Hevi Shot vs Steel vs Lead

Demaiter · January 24, 2009, 03:29 PM

Hey guys/girls how'd would you compared in lethality

20 gauge 3" hevi shot (no. 4) to the equivalent in 12 gauge steel?

bcarver · January 24, 2009, 04:54 PM

#4 steel =#5 lead=#6heavy

You need to give more info.
How many ounces in 20ga 3"?
20 ga 3'' 2oz #4 heavy will be close to 12ga 2oz #4 heavy.

You can get a better pattern with bigger gauge and/or more pettets to a point.

Check out my links in "effective 12 gauge range post"

Demaiter · January 24, 2009, 05:48 PM

Alright I'm going to pick a load of

20 gauge, size 4 hevi shot, 3" shell, 1300 fps, 1 1/8 oz of shot
vs
12 gauge, BB steel shot, 3" shell, 1300 fps, 1 3/8 oz of shot

Which would you rather have with you? The reason being I'm thinking of taking the 20 gauge out for ducks and geese... I really am fond of the 20 gauge. All my shotguns are 20 gauge however I'm wondering if I need a 12...

I know the 12 will have better patterns as more shot and that if I went a 12 gauge with hevi shot vs the 20 I'd have a real killer but I'm comparing 20 gauge hevi shot to 12 gauge steel shot.

nutty ned · January 25, 2009, 09:59 PM

#1 steel

.45 COLT · January 26, 2009, 11:13 PM

The BB Steel, even though it is heavier per pellet, has a lower SD than the HeviShot.

Rough calculation shows the Steel shot traveling 781 FPS, with 8.1 FPE @ 40 Yards.

The HeviShot will have 916 FPS and 6.7 FPE @ 40 yards.

The HeviShot load should provide a denser pattern. Were it my choice, I’d use whichever patterned better.

DC

Wigidwack · January 27, 2009, 07:04 AM

What does FPE mean?

Fantastic Plastic Elastic?

Dave McC · January 27, 2009, 09:10 AM

FPE, Foot Pounds of Energy.....

The only Hevishot load I've used has been 2s on geese.

Works very, very well, and I've shot geese since the late 50s. As good as lead 2s back in the day or better.

January 24, 2009, 04:54 PM	#2
bcarver Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2007 Location: Jackson,Mississippi Posts: 838	compare #4 steel =#5 lead=#6heavy You need to give more info. How many ounces in 20ga 3"? 20 ga 3'' 2oz #4 heavy will be close to 12ga 2oz #4 heavy. You can get a better pattern with bigger gauge and/or more pettets to a point. Check out my links in "effective 12 gauge range post"

January 24, 2009, 03:29 PM	#1
Demaiter Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2008 Posts: 242	Hevi Shot vs Steel vs Lead Hey guys/girls how'd would you compared in lethality 20 gauge 3" hevi shot (no. 4) to the equivalent in 12 gauge steel?

January 24, 2009, 05:48 PM	#3
Demaiter Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2008 Posts: 242	Alright I'm going to pick a load of 20 gauge, size 4 hevi shot, 3" shell, 1300 fps, 1 1/8 oz of shot vs 12 gauge, BB steel shot, 3" shell, 1300 fps, 1 3/8 oz of shot Which would you rather have with you? The reason being I'm thinking of taking the 20 gauge out for ducks and geese... I really am fond of the 20 gauge. All my shotguns are 20 gauge however I'm wondering if I need a 12... I know the 12 will have better patterns as more shot and that if I went a 12 gauge with hevi shot vs the 20 I'd have a real killer but I'm comparing 20 gauge hevi shot to 12 gauge steel shot.

January 25, 2009, 09:59 PM	#4
nutty ned Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2006 Posts: 765	#1 steel

January 26, 2009, 11:13 PM	#5
.45 COLT Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2004 Posts: 308	The BB Steel, even though it is heavier per pellet, has a lower SD than the HeviShot. Rough calculation shows the Steel shot traveling 781 FPS, with 8.1 FPE @ 40 Yards. The HeviShot will have 916 FPS and 6.7 FPE @ 40 yards. The HeviShot load should provide a denser pattern. Were it my choice, I’d use whichever patterned better. DC

January 27, 2009, 07:04 AM	#6
Wigidwack Member Join Date: January 9, 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 33	What does FPE mean? Fantastic Plastic Elastic?

January 27, 2009, 09:10 AM	#7
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	FPE, Foot Pounds of Energy..... The only Hevishot load I've used has been 2s on geese. Works very, very well, and I've shot geese since the late 50s. As good as lead 2s back in the day or better.