Howdy Ned,
At Cherokee,where we shoot 6 stages each month,we typically shoot four guns on 4 to six of the stages. This month(tomorrow) we'll shoot 6 four-gun stages. Rifle is 8 or 9 shots per stage,shotgun 4 to 6 shots. We mix it up,but usually have 60 pistol,45-50 rifle,and 24 shotgun. It's not the number of shots,but the order the guns are shot in,movement,and procedures that interest me. The most intriguing stage we shoot is one that has the one pistol,the rifle and the shotgun on a table at the shooting line. The shooter is required to shoot 18 shots,at least one from each gun. The shooter chooses how many to shoot from each gun to add up to the 18 shots,and all loading and shooting is done on the clock. The combinations chosen are varying,and much discussion takes place as to what is the best method for shooting the stage.
The most important thing is to keep the shooter interested and challenged. Don't get too hung up on round count or shooting all the guns on each stage.
Bellicose Bill