Elevate Your Clay Target Performance: The Fiocchi Purple Target Load Advantage

For the dedicated shotgun enthusiast, the competitive shooter, and anyone aiming to break more clays, ammunition choice is paramount. The seemingly simple act of pulling the trigger culminates a complex interaction between shooter, firearm, and load. This is where the Fiocchi Purple Target Load, bearing the UPC 762344701691, emerges as a distinguished choice. Designed with meticulous attention to the demands of competitive shooting, this iconic 12-gauge ammunition is engineered to deliver consistent, moderate-recoil performance, making it an indispensable asset for both rigorous practice sessions and high-stakes tournament play across disciplines like Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, FITASC, and Compak Sporting.

Are you searching for the best shotgun shells for competitive shooting that offer a superior blend of consistency and comfort? Do you wonder how to choose ammunition that reduces fatigue during long shooting events? Or perhaps, what distinguishes high-performance target loads from standard practice shells? The Fiocchi Purple Target Load is crafted to answer these questions, providing the precise attributes competitive shooters seek to gain an edge. Its reputation isn't just marketing; it's the result of Fiocchi's more than 50-year tradition of unwavering support for the shooting sports world, channeling decades of expertise into every shell.

Why Fiocchi Purple Target Loads Are a Game-Changer for Competitive Shooters

• Unrivaled Consistency: In competitive scenarios, variations in velocity, pattern density, or pellet deformation can mean the difference between a broken target and a frustrating "lost." Fiocchi’s manufacturing precision ensures each Purple Target Load shell delivers near-identical performance, fostering confidence and enabling repeatable results. This consistency is vital for maintaining a rhythm and trust in your equipment.
• Moderate Recoil for Enhanced Comfort and Control: Long days on the range or intense tournament circuits can take a toll. Excessive recoil leads to shooter fatigue, flinching, and decreased accuracy over time. The Fiocchi Purple Target Load is specifically engineered to offer moderate recoil, minimizing the physical impact on the shooter. This allows for quicker follow-up shots, reduces shoulder strain, and significantly extends comfortable shooting time, translating directly into better scores and more enjoyable experiences.
• Optimized for Clay Target Demolition: Whether it’s the fast-moving birds of Skeet, the challenging presentations of Sporting Clays, or the consistent outgoing targets of Trap, the payload and velocity of these shells are finely tuned to ensure definitive breaks. The 1-1/8 oz. payload of #9 shot, traveling at 1200 feet per second (FPS), creates a dense, effective pattern ideal for pulverizing clay targets at various distances.
• Trusted by Professionals and Enthusiasts Alike: The "Purple" designation isn't just a color; it’s a symbol recognized and trusted within the competitive shooting community. This load is frequently chosen by both seasoned professionals and serious amateurs who demand excellence from their ammunition, reflecting its proven track record in countless competitions worldwide.

Deep Dive into the Performance Attributes

The Science Behind the Shell: Components and Their Impact

Every element within a shotgun shell plays a crucial role in its overall performance. Fiocchi meticulously selects and integrates these components to achieve the desired characteristics:

1. High-Quality Primer: The primer is the ignition source, and a consistent primer ensures reliable firing and uniform propellant burn. Fiocchi primers are renowned for their reliability, minimizing misfires and ensuring a consistent start to every shot.
2. Clean-Burning Propellant: The powder charge determines the velocity and pressure of the shot. Fiocchi utilizes a clean-burning propellant that generates consistent velocities (1200 FPS for this load) while leaving minimal residue. This contributes to less fouling in the shotgun barrel, extending time between cleanings and maintaining gun performance over prolonged shooting sessions.
3. Engineered Wad: The wad serves multiple functions: it seals the gas behind the shot column, protects the pellets from deformation as they travel down the barrel, and helps pattern the shot. The wad in the Fiocchi Purple Target Load is designed to optimize pattern density and uniformity, ensuring maximum effective pellets on target. It separates cleanly from the shot column shortly after exiting the muzzle, minimizing its interference with the pellet spread.
4. Premium Shot Pellets (#9): The 1-1/8 ounce of #9 lead shot is a key feature.
   • Shot Size #9: For clay target shooting, smaller shot sizes like #9 are often preferred for their ability to create incredibly dense patterns. While individual #9 pellets are lighter, their sheer quantity in a 1-1/8 oz. payload ensures a high probability of multiple pellet strikes on a clay target, leading to decisive breaks even with a slight error in lead or aiming. This density is crucial for consistent target obliteration, especially at the distances encountered in Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays. The smaller diameter also means less air resistance per pellet, contributing to a more uniform flight path.
   • Hardened Lead: Fiocchi uses high-quality, often hardened, lead shot. Hardened shot resists deformation during the violent acceleration down the barrel and upon impact with the target, maintaining its spherical shape for better flight characteristics and pattern integrity.

The Role of Velocity: 1200 FPS Explained

The stated velocity of 1200 FPS (feet per second) for the Fiocchi Purple Target Load is a carefully chosen speed. It represents an optimal balance:

• Sufficient Energy: 1200 FPS provides ample energy for the #9 shot to break clay targets reliably, even at extended ranges.
• Manageable Recoil: While faster loads exist, 1200 FPS keeps recoil at a moderate level, aligning with the load's design for high-volume shooting without excessive shooter fatigue.
• Predictable Lead: This velocity allows competitive shooters to establish consistent leads for various target presentations, fostering muscle memory and improving hit probability. Drastically different velocities between loads can force shooters to constantly adjust their lead, hindering performance.

Applying the Fiocchi Purple Target Load Across Disciplines

The versatility of the Fiocchi Purple Target Load makes it suitable for a wide array of clay target shooting sports. Understanding its application in each discipline can help shooters maximize its potential.

Trap Shooting

• American Trap: For single targets thrown away from the shooter at consistent angles, the consistent pattern and moderate recoil are highly beneficial. The 1-1/8 oz. of #9 shot provides ample pattern density for the breaking zone.
• Handicap Trap: As distances increase, the reliable patterning of the Fiocchi load ensures sufficient pellet count at longer ranges.
• Double Trap: The moderate recoil is crucial for quick recovery and accurate follow-up shots on the second target.

Skeet Shooting

• American & International Skeet: With targets crossing at high speeds and various angles, a consistent pattern is key. The #9 shot provides the dense cloud needed to intercept fast-moving birds at close to medium ranges. The moderate recoil aids in smooth swings and quick target transitions.

Sporting Clays & FITASC

• Dynamic and Varied: These disciplines mimic field shooting, presenting targets from diverse directions, speeds, and trajectories. The Fiocchi Purple Target Load excels here due to its consistent performance across varying presentations. Its reliable patterning ensures effectiveness on everything from fast crossers to rising teal.
• FITASC and Compak Sporting: These even more challenging variations demand precision and reliability. The Fiocchi load provides the consistent performance needed to break complex target sequences, often involving multiple targets and restrictive shooting positions.

General Practice and Training

Even when not competing, using the Fiocchi Purple Target Load for practice is highly recommended. It allows shooters to train with the exact ammunition they will use in competition, building confidence and refining technique without the distraction of inconsistent loads or excessive recoil. This "practice like you play" philosophy is fundamental to improvement.

Choosing the Right Ammunition and Optimizing Your Setup

While the Fiocchi Purple Target Load is an exceptional choice, maximizing its effectiveness also involves considering your shotgun setup.

• Choke Selection: The choice of choke constricts the shot pattern as it exits the barrel. For #9 shot, a more open choke like Skeet or Improved Cylinder might be ideal for closer targets, while a Modified or even Light Full choke might be preferred for longer Sporting Clays shots or some Trap scenarios to maintain pattern density. Experimentation with your specific shotgun and the Fiocchi Purple Target Load is encouraged.
• Patterning Your Shotgun: Every shotgun-ammunition combination patterns differently. It is highly recommended to pattern your shotgun with the Fiocchi Purple Target Loads at various distances (e.g., 20, 30, 40 yards) on a patterning board. This reveals the actual density and distribution of your chosen load, allowing you to understand its capabilities and make informed decisions about choke selection and shot placement.
• Gun Fit: A properly fitted shotgun significantly impacts recoil perception and shooting consistency. Combined with the moderate recoil of the Fiocchi Purple Target Load, a well-fitted gun contributes to reduced fatigue and improved performance over extended shooting sessions.

Fiocchi's Legacy: A Foundation of Trust and Excellence

The "50-year tradition of supporting the world of Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, FITASC and Compaq" is not merely a marketing statement; it is the bedrock of Fiocchi's reputation. Founded in Lecco, Italy, in 1876, Fiocchi has a long and storied history of manufacturing high-quality ammunition. Their commitment to the shooting sports, particularly clay target disciplines, has driven continuous innovation and refinement in their target loads. This heritage ensures that every Fiocchi Purple Target Load embodies decades of expertise, meticulous quality control, and a deep understanding of what competitive shooters truly need. When you load Fiocchi, you're not just loading a shell; you're loading a legacy of performance and reliability.

Fiocchi's dedication to responsible manufacturing and advanced engineering translates into a product that delivers unmatched reliability. This consistent performance builds shooter confidence, a critical psychological edge in competitive environments. The ability to trust your ammunition allows you to focus purely on the target and your technique, free from concerns about the load's integrity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Target Ammunition

Here are some common questions competitive shooters and enthusiasts ask, and how the Fiocchi Purple Target Load addresses them:

• What is the best shot size for clay targets? For most clay target disciplines, #7.5, #8, and #9 shot are common. The Fiocchi Purple Target Load utilizes #9 shot, which is excellent for creating dense patterns to ensure multiple hits on fragile clay targets, especially at typical ranges encountered in Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays.
• How does shotgun shell velocity affect performance? Velocity influences how quickly the shot column reaches the target and its energy upon impact. The 1200 FPS of the Fiocchi Purple Target Load is a well-balanced speed that provides sufficient energy for clean breaks while keeping recoil manageable for follow-up shots and extended shooting.
• Why is moderate recoil important in competitive shooting? Moderate recoil significantly reduces shooter fatigue, flinching, and discomfort over long shooting sessions or during multi-round tournaments. This allows shooters to maintain focus, execute consistent swings, and achieve higher scores without being hampered by physical strain.
• Can I use these shells for hunting? Fiocchi Purple Target Loads are specifically designed for clay target shooting and are not generally recommended for hunting. Hunting regulations often specify minimum shot sizes and shell characteristics that differ from target loads. Always consult local hunting regulations before selecting ammunition.
• Are Fiocchi shells reliable? Fiocchi has a reputation for high reliability due to their stringent quality control and precision manufacturing processes. The Purple Target Load is designed to feed, fire, and eject consistently from a wide range of 12-gauge shotguns.

Where to Purchase Fiocchi Premium Target Loads

For those ready to experience the difference Fiocchi Purple Target Loads can make in their competitive shooting or practice regimen, these premium shells are readily available. You can find the Fiocchi 12 Gauge 2-3/4" 1-1/8 oz #9 Shot 1200 FPS Purple Target Load, UPC 762344701691 and SKU 12WRNO9, along with a wide selection of other Fiocchi products, at DEGuns or directly through deguns.com. DEGuns is a trusted retailer known for its comprehensive inventory and commitment to serving the shooting sports community, making them an excellent source for all your ammunition and shooting accessory needs.

Product Specifications: Fiocchi Purple Target Load

Feature	Specification
Manufacturer	Fiocchi
Product Line	Premium Target Loads
Gauge	12 Gauge
Shell Length	2-3/4 inches
Shot Weight	1-1/8 ounces
Shot Size	#9 Lead
Velocity	1200 FPS (Feet Per Second)
Recoil	Moderate
Usage	Practice & Tournament
Disciplines	Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, FITASC, Compak Sporting
UPC	762344701691
SKU	12WRNO9