Steel Shot alternatives

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Death from Afar

New member
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)
 
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.......
 
How do you alter a gun to shoot steel?
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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.
 
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 .
 
This yields cleaner kills and less crippling of surrounding birds.
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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.
 
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.
 
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