My findings steel v lead for pigeons

[mick morton]

After my weekend experience with steel I contacted leading cartridge manufacturers and asked a few questions. All of them replied lead out performs steel . Also I note on the forum that people have said that there are steel shot cartridges with a felt wad available this is incorrect.

There is one company that I've spoken to that have been looking into and developing paper/cardboard wad, but there has been reports that say these can fail on occasions.

Also an interesting point the speed and volocity of shotgun shells are governed by legislation that restricts their speed. 65mm has no restrictions, but 70mm 76mm etc has.

Also noted that people have been talking about chokes on guns, the majority of cartridge manufacturers strongly advise you do not go any tighter that 0.5 or half choke. This can result in damage to your barrels.

For more information on this go the magazine website "Shooting UK" and you can read up on this for yourselves. Having read this, it confirms that damage to guns has increased since steel cartridges are used.

Those that bang on about wild fowling and taking high shots, been there, done it, yes it works. Pigeons are half the size of ducks and a lot smaller than a goose so hitting them you have a smaller target flying faster, therefore harder to hit with steel.

[Penelope]

No dig, just an observation Mick.

 

Those talking about chokes tighter than half, are referring to aftermarket chokes of US manufacture where steel shot and steel compatible accessory development is fare more advanced than the UK. I put steel through 1/2 choke max. English magnum.

 

Teal are smaller than pigeons and equally fast and agile if in a different way, for which a non tox load is required.

 

Given the choice, for pure shooting purposes I would use lead.

After my weekend experience with steel I contacted leading cartridge manufacturers and asked a few questions. All of them replied lead out performs steel . Also I note on the forum that people have said that there are steel shot cartridges with a felt wad available this is incorrect.
There is one company that I've spoken to that have been looking into and developing paper/cardboard wad, but there has been reports that say these can fail on occasions.
Also an interesting point the speed and volocity of shotgun shells are governed by legislation that restricts their speed. 65mm has no restrictions, but 70mm 76mm etc has.
Also noted that people have been talking about chokes on guns, the majority of cartridge manufacturers strongly advise you do not go any tighter that 0.5 or half choke. This can result in damage to your barrels.
For more information on this go the magazine website "Shooting UK" and you can read up on this for yourselves. Having read this, it confirms that damage to guns has increased since steel cartridges are used.
Those that bang on about wild fowling and taking high shots, been there, done it, yes it works. Pigeons are half the size of ducks and a lot smaller than a goose so hitting them you have a smaller target flying faster, therefore harder to hit with steel.

[motty]

No dig, just an observation Mick.

 

Those talking about chokes tighter than half, are referring to aftermarket chokes of US manufacture where steel shot and steel compatible accessory development is fare more advanced than the UK. I put steel through 1/2 choke max. English magnum.

 

Teal are smaller than pigeons and equally fast and agile if in a different way, for which a non tox load is required.

 

Given the choice, for pure shooting purposes I would use lead.

Not always. Some use standard factory full chokes with no ill effects.

[motty]

After my weekend experience with steel I contacted leading cartridge manufacturers and asked a few questions. All of them replied lead out performs steel . Also I note on the forum that people have said that there are steel shot cartridges with a felt wad available this is incorrect.

There is one company that I've spoken to that have been looking into and developing paper/cardboard wad, but there has been reports that say these can fail on occasions.

Also an interesting point the speed and volocity of shotgun shells are governed by legislation that restricts their speed. 65mm has no restrictions, but 70mm 76mm etc has.

Also noted that people have been talking about chokes on guns, the majority of cartridge manufacturers strongly advise you do not go any tighter that 0.5 or half choke. This can result in damage to your barrels.

For more information on this go the magazine website "Shooting UK" and you can read up on this for yourselves. Having read this, it confirms that damage to guns has increased since steel cartridges are used.

Those that bang on about wild fowling and taking high shots, been there, done it, yes it works. Pigeons are half the size of ducks and a lot smaller than a goose so hitting them you have a smaller target flying faster, therefore harder to hit with steel.

Just out of interest, who said there is a steel shell with a felt wad?

I'm not sure what relevance the size of the target has to do with the suitability of steel as a shot material.

By the way, I wouldn't necessarily believe what someone who works for a cartridge manufacturer, says. They have probably not got a clue what they are talking about.

Edited April 17, 2014 by motty

[kent]

Pigeons are half the size of ducks and a lot smaller than a goose so hitting them you have a smaller target flying faster, therefore harder to hit with steel.

 

As already posted this is just wrong once you leave the larger ducks like Mallard. Duck are phenomenal fliers migrating many miles, teal flash in over the decoys so fast many say the first barrel is largely luck. I remember reading many of the top UK clay shooters saying evening flight on teal and widgeon was the most challenging of live quarry shooting "Digweed was one in the Field was one if I remember correctly". Widgeon are about the size of a pigeon (though size varies with area) Teal, Tufties etc are certainly smaller than a pigeon.

Geese only look slow, trust me most shoot well behind them. some figures of average flight speed in feet per second mallard 70,pintail 75, widgeon75, teal 85 and the slow Canada only makes 80 (though it looks half the speed of a teal) with the wind behind one you might struggle to miss one in front if you tried.

 

I don't know why you say its easier to miss a fast bird with steel as American skeet shooters seem to like it having higher pellet counts per gram and reputedly short shot strings.

 

Steel isn't a step back more a step sideways, though I hope its not lost to us

Just out of interest, who said there is a steel shell with a felt wad?

I'm not sure what relevance the size of the target has to do with the suitability of steel as a shot material.

By the way, I wouldn't necessarily believe what someone who works for a cartridge manufacturer, says. They have probably not got a clue what they are talking about.

And I think they have shown us this with some of the trash they have made

[cocknee]

Nobody I know of would willingly use steel shot.

[Big Mat]

After my weekend experience with steel I contacted leading cartridge manufacturers and asked a few questions. All of them replied lead out performs steel . Also I note on the forum that people have said that there are steel shot cartridges with a felt wad available this is incorrect.

There is one company that I've spoken to that have been looking into and developing paper/cardboard wad, but there has been reports that say these can fail on occasions.

Also an interesting point the speed and volocity of shotgun shells are governed by legislation that restricts their speed. 65mm has no restrictions, but 70mm 76mm etc has.

Also noted that people have been talking about chokes on guns, the majority of cartridge manufacturers strongly advise you do not go any tighter that 0.5 or half choke. This can result in damage to your barrels.

For more information on this go the magazine website "Shooting UK" and you can read up on this for yourselves. Having read this, it confirms that damage to guns has increased since steel cartridges are used.

Those that bang on about wild fowling and taking high shots, been there, done it, yes it works. Pigeons are half the size of ducks and a lot smaller than a goose so hitting them you have a smaller target flying faster, therefore harder to hit with steel.

 

 

Gamebore made a steel cartridge with a fibre shot cup, and before you say " oh no they didnt" Have a look on the gamebore website.

Edited April 17, 2014 by Big Mat

[TIDES EDGE]

Gamebore still make steel with fibre cups 24g for 70mm and 32g for 75mm and as we have discovered some of our members on PW are loading up steel loads useing them and are getting good results.

If we can get these loads right I would prefer to use steel as I get better results with it ,just dont like leaving great big lumps of plastic all over the fields.

I do know of a couple of people who allready only use steel through choice.

[kent]

Gamebore still make steel with fibre cups 24g for 70mm and 32g for 75mm and as we have discovered some of our members on PW are loading up steel loads useing them and are getting good results.

If we can get these loads right I would prefer to use steel as I get better results with it ,just dont like leaving great big lumps of plastic all over the fields.

I do know of a couple of people who allready only use steel through choice.

 

I am with you on the wad thing, if it was answered to my satisfaction I should perhaps make the full switch to steel. at present for 20% of my inland shooting I still use lead (.410 on pests and 12 ga light loads on rabbits)