Far and away the most popular shot size for skeet is #9, but I know a few folks that do extremely well with (and prefer) #8-1/2. Skeet guns are generally patterned at 20 or 21 yards.

As a generality, the pattern percentages you should be looking for are:

• 12 gauge (1-1/8 oz.) 85% in a 30 inch circle
• 20 gauge (7/8 oz.) 90% in a 30 inch circle
• 28 gauge (3/4 oz.) 100% in a 30 inch circle
• .410 (1/2 oz.) 100% in a 28 inch circle

These pattern percentages give you the highest probability of a two pellet hit with the largest effective spread at American Skeet ranges. Remember that this is only a very general guideline.

As your payload decreases along with gauge, your pattern efficiency must increase to maintain the largest effective spread of your shot cloud on the skeet field.