Stan,
#9s work just fine on clays to about 25 yds. #8.5s are noticeably more reliabl past that point. I'm told #9s work OK on woodcock. But in ME the WC and ruffed seasons overlap. So I have not gone smaller than #8s for field use. Even then, I prefer #7.5s.
Bridging in small .410 drop tubes is just a statistical function of shot size. Rarely, I've had #9s hang up with my 9000. #8.5s will more often make a mess. I don't try to load #8s in .410, as I lack the requisite patience. I'd rather just purchase factory loads in those larger shot sizes.
Sam
Sam, I've recently moved to northern WI. Our grouse and woodcock seasons also overlap, woodcock having ended about 2 weeks ago. I shot a lot of woodcock and not many grouse this year. I was shooting 7/8 oz 8 1/2's in the R barrel of a 20ga (bored cyl), 7/8 oz STS target 8's in the L (bored IC). Woodcock, even those shot at fairly long range after the leaves were down, were coming down dead. I'd have to check my notes, but I'm not sure I killed anything--woodcock or grouse--with my 2nd barrel, when I did use it. The grouse I hit with the R barrel also died, or came down significantly incapacitated. I was very pleased with the results I got with no choke and 8 1/2's.
