When I first got my SBEII, I took it on a dove hunt. Since I had heard horror stories about the guns not cycling light loads, I bought some 2 3/4" 1 1/4 oz loads. But while on the hunt, I decided to try some of my buddies lighter loads and it cycled a box of them perfectly. They were the cheap 7/8 oz Winchester super speeds form Wallyworld. Not one hiccup yet, it has cycled everything from those small loads up to 3 1/2" BBs. Man I love this gun, couldn't be happier with it.