Steel shot not up to lead

I learned that the Federal (and the others)
new steel 3-1/2" 12 gauge load will launch 1 3/8 oz of steel shot at an advertised 1450 fps. This load gives you 172 #2 pellets, each pellet having 4.16 ft/lb of energy at 40 yards. That's every bit the equivalent of the old lead duck killing 2-3/4" load of 1-1/4 oz of #4s (169 count) at 1330 fps giving 4.17 ft/lb at 40 yards.
Click to expand...

A 3 1/2 heavy recoiling shell, which you have to buy an extra gun to use roughly equals a "stiff" at worst lead shell? Hmmmmmm...

Sincerely,
Adam
 
These days my waterfowling tends to consist of a day or two each year wacking snows. Using an 870(of course), I find that I have to hit quite a few of them a second time, using a 3" load of BBB.

Back when both the world and I were young, I used the old Western 1 3/16 oz, 16 gauge load of 3s to do in a fairtomiddlin' number of Canadas. Even tho I'm a better shot these days,the load's coming up short.

The non tox lead substitutes like tungsten and bismuth have merit, but they cost a lot. If the price comes down, maybe we'll have a database to compare performance in the field.
 
My problem with steel is the difference in leads (no pun intended). The lead with low velocity (1300fps or less) steel when pass shooting at 40-50yds is unbelievable, compared to lead. Where exactly am I supposed to practice wing shooting with #1,BB or BBB steel shot? Sure can't do that on the trap or skeet ranges in my area, where we are limited to #7.5. My first time waterfowling with low velocity steel I had to learn the hard way that the lead distance was MUCH longer than I'm used to. I speeded up my swing and compensated enough to haul down a goose by the end of the day, but I'd rather not guess how many I might have wounded :mad:
 
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