Unleashing Precision: The B&P Predator 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/5 oz #9 Shot Ammunition

Are you a dedicated competitive shooter seeking an edge in skeet, trap, or sporting clays? Perhaps you're an upland bird hunter aiming for swift, ethical takedowns of dove or quail. Or maybe you're simply a recreational shooter who demands consistent, reliable performance from every shot. If any of these describe you, then the B&P Predator 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/5 oz #9 Shot ammunition is meticulously engineered to meet and exceed your expectations.

This high-performance shotgun shell from B&P, a brand synonymous with quality and innovation in ammunition manufacturing, is designed for those who refuse to compromise on accuracy, consistency, and a superior shooting experience. It's the go-to choice for achieving tight patterns, ensuring critical hits on fast-moving targets, and delivering dependable performance shot after shot.

What Makes B&P Predator #9 Shot Stand Out?

The excellence of B&P Predator ammunition lies in its carefully chosen specifications and proprietary components, all working in harmony to deliver an unmatched shooting experience.

12 Gauge Versatility: The Standard for Performance

The 12 gauge is arguably the most popular and versatile shotgun chambering in the world, renowned for its balance of power, range, and adaptability. The B&P Predator line capitalizes on this universal appeal, providing ammunition that's compatible with the vast majority of 12-gauge shotguns, from semi-automatics to pump-actions and over-unders. This widespread compatibility means that whether you're using a modern competition gun or a classic field model, you can rely on the B&P Predator to perform flawlessly. Its popularity ensures that accessories, chokes, and related gear are readily available, making the 12 gauge an accessible and practical choice for shooters of all levels. For competitive shooters, the 12 gauge offers the necessary payload for breaking targets consistently, while hunters appreciate its effectiveness across various small game scenarios.

Optimal 2.75" Shell Length: Standard and Reliable

The 2.75-inch shell length is the undisputed standard for 12-gauge target and light field loads. This optimal length ensures universal compatibility with nearly all 12-gauge shotguns, eliminating concerns about feeding issues or chambering problems that can arise with longer magnum shells. For competitive disciplines like skeet, trap, and sporting clays, where rapid cycling and consistent ejection are paramount, the 2.75" shell provides the reliability needed to maintain your rhythm and focus. It also contributes to reduced felt recoil compared to longer, heavier magnum loads, allowing shooters to maintain greater comfort and precision during high-volume shooting sessions, whether at the range or during an intensive hunting trip. This standard length is a hallmark of dependable performance and user comfort.

The Power of 1 1/5 oz Shot Weight: Balanced Payload

The 1 1/5 oz (approximately 508 grains) shot payload is a critical specification that positions this ammunition perfectly for its intended uses. This is a substantial payload for a #9 shot load, offering an exceptional number of pellets per shell. For target shooting, this translates directly to a denser pattern, increasing the probability of breaking clays, even with slight variations in aim. In hunting scenarios, a dense pattern ensures more pellets connect with the target, facilitating cleaner, more humane kills on small birds. The carefully selected shot weight balances effective payload with manageable recoil, making it an excellent choice for extended shooting sessions where fatigue can impact performance. This specific weight is meticulously chosen to deliver maximum effectiveness without compromising the shooter's comfort or ability to quickly get back on target for follow-up shots.

The Strategic Advantage of #9 Shot Size: Precision for Specific Targets

The #9 shot size is perhaps the most defining characteristic of this ammunition, dictating its primary applications and unique advantages. Number 9 shot refers to very small, numerous pellets, approximately 0.08 inches in diameter. The smaller the shot number, the larger the pellets; conversely, the higher the shot number (like #9), the smaller and more numerous the pellets within a given shell.

Why is #9 shot so advantageous?

• Maximum Pellet Count: A 1 1/5 oz load of #9 shot contains a significantly higher number of pellets compared to larger shot sizes like #7.5 or #8. This high pellet count is crucial for creating incredibly dense patterns, which are vital for consistency on fast-moving, small targets.
• Competitive Edge in Clay Sports: For disciplines like skeet, trap, and sporting clays, where targets are typically within 20-40 yards and require only a chip to be scored as a break, the dense pattern of #9 shot dramatically increases the likelihood of connecting multiple pellets with the target. This translates to more consistent breaks and higher scores.
• Effective for Small Game: When hunting very small birds such as dove or quail, or managing small pests, #9 shot provides a generous pattern spread at appropriate ranges, ensuring sufficient pellet density for ethical kills without over-penetration or excessive damage to meat. It's designed for maximum surface area coverage, not deep penetration, which is ideal for delicate game.
• Reduced Ricochet Risk: The smaller, lighter #9 pellets tend to lose energy more quickly and deform upon impact, reducing the risk of dangerous ricochets, especially in structured range environments. This makes it a safer option for clay target fields.

The specific choice of #9 shot underscores B&P's understanding of the precise needs of competitive and small game shooters, offering a specialized load that excels where other, larger shot sizes might be less efficient.

Ideal Applications and Real-World Scenarios

The B&P Predator 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/5 oz #9 Shot is purpose-built for scenarios where consistent pattern density, predictable performance, and precision are paramount.

Competitive Clay Target Shooting: Skeet, Trap, and Sporting Clays

This ammunition is a favorite among competitive shooters for a reason. When you're standing on the line at a skeet field, anticipating targets flying at incredible speeds and angles, or confronting complex presentations on a sporting clays course, every pellet counts.

• Skeet Shooting: Skeet targets are typically engaged at very close ranges, often within 25 yards. The expansive, dense patterns generated by #9 shot are ideal for catching these fast-crossing targets, ensuring consistent breaks even with slight lead adjustments.
• Trap Shooting: While trap targets often fly away from the shooter, they are still within the effective range of #9 shot, particularly for the first shot. The sheer number of pellets ensures a formidable cloud of shot that will consistently pulverize clay birds.
• Sporting Clays: Sporting clays simulates field hunting scenarios with varied target presentations. The versatility and dense patterns of #9 shot make it an excellent choice for closer to medium-range targets, providing a high hit probability on standard and midi clays.

For high-volume shooting events, the manageable recoil of this load allows competitors to maintain focus and form throughout numerous rounds, minimizing fatigue and maximizing performance. It’s an ammunition that helps you build confidence with every pull of the trigger.

Small Game and Bird Hunting: Dove, Quail, and Small Varmints

For hunters pursuing small, fast-flying feathered game, the B&P Predator #9 shot offers an ethical and effective solution.

• Dove Hunting: Dove are notoriously agile and can present challenging shots. The dense pattern of #9 shot significantly increases the chances of hitting these small birds, ensuring a clean kill at typical dove hunting ranges.
• Quail Hunting: Similar to dove, quail are small and quick. #9 shot provides the necessary pattern density to secure birds in flight without excessive damage to the meat, which is often a concern with larger shot sizes.
• Pest Control: For nuisance birds or small varmints at close ranges where over-penetration is undesirable, #9 shot delivers the stopping power needed without posing undue risk to surroundings or requiring extensive clean-up.

This ammunition is designed to maximize your success in the field, ensuring that your shot string places enough pellets on target for a quick, humane dispatch of small game.

Training and Recreational Shooting

Even for casual range visits or training days, the B&P Predator #9 shot offers significant advantages. Its consistent performance makes it an excellent choice for patterning your shotgun, practicing leads, and refining your shooting technique. The reliable ignition and uniform ballistics allow shooters to build muscle memory and confidence, translating directly to improved performance in competitive or hunting situations. For recreational shooters, the combination of performance and the distinct satisfaction of breaking clays makes every shot enjoyable.

Why Choose B&P Ammunition? A Legacy of Quality

B&P (Baschieri & Pellagri) isn't just another ammunition manufacturer; it's a name steeped in over a century of Italian craftsmanship and a relentless pursuit of ballistic excellence. When you choose B&P Predator, you're not just buying shotgun shells; you're investing in a legacy of precision.

Italian Craftsmanship and Innovation

Hailing from Italy, B&P embodies the European tradition of meticulous engineering and superior material science. Their manufacturing processes integrate cutting-edge technology with time-honored techniques, ensuring every shell meets rigorous quality standards. This commitment to innovation means B&P is constantly refining its loads, wads, and powders to deliver cleaner burns, more consistent velocities, and tighter patterns. This heritage of innovation is what sets B&P apart in a crowded market.

Unwavering Consistency and Performance

Consistency is the cornerstone of great ammunition, especially for competitive shooting where fractions of a second and millimeters of pattern deviation can mean the difference between a hit and a miss. B&P Predator ammunition is renowned for its remarkable shot-to-shot consistency. This means predictable velocities, uniform patterns, and reliable ignition from shell to shell, box to box. This unwavering performance allows shooters to trust their ammunition implicitly, focusing solely on their technique and target acquisition.

Premium Components for Superior Results

The secret to B&P's superior performance lies in its commitment to using only the finest components.

• Proprietary Powders: B&P formulates its own progressive powders, ensuring optimal burn rates and clean combustion, which translates to less residue in your barrel and more consistent pressures.
• High-Quality Primers: Reliable ignition is critical. B&P primers are designed for consistent, powerful ignition, even in varying environmental conditions.
• Advanced Wads: The wads are engineered for specific payloads and velocities, providing superior gas sealing and protecting the shot from deformation as it travels down the barrel. This results in tighter, more uniform patterns downrange.
• Uniform Shot: The #9 lead shot is carefully manufactured to ensure consistent spherical shape and hardness, minimizing flyers and contributing to dense, predictable patterns.

This meticulous selection and integration of premium components elevate the B&P Predator above standard target loads, delivering truly superior results.

Clean Burning and Reliable Cycling

A clean-burning powder minimizes residue buildup within your shotgun, reducing the need for frequent cleaning and ensuring smoother, more reliable cycling, especially in semi-automatic firearms. B&P ammunition is celebrated for its clean combustion, which not only prolongs the life of your firearm but also enhances the shooting experience by reducing maintenance hassle. Furthermore, the reliable cycling characteristic ensures that your shotgun loads, fires, and ejects spent shells seamlessly, a critical factor during rapid-fire sequences in competitions or when a quick follow-up shot is needed in the field.

Understanding Your Ammunition: Technical Insights and Benefits

To truly appreciate the B&P Predator 12 Gauge #9 shot, it's beneficial to understand how its technical specifications translate into tangible shooting benefits.

Pattern Density and Choke Selection

The high pellet count of the 1 1/5 oz #9 shot load means that even with open chokes (like Cylinder or Skeet), you'll achieve a remarkably dense pattern at close to medium ranges. For skeet shooting, an open choke like "Skeet" or "Improved Cylinder" will spread the pattern sufficiently while retaining enough density for consistent breaks. For trap and sporting clays, where shots can be slightly longer, a "Modified" or even a "Light Full" choke might be employed to maintain pattern integrity further downrange, ensuring that a dense cloud of #9 shot is delivered precisely where needed. Understanding how different chokes interact with the high pellet count of #9 shot allows shooters to fine-tune their shotgun's performance for specific targets and distances. The goal is to deliver enough pellets to break the target consistently, and the B&P Predator facilitates this by starting with an abundant payload.

Muzzle Velocity and Target Acquisition

While specific muzzle velocities can vary slightly by lot, B&P Predator loads are engineered for consistent and optimized velocities. A consistent velocity is crucial for accurate lead estimation when shooting moving targets. When you know how quickly your shot column will reach a target at a given distance, you can more instinctively adjust your swing and timing. This predictability helps in quick target acquisition and maintaining a fluid swing, which are essential for breaking elusive clay birds or bringing down fast-flying game. The velocity profile of this ammunition is carefully balanced to provide sufficient energy for target destruction without excessive recoil that could disrupt follow-up shots.

Managing Recoil for Sustained Performance

Despite carrying a substantial 1 1/5 oz payload, B&P engineers their loads to provide a balance of power and manageable recoil. For shooters who go through hundreds of rounds in a single session (common in competitive shooting), minimizing felt recoil is paramount. Excessive recoil leads to shooter fatigue, flinching, and ultimately, a decline in performance. The B&P Predator's design, from its powder formulation to its wad system, aims to mitigate harsh recoil, allowing shooters to maintain their focus, comfort, and shooting form over extended periods. This makes it an ideal choice for high-volume practice or multi-day competitions.

Frequently Asked Questions About #9 Shot and B&P Predator Ammunition

What kind of targets is #9 shot best for?

#9 shot is optimally designed for close to medium-range targets where a high pellet count and dense pattern are advantageous. This includes all forms of clay target shooting (skeet, trap, sporting clays), as well as hunting small, delicate game birds like dove and quail. It's also effective for pest control involving small birds or rodents at appropriate ranges. Its primary strength lies in its ability to cover a wide area with many small projectiles, ensuring a high probability of impact.

Is B&P Predator ammunition reliable?

Absolutely. B&P has a long-standing reputation for producing high-quality, reliable ammunition. The Predator line is built with premium components, including proprietary powders, consistent primers, and advanced wads, all contributing to dependable ignition, uniform patterns, and consistent velocities. Shooters consistently report excellent reliability and performance with B&P Predator shells across various shotgun platforms.

How does the 1 1/5 oz shot compare to lighter loads?

A 1 1/5 oz shot load contains a significantly higher number of pellets compared to lighter loads like 1 oz or 1 1/8 oz, especially when using #9 shot. This increased pellet count directly translates to a denser shot pattern downrange, which can be a distinct advantage for breaking challenging clay targets or ensuring a higher probability of hit on small game. While it might produce slightly more felt recoil than lighter loads, the B&P Predator is engineered to manage this effectively, offering a superior balance of payload and comfort for sustained shooting.

Where can I purchase B&P Predator 12 Gauge ammunition?

B&P Predator 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/5 oz #9 Shot ammunition, identified by its product code 12B9PBK, is available at leading firearms retailers. For convenient online shopping and competitive pricing, you can find this exceptional ammunition available for purchase at DEGuns.com. It is commonly sold in boxes containing 10 rounds, and often in cases containing 10 such boxes, providing a total of 100 rounds for high-volume shooters or those stocking up for a season.

By choosing B&P Predator 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/5 oz #9 Shot, you are selecting ammunition crafted for excellence, designed to provide the consistency, pattern density, and reliability that serious shooters demand. Elevate your performance on the range and in the field with this superior shotgun shell.

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Product Specifications

Feature	Detail
Gauge	12 Gauge
Shell Length	2.75 inches
Shot Weight	1 1/5 oz (ounces)
Shot Size	#9 Shot
Pellet Count	Very High (due to #9 size and 1 1/5 oz weight)
Product Code	12B9PBK
Packaging (Box)	10 Rounds per Box
Packaging (Case)	10 Boxes per Case (Total 100 Rounds)
UPC (Per Box)	837922000216
Optimal Use	Clay Target Sports, Small Game Hunting, Training
Brand	B&P (Baschieri & Pellagri)
Line	Predator

Common Use Cases & Benefits

Use Case	Key Benefits
Skeet Shooting	Dense patterns for close, fast targets; consistent breaks
Trap Shooting	Reliable performance on departing targets; high pellet count
Sporting Clays	Versatile for varied presentations; effective up to medium range
Dove & Quail Hunting	Ethical, clean kills on small birds; wide pattern spread
Pest Control (Small Varmints)	Effective at close ranges; reduced over-penetration risk
Training & Practice	Consistent ballistics for skill development; manageable recoil