Steel Shot alternatives

Death from Afar · July 10, 2006, 06:01 PM

The dim witted wimpy game folk here have banned lead all round on waterfowl ( which is cr*p as our ponds have mud in the bottom, not gravel, so the lead sinks down staright away) I am not going to alter my O/U to take steel, so its a non toxic alternative for me. What have you guys used, and how did it go?

(Have used steel, it sucks)

mswestfall · July 10, 2006, 07:46 PM

Not meaning to argue but.....

I believe that steel shot used properly can be an advantage.

Assuming you use larger steel shot (two sizes) than lead:
Steel deforms less than lead, keeping a tighter pattern at distances up to about 45 yards. There is less shot stringing at distance and more retained energy. This yields cleaner kills and less crippling of surrounding birds.

For this to be true, you have to put the shot on target. Wind does move steel more than it does lead.

Now if you are using buffered lead shot, disregard everything I just said.

How do you alter a gun to shoot steel?

Good luck.......

jhgreasemonkey · July 15, 2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

How do you alter a gun to shoot steel?

Certain barrels and chokes dont like steel shot. Especialy older shotguns. Personaly I dont like steel shot because I learned to shoot with lead and its just not the same.

mete · July 15, 2006, 03:33 PM

The gun has to be designed for steel shot .Don't use your gun on steel shot unless the maker says it's OK. Steel shot doesn't deform like lead so the barrels and chokes have to be stronger steel.....BTW steel shot acts differently with chokes .My Benelli with MOD chokes and BB steel gives extra extra full pattern !! Works great with head shots ! ALWAYS pattern your loads .

sm · July 15, 2006, 07:10 PM

Bismuth

One can even reload their own Bismuth loadings.

vts · July 16, 2006, 12:22 AM

Buckshot.... hevier than lead.
More penetration!
Hhhhmmmmm Home defense??

http://www.hevishot.com/products_dead_coyote.html

HKGuns · July 16, 2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

This yields cleaner kills and less crippling of surrounding birds.

Sorry, but you're mis-informed on this point. It doesn't have to be a disadvantage, but any hunter will tell you steel wounds and cripples more than lead. Steel is lighter and doesn't hit as hard as lead, it tends to bore right through an animal which leads to more crippling. Lead, being heavier hits and shocks more which increases the knockdown power.

Death from Afar · July 16, 2006, 07:07 PM

The other problem with steel is that if it wounds it festers as the steel oxidises, which is apparently not a problem with lead.

Yes, you do need to modify guns to fire steel. Not a nice thing to do to an expensive double.

HKGuns · July 16, 2006, 09:34 PM

Try picking up some Kent Tungsten Matrix if you want to shoot it out of your current guns without modification. Nearly the same density as lead which means you can shoot it as you would lead and it is safe in older barrels.

It isn't cheap though. Below is a link to an article that does a nice job of running down the options and their +'s and -'s.

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/huntin.../gf_aa116802a/

Death from Afar · July 19, 2006, 04:19 PM

Thanks! Good article!

July 10, 2006, 06:01 PM	#1
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	Steel Shot alternatives The dim witted wimpy game folk here have banned lead all round on waterfowl ( which is cr*p as our ponds have mud in the bottom, not gravel, so the lead sinks down staright away) I am not going to alter my O/U to take steel, so its a non toxic alternative for me. What have you guys used, and how did it go? (Have used steel, it sucks) __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

July 15, 2006, 07:10 PM	#5
sm Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2002 Posts: 1,819	Bismuth One can even reload their own Bismuth loadings. __________________ Use Enough Gun TFL Alumni

July 16, 2006, 07:07 PM	#8
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	The other problem with steel is that if it wounds it festers as the steel oxidises, which is apparently not a problem with lead. Yes, you do need to modify guns to fire steel. Not a nice thing to do to an expensive double. __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

July 19, 2006, 04:19 PM	#10
Death from Afar Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2004 Location: Living the dream in Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 1,635	Thanks! Good article! __________________ "Beware of the Man with one gun...he probably isnt into guns enough to be safe with it".

July 10, 2006, 07:46 PM	#2
mswestfall Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Posts: 60	Not meaning to argue but..... I believe that steel shot used properly can be an advantage. Assuming you use larger steel shot (two sizes) than lead: Steel deforms less than lead, keeping a tighter pattern at distances up to about 45 yards. There is less shot stringing at distance and more retained energy. This yields cleaner kills and less crippling of surrounding birds. For this to be true, you have to put the shot on target. Wind does move steel more than it does lead. Now if you are using buffered lead shot, disregard everything I just said. How do you alter a gun to shoot steel? Good luck.......

July 15, 2006, 03:33 PM	#4
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	The gun has to be designed for steel shot .Don't use your gun on steel shot unless the maker says it's OK. Steel shot doesn't deform like lead so the barrels and chokes have to be stronger steel.....BTW steel shot acts differently with chokes .My Benelli with MOD chokes and BB steel gives extra extra full pattern !! Works great with head shots ! ALWAYS pattern your loads .

July 16, 2006, 12:22 AM	#6
vts Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 242	Buckshot.... hevier than lead. More penetration! Hhhhmmmmm Home defense?? http://www.hevishot.com/products_dead_coyote.html

July 16, 2006, 09:34 PM	#9
HKGuns Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2005 Location: Bora Bora Posts: 932	Try picking up some Kent Tungsten Matrix if you want to shoot it out of your current guns without modification. Nearly the same density as lead which means you can shoot it as you would lead and it is safe in older barrels. It isn't cheap though. Below is a link to an article that does a nice job of running down the options and their +'s and -'s. http://www.gameandfishmag.com/huntin.../gf_aa116802a/