energy for the 6.5mm Creedmoor. The second important assumption is ‘slightly-suboptimal’ to ‘optimal’ shot placement. That is to say, we assume the coyote being harvested is shot directly or nearly directly in the vitals (heart and/or lungs). The third assumption is that a projectile with appropriate terminal ballistics is being used, which for hunting usually means an expanding bullet.Various calibersA common thread you may encounter in online forums is anecdote after anecdote of large animals being brought down by small caliber bullets, or small animals surviving large caliber bullets. Of course those stories exist, and they are not disputed here. A 22LR cartridge can fell a bull elephant under the right conditions, and a newborn squirrel can survive a 50 BMG round under other specific conditions. Again, the goal of this article is simply to address the question of whether 6.5mm Creedmoor is within the ideal range of suitable calibers to harvest coyote - and to this question, the response again is yes, the 6.5mm Creedmoor is A GOOD CHOICE for coyote hunting. [Click Here to Shop 6.5mm Creedmoor Ammo]This article does not serve as the final say, but simply as a starting point for beginner hunters, as well as a venue for further discussion. Please feel free to agree, disagree, and share stories from your own experience in the comments section below. Disclaimer: the information above is purely for illustrative purposes and should not be taken as permission to use a particular caliber, a statement of the legality or safety of using certain calibers, or legal advice in any way. You must read and understand your own local laws before hunting coyote to know whether your caliber of choice is a legal option.Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings. Leave a commentComments have to be approved before showing up Your Name * Your Email * Your Comment * Post Comment

Small critters like squirrels or rabbit can be hunted with #8, but you’re going to have to be extremely close – making them difficult to eat. With over 410 pellets in a one-ounce load, care must be taken when preparing the game to cook. As with turkey and game bird hunting, try to have your shot mostly in the head and neck region for mammals. Many hunters will stick to a #6 or larger shot when hunting all but the smallest game.

Targets and Clays

This is where your #8 and similar sizes are going to really shine. You’ll need to pattern your shotgun first, so you know exactly what your limitations and effective ranges are. Once that’s done, you’ll find this size to be very enjoyable. The #8 can successfully hit and break all types of skeet and clays, even at pretty high speed. If you have a little more experience, you can drop down to a 7.5, depending on what you’re shooting and who you’re shooting. Keep in mind that competitive shooting will have various restrictions on pellet material and allowed sizes of shot.

Varmint Control

This particular shot works for small critters and birds, and is quite effective on snakes. But while stunningly effective at indoor distances on small vermin, the idea of shooting a shotgun in a building with a concrete or hard-packed dirt floor doesn’t seem like the best idea. The #8 can be pretty effective if you’re covering a large area of land, like a ranch or farm, but keep in mind that you’ll have a much shorter range than if you were using a #4 shot or something similar.

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Ethan Smith
Ethan Smith is a seasoned marine veteran, professional blogger, witty and edgy writer, and an avid hunter. He spent a great deal of his childhood years around the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. Watching active hunters practise their craft initiated him into the world of hunting and rubrics of outdoor life. He also honed his writing skills by sharing his outdoor experiences with fellow schoolmates through their high school’s magazine. Further along the way, the US Marine Corps got wind of his excellent combination of skills and sought to put them into good use by employing him as a combat correspondent. He now shares his income from this prestigious job with his wife and one kid. Read more >>

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