I shoot a load with 1 oz of 8's and 1 oz of 9's (12gauge). Does it matter which size I load first? I have been loading a half once of one then an ounce of the other and so on. It worked so far, just wondering I am about to load some next week.

Put the 9’s in first and the. Put the 8’s on top of em.

Would it make a difference if you just mixed them all together?

I got some 7s, 8s, and 9s all mixed up that I shoot out of my muzzleloader. Seems to shoot fine thataway.

I think BB is right. Smaller shot would go on the bottom. There been a lot of pattern research on this and I believe the larger shot blows the pattern out if put on the bottom. I could be remembering it wrong but I believe that’s right when making duplex and triplex loads. Mixing does the same thing too I believe, can blow out the pattern.

I agree with the others opinions. People have used this as a tool to help control tighter or more spread out patterns. The typical thought is that the larger shot would blow the pattern a little if on bottom.

I’ve always adhered to that rule except when I’m have a bad crimp and open it up and pour out the components. I don’t resort the pellets. Just load them back up. I’ve done it with steel and TSS and honestly on the pattern board there no concern-able difference

Your mileage may vary.

Most people stack the larger shot on top. I'm not sure why but a duplex load of 1.25 ozs of 9s with one ounce of 8s shot a better pattern than the full 2.25 oz of 9s in my 12 gauge guns. I also don't know why I can build a 20 gauge load with 1 5/8 ozs of 9s that will shot as good as the 2 25 oz 12 gauge load.
That 2.25 oz 12 gauge kills at both ends...😁

We loaded some 8 over 9 duplex 20 ga . 1oz 9s with 5/8oz 8s on top. It patterns great and is a turkey thumper.

Long time, no posts! Hope you and the boys and the rest of the original turkey killing gang had a great season.

To the OP, if I was shooting a 12 ga and loading 2 oz, I would probably just go straight 8's if my gun would pattern them, but if it didn't, like the others have said, I believe the smaller shot on bottom is the way to go.

8.5’s are my favorite size. They pattern as well or better than any other size in my 20ga. So why don’t y’all load 8.5’s instead of 8’s and 9’s then it don’t matter what comes first and pretty much same pellet count….