Being a West Coast shot user for more than a few years and since it is no longer available I bit the bullet and dumped a bag of Eagle #8 in my Spolar. Unfortunately, I weighed a few charges and most came in around 525 grs. That's awful heavy as 492 grs. is the standard 1.125 oz. load. I'd say Eagle either isn't #8 or possibly 8.5 or the Antimony content is pretty low. That said, I dumped out the Eagle and replaced it with some West Coast and it weighed around 495 grs. I'm not happy with Eagle shot!
Eagle is both soft and runs small. Less antimony makes for heavier charge per volume Their 7.5 shot is closer to size 8's.
It has been my experience with the little bit of Eagle I have used, pellets measure about one size smaller than the stated size…..I too have experienced the heavier weight shot charges with the corresponding shot bushings and other reputable shot brands.
I load a lot of .410 with Lawrence Magnum. If I switch to Eagle my loads drop at least 10 grs heavier. I recently bought 10 bags of Lawrence and it dropped about 7grs more than usual. Contacted Lawrence and they said it was probably a bad batch. I doubt it myself.
Like my grand dad said "any port in a storm" -- today I will take what ever I can get my hands on and be happy! I can still shoot
You got that right, many parts of the country are lucky to have any shot.I prefer west coast to eagle any day but at 16 yard trap or skeet I,ll shoot what ever I can find.
reloading pebbles????....where did you get your powder and primers????.......if things keep going the way they are.....we might be down to Crossman wrist rockets!
I wager that most shooters aren't good enough to tell the difference between Eagle and West coast. I would happily load it and break targets with it. I loaded tons of it through the years with success. It isn't the bow , it is the Indian.
Sold it for many years in my shop. Many really good scores were shot with it. Had Eagle and Lawrence. Eagle was 2.00/bag less. I out sold Eagle 10 to 1 over Lawrence.
I’ve got both. I have no doubt that the Lawrence is better quality but for skeet and 16 yard trap I’m sure that the difference won’t change MY scores. I’ll have to find another excuse.
I will load Eagle for 16’s and 1st shot doubles but not handicap. It does run small but will break the heck out of a 16 yard target
I have a post running wanting someone to measure their Lawrence Magnum shot. My bag of marked 6s measures and looks closer to 8s while the 8s are 9s or smaller. I have 20 bags of both 6s and 8s purchased this Sept. LDS
Eagle is OK. It does not pattern as well as Lawrence or West Coast. However for casual skeet, trap and sporting clays I don't think that you would be upset using it.
for the same weight of lead in 410 reloads I can get 11 more #9 pellets of Lawrence Shot compared to Eagle. So Eagle is soft & weighs more. My opinion.
Since Eagle is imported, shot sizes are Intl'. They run about a size smaller. In another life, I shot some big scores on Bunker with Eagle 7 1/2's.
I’m a newer reloader , been using Eagle shot , I wondered why It dropped heavy . Interesting to hear that it runs small , I never measured it I guess . I will now
How much have you loaded ? How are your breaks?. When I was usin gEagle I switched to 7&1/2 shot it seemed to be closer to #8 size . Sold tons of it in my shop and no one ever complained. Less antimony and shot will weigh more per equal volumne.
Only a few bags , maybe 4 -5 Seems to shoot and break birds as good as factory ammo . But have started using titewad powder as it’s been hard to find 700x and I’m running out . But at 1 1/8 oz titewads pressure is pretty high , more weight would make higher pressure I think . So I’ll have to get a smaller shot bushing or adjust the one I have I guess .
You will have to modify your bushing. Most maanufacturers on make non adjustable shot bars. Some are made using #8 shot. If you load 9's they are smaller and will usually weigh more than 1&1/8 oz. 7&1/2's will weigh a little less. I would got to Eagle 7&1/2 shot and not worry about the weight.
Eagle shot runs one size small and is soft compared to all others. All you have to do is put a small amount of Eagle shot on a very flat service and roll it down. Eagle isn't a round as Heper or West Coast.
