Unlocking Peak Performance in Clay Target Shooting: The Definitive Guide to Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper 12 Gauge Ammunition

Are you a dedicated clay target shooter, relentlessly pursuing that perfect score in trap, skeet, or sporting clays? Do you demand unwavering consistency, superior pattern density, and a shooting experience that minimizes fatigue while maximizing your breaking potential? If your pursuit is excellence on the range, then understanding the advanced engineering behind Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper 12 Gauge ammunition is essential. This in-depth look at Federal's flagship competitive shotshells, particularly the Federal GMT1718 variant (UPC: 604544625912), will reveal why these shells have become the preferred choice for serious enthusiasts and competitive shooters seeking a definitive edge.

When you step up to the line, whether it's for a registered competition or a practice session honing your skills, your ammunition plays a pivotal role. The question isn't just "What's the best 12 gauge ammo for competitive shooting?" but "What ammunition provides the most consistent performance, round after round, allowing me to focus solely on my technique and the target?" The Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper series, specifically the GMT1718, is engineered precisely to answer these critical questions, offering a blend of traditional quality and modern innovation.

The Foundation of Excellence: Precision-Engineered Components

Every Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper shotshell begins its life with a commitment to quality that sets it apart. Federal's meticulous approach to component selection and manufacturing ensures that each shell delivers on its promise of superior performance.

• Consistent Ignition: The Primer Advantage

  At the heart of every shot is the primer, the component responsible for igniting the propellant. Federal Premium loads start with the finest primers available, subjected to an intense regime of quality control. This includes more frequent inspections for dimensional tolerances and charge weight than typical ammunition. What does this mean for the shooter? It translates directly into consistent ignition for every single shot. In competitive shooting, where milliseconds matter and consistency is king, a reliable primer ensures that the shot sequence begins identically each time, contributing significantly to predictable muzzle velocity and pattern formation. This unwavering reliability reduces variables, allowing shooters to trust their equipment implicitly.

• Clean-Burning Power: The Propellant Story

  Following the primer, the propellant is specially formulated to meet Federal's stringent specifications. These are not just any powders; they are among the highest grades in the industry, renowned for their clean-burning properties and exceptional consistency. A clean-burning powder is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Reduced Fouling: Minimizes residue buildup in the shotgun barrel, which can otherwise affect accuracy over extended shooting sessions and requires more frequent cleaning.
  2. Consistent Performance: The uniform burn rate ensures that each shot achieves its intended muzzle velocity with minimal deviation, crucial for accurate lead and consistent breaks.
  3. Reliability: Shooters can depend on these powders to perform flawlessly in a wide range of environmental conditions, maintaining their integrity shot after shot.
• The Return of a Legend: Gold Medal Paper Hulls

  The "Paper" in Gold Medal Paper is not merely a nostalgic nod; it represents a commitment to a proven hull design favored by generations of serious clay target shooters. The look, feel, and performance of these iconic shotshells have made them a favorite. This traditional paper hull provides several advantages:

  1. Smooth Feeding and Ejection: The classic paper hull material often provides a smoother cycling experience in various shotgun actions.
  2. Distinctive Feel: Many shooters appreciate the unique feel and sound of a paper hull, which adds to the overall shooting experience.
  3. Reliable Crimp: Paper hulls are known for their consistent crimp retention, which is vital for maintaining the integrity of the shell and ensuring uniform ballistic performance.

Innovation Meets Tradition: Enhanced Performance Features

While embracing the heritage of the Gold Medal Paper hull, Federal Premium has integrated modern advancements to elevate performance even further.

• Robust Foundation: The High-Quality Brass Head

  A critical upgrade in the current Gold Medal Paper series is the incorporation of a high-quality brass head. This robust brass base provides enhanced structural integrity, ensuring reliable extraction and ejection. A sturdy brass head is particularly beneficial for shooters who demand durability from their ammunition, preventing issues that could lead to costly misses in competition. Its superior construction contributes to the overall reliability and longevity of the shotshell.

• Superior Breakage: Harder Shot

  Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper shells feature harder lead shot. The significance of harder shot cannot be overstated for clay target disciplines. Harder shot maintains its spherical shape better during its journey down the barrel and upon impact with the target. This translates to:

  1. Tighter Patterns: Less deformation means the shot flies truer, leading to denser, more uniform patterns downrange.
  2. Positive Breaks: When the harder shot strikes a clay target, it transfers energy more efficiently, resulting in more decisive and often spectacular breaks. This not only scores points but also instills confidence in the shooter.
  3. Reduced Flyer Pellets: By minimizing shot deformation, the likelihood of stray pellets (flyers) is reduced, ensuring that the majority of the payload contributes to the desired pattern.
• Recoil Mitigation & Pattern Optimization: The SoftCell Wad Design

  Perhaps one of the most significant innovations in the Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper line is the two-piece SoftCell wad design. This proprietary wad technology is engineered with dual objectives:

  1. Reduced Felt Recoil: The SoftCell wad acts as a shock absorber, cushioning the shot column upon ignition. This progressive absorption of energy significantly mitigates felt recoil, making the 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/8 oz load feel remarkably softer than comparable shells. For competitive shooters firing hundreds of rounds in a day, reduced recoil means less shoulder fatigue, allowing for more comfortable and extended practice sessions, and crucially, maintaining focus and consistency throughout a competition.
  2. Improved Patterns: Beyond recoil reduction, the SoftCell wad is designed to provide optimal patterning. It protects the shot column from barrel scrub, ensuring the pellets exit the muzzle in a more uniform and dense cloud. This translates into more consistent and effective shot patterns at various distances, maximizing the chances of breaking clay targets cleanly, even at the edges of the pattern.

Performance Specifications and Their Impact

The Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper GMT1718 (UPC: 604544625912) is loaded to specific ballistic parameters designed for competitive advantage:

• Gauge: 12 Gauge – The universal standard for clay target shooting, offering a versatile platform for various disciplines.
• Length: 2.75" – The standard shell length, compatible with virtually all 12 gauge shotguns chambered for 2.75" or 3" shells.
• Shot Weight: 1 1/8 oz – A classic and highly effective shot weight for trap, skeet, and sporting clays, providing a sufficient payload for reliable breaks without excessive recoil.
• Shot Size: 8 – For many competitive shooters, #8 shot is the preferred size for clay target work. Its balance of pellet count and individual pellet energy delivers dense patterns ideal for breaking clays decisively. With approximately 410 pellets in a 1 1/8 oz load, #8 shot ensures excellent pattern coverage for consistent breaks.
• Muzzle Velocity: 1235 fps – This optimized velocity offers a fantastic balance. It's fast enough to reach distant targets quickly and decisively, ensuring minimal lead required, yet not so fast as to produce harsh recoil. This controlled velocity contributes to predictable target engagement and comfortable shooting.

Who is This Ammunition For? Real-World Applications and Benefits

The Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper 12 Gauge ammunition, model GMT1718, is purpose-built for the serious clay target shooter.

• Trap Shooters: For the trap enthusiast striving for a perfect 25 straight, the consistency of ignition, the uniform patterns, and the reduced recoil of the SoftCell wad are invaluable. These shells deliver the tight, effective patterns needed to break crossing and rising targets with authority.
• Skeet Shooters: The fast, fluid movements of skeet shooting demand quick target acquisition and reliable patterns at close ranges. The Gold Medal Paper's consistent velocity and dependable patterns make it an ideal choice for the rapid-fire sequences of skeet.
• Sporting Clays Shooters: Sporting clays presents the most varied challenges, mimicking live bird hunting scenarios. The versatility and consistent performance of the GMT1718, with its ability to deliver clean breaks on diverse targets, make it a top contender for this dynamic discipline.
• Competitive Shooters: If you're competing in registered events, every advantage counts. The precision-engineered components, combined with the recoil-reducing SoftCell wad and harder shot, give competitors a tangible edge in performance and endurance.
• Shooters Seeking Consistency: Whether you're practicing for an upcoming match or just enjoying a day at the range, the unwavering consistency of Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper ensures that your focus remains on improving your technique, not battling your ammunition.

Important Note on Competition Eligibility: It is important to note that these loads DO NOT qualify for Olympic or International competitions. This distinction typically refers to specific regulations regarding shot material (often steel shot requirements) and hull types in certain international shooting sports. For the vast majority of domestic clay target competitions and general sport shooting, these lead-shot shells are perfectly permissible and highly regarded.

Why Choose Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper for Your Shotgun?

• Unrivaled Consistency: From primer ignition to pattern delivery, these shells are designed for shot-to-shot uniformity, which is paramount for predictable performance and higher scores.
• Enhanced Comfort: The SoftCell wad significantly reduces felt recoil, allowing you to shoot longer, practice more effectively, and stay focused during crucial moments without succumbing to fatigue.
• Superior Target Breaks: The combination of harder shot and optimized patterns ensures more decisive and reliable breaks, boosting your confidence and your score.
• Trusted Heritage: Federal Premium's Gold Medal line has a long-standing reputation as a benchmark for competitive shotgun ammunition, trusted by generations of top shooters.
• Optimized for Your Sport: These shells are purpose-built to address the specific demands of clay target shooting, offering features that directly translate into improved performance on the range.

Investing in high-quality ammunition like the Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper 12 Gauge GMT1718 is an investment in your performance. It eliminates variables, allowing you to concentrate on your technique, lead, and follow-through. When every clay counts, rely on ammunition engineered for excellence.

These precision-crafted shotgun shells, designed for the discerning clay target shooter, are readily available to enhance your shooting experience. You can find the Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper 12 Gauge 2.75" 1 1/8 oz 8 Shot, UPC 604544625912, at DEGuns, a trusted source for quality ammunition and shooting supplies. Secure your supply of these high-performance shells and feel the difference on your next visit to the range.

Federal Premium Gold Medal Paper GMT1718: Key Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	Federal
Series	Gold Medal Paper
Model	Premium
Gauge	12 Gauge
Shot Material	Lead
Shot Size	8
Length	2.75"
Ounces	1 1/8 oz
Muzzle Velocity	1235 fps
Application	Sport Shooting
Rounds Per Box	25
Boxes Per Case	10
UPC	604544625912
MPN	GMT1718
SKU	101783