My experience is some what different. I have shot a fair number of Mearns quail and Bobwhites over a pointing dog can attest to the effectiveness of 9 shot. Now Desert birds that flush wildly and further out I use 7 1/2 shot.
Birds shot real close with any size shot are not worth eating. In fact i have witnessed some birds shot with 7 1/2 shot that there was nothing but a wing and a leg left.
The Birds I am hunting coupled with the average distances i shoot at, determine the shells and shot size I use.
Thats just honest feedback from my experience. I shoot very little clay targets so I am not really experienced enough to have first hand knowledge on Skeet shooting.
We must all determine what works best for ourselves, but i find 9 shot to be extremely effective.
