Taking the mossberg out for some fun with clay pigeons. Im using an open choke. (The Mrs uses this boomstick in case of stupidity while I'm at work, so it's set up for point at bad guy and pepper everything around him too.) Any advice on some good 12 gauge birdshot? (Nothing exotic please. Something I can find at Walmart or Bass Pro and not sell the family farm to get it.)

#8 should work , open choke is gonna kill you on doubles and away birds ...

Yeah, cylinder or even improved cylinder isn't really the greatest for skeet.

However, were I you, I'd be using 7.5 shot. I used to shoot 8 and had pellets dust clays without breaking them. I switched to 7.5 and never had the problem again. It's pretty easy to come across.

The size of shot I use for clays directly relates to cost. Meaning they break with #7 just like they break with #8, go cheapest.....

No, they don't.

Had I not competed in a league for several years, where I shot 40 cases or more of shotshells each year... I might agree with you. 8 shot doesn't have as much retained energy at distance. It happened quite often where 8 shot would chip paint off a clay, might even visibly "dust" one where everyone saw it, but it wouldn't break. Has to break a chunk off to count.

My whole team switched to 7.5 shot and the problem never happened again.

My modified 870 18" improved clyd. Doesn't see a deference between 7/8 shot. In my case, it doesn't matter. Maybe if I were competing but for 90% of the times it's whatever is cheapest or in stock...

We always ran AA-Skeet loads at 7.5 with Imp.Cyl/Mod over and unders with great results , if it was really windy we even used #6

BUT ...Wal-mart and Academy have #8 pretty cheap ...like Okan said though ..not alot of retained energy ..but if you just screwing off ??

The difference would be noticeable if you were hittin em.

Yes and no. I'm not exactly going to compete in a league for prize money. I am however shooting with guys from work. In some ways a league would probably be a friendlier, less competitive place.

Safer too.

I'm assuming high brass #7s?

all depends on range you are shooting. up close hand throws I would go with 7 or 8. If you really wing 'em far, 7 - 7.5. So, basically, what everyone else said.