pros cons of steel shot

[welsh warrior]

as above

[poontang]

Apart from the fact steel cartridges are generally slightly cheaper I can't really think of any pro's.

 

I suppose you could say they're not as toxic as lead, but there are other problems associated with them concerning safety.

 

Ballistically they're inferior to their lead equivalent.

 

Simply put I wouldn't use them unless I had to.

[BlaserF3]

Apart from the fact steel cartridges are generally slightly cheaper I can't really think of any pro's.

 

I suppose you could say they're not as toxic as lead, but there are other problems associated with them concerning safety.

 

Ballistically they're inferior to their lead equivalent.

 

Simply put I wouldn't use them unless I had to.

 

I can only agree with everything that poontang says.

[welsh warrior]

well by the sound of things steel shot will be here and lead not allowed

[poontang]

well by the sound of things steel shot will be here and lead not allowed

 

If you mean that you think lead will soon be banned then you may have a point. As you are prbably aware the LAG are looking into the impact of lead ammunition at the moment. Even if lead is banned it would be a few years before that ban came into effect. Not much point worrying about it just yet.

 

In the meantime the best thing we, as shooters, can do to 'protect' the use of lead is NOT to use steel cartridges for anything other than wildfowling, where non-tox is a legal requirement.

 

You can be sure that those who oppose lead will point to rising steel shot sales as an indication of shooters being happy to use it, whereas in truth it's just an indication of people trying to save a couple of quid.

[kent]

people get very adement that steel is inferiour. Yet few if any actually test it via patterening and finding the right shells for thier gun and choke, it makes a big difference when you do this. I had a real predjudice against it myself untill i grabbed a box of steel 5's thinking they were my normal 36 grm 5 lead shells i use for crows. I shot very well that evening without a single wounder, picking up my empties i noticed my error and realised how much is actually in the mind of the user. Early steel was to all acounts total pants but the shells available today have had a lot of extra development for killing Ducks and Geese and function just fine remember any manufacturer is always looking to beat the competition - IF you have selected the best for you gun and put your shot in the right place. My biggest issue is those plastic shot cups PDP will still not disapear as fast as i should like and would switch entirely to steel if and when the shot cup thing is answered

[MC]

Kent,

 

Gamebore load a fibre shot cup cartridge in several variants, so it is not necessary to use the PDP ones.

 

However I agree entirely with Poontang, I do use steel but only when shooting wildfowl. I have heard some very good reports about the Gamebore clay cartridges but I will stick to lead where I can.

 

I have used 32gr no. 4 cartridges to shoot pigeons (Intentionally) to see how they performed and I have to say there was no real differnce between lead no.6 and a steel no.4.

I killed most and missed a few.

 

I now certainly wouldn't use steel through choice although I have no issue with it. 32gr no.4's in steel are no cheaper than a pigeon load so unless you shot birds are ending up as animal food (Raptors etc) then I can't see the point.

[kent]

Kent,

 

Gamebore load a fibre shot cup cartridge in several variants, so it is not necessary to use the PDP ones.

 

However I agree entirely with Poontang, I do use steel but only when shooting wildfowl. I have heard some very good reports about the Gamebore clay cartridges but I will stick to lead where I can.

 

I have used 32gr no. 4 cartridges to shoot pigeons (Intentionally) to see how they performed and I have to say there was no real differnce between lead no.6 and a steel no.4.

I killed most and missed a few.

 

I now certainly wouldn't use steel through choice although I have no issue with it. 32gr no.4's in steel are no cheaper than a pigeon load so unless you shot birds are ending up as animal food (Raptors etc) then I can't see the point.

 

Point is if they kill same as each other using 4's not 6's why use lead? Yeah i use lead when i don't have to use steel but i am just starting to wonder if i need to. Not siding with the anti here but a thousand pigeon shells a year adds up to quite a bit of lead on the land 10 yrs shooting and all the lead is still there on and on and on. It scares me around trees etc but other than that i have become fine with it- thanks for the info on the wads, unfortunatly i have 500 duck shells to get through before i re-purchase

Edited September 19, 2010 by kent

[wymberley]

If you mean that you think lead will soon be banned then you may have a point. As you are prbably aware the LAG are looking into the impact of lead ammunition at the moment. Even if lead is banned it would be a few years before that ban came into effect. Not much point worrying about it just yet.

 

In the meantime the best thing we, as shooters, can do to 'protect' the use of lead is NOT to use steel cartridges for anything other than wildfowling, where non-tox is a legal requirement.

 

You can be sure that those who oppose lead will point to rising steel shot sales as an indication of shooters being happy to use it, whereas in truth it's just an indication of people trying to save a couple of quid.

As repeating what has already been said is a waste of time:

Suffice to say, well said, poontang. Now, someone is bound to nit-pick so would you mind if I added, "unless shooting to feed hawks or similar", to your exception?

Cheers

[Gordon R]

What worries me is the effect on barrel walls. The steel shot is supposedly housed in a plastic cup. If this fails, how soon will scores appear in your barrel? It might be okay with an easily replaced auto barrel, but an expensive SBS?

[welsh warrior]

What worries me is the effect on barrel walls. The steel shot is supposedly housed in a plastic cup. If this fails, how soon will scores appear in your barrel? It might be okay with an easily replaced auto barrel, but an expensive SBS?

 

 

thats is my biggest worry lads..i have a very nice s/s 2 half choke that i will only ever use lead in whats happens if steel is all i can use ? i wont be to happy

[tigger]

I was well against it but as wildfowling is my main shooting have to use it or there very exspensive eqivelents, i would not use it by choice but since reloading my own carts i think its spot at around 1550fps out to 45 yards if it will take down a greylag/canada goose it will sure as hell kill a pigeon, with the right choke it patterns really tight and with bbs its awesome but you need the right choke thats the secret to half of it i believe. As for a shotcup failing i cant see how but im not saying it wouldnt highly unlikely i would say.

[kent]

There are other non toxics that are safe in best english guns etc., there will be more in another decade no doubt. Face it we can steer a ban and hold it off but one day it will eventually come.

[tigger]

thats is my biggest worry lads..i have a very nice s/s 2 half choke that i will only ever use lead in whats happens if steel is all i can use ? i wont be to happy

 

You will have to use itx,bismuth,hevi shot and the like and certanly wont like the price either

[welsh warrior]

You will have to use itx,bismuth,hevi shot and the like and certanly wont like the price either

 

 

how much are they a 1000

[BlaserF3]

how much are they a 1000

 

Are you sat down? Scroll down the list.

 

http://www.kelbrookshootingschool.co.uk/cartridges.pdf

[welsh warrior]

NO BLOODY WAY ! am i going to spend that thats stupid

[tigger]

NO BLOODY WAY ! am i going to spend that thats stupid

 

Hence why I reload my own steel far cheaper than the others that's for sure.

[poontang]

NO BLOODY WAY ! am i going to spend that thats stupid

 

You don't have to spend that. There is NO lead ban at the moment.

 

Look, the only people who are looking to get lead banned in this country are the RSPB, WWT and their cohorts. They know that they can't do it by citing the deaths of raptors by eating lead shot game so they have started to use human health issues instead, hoping this may sway government thinking. Hence the LAG.

How many millions of cartridges have been used over farmland over the years? How many people have suffered lead poisoning from eating British produce? How many farmers have stopped shooting over their fields for fear of lead contamination? You can be sure that if people were keeling over from eating bread made from wheat grown in contaminated soil the government would have looked into it years ago. You can also be sure that farmers wouldn't allow shooting if it meant they couldn't sell their crops. Oh, and don't forget where lead comes from in the first place.

Their 'evidence' of lead contamination in shot game doesn't really stand scrutiny in this country either, hence their use of US based statistics.

One of the things the LAG are looking at is alternatives to lead shot, if a ban does happen. Obviously steel is likely to be the most popular, due only to cost. If the RSPB etc. can show that people are happily using steel when they don't have to, then it will only serve to reinforce their argument that lead is no longer needed.

 

If I was you I'd take my old sxs, buy a load of lead cartridges and enjoy it.

 

If and when a lead ban comes in, then think about the pros and cons of the alternatives, until then there's no point worrying about it. As I've said if you want to do your bit to preserve lead DON'T use steel (with the obvious exceptions).

[MC]

You don't have to spend that. There is NO lead ban at the moment.

 

Look, the only people who are looking to get lead banned in this country are the RSPB, WWT and their cohorts. They know that they can't do it by citing the deaths of raptors by eating lead shot game so they have started to use human health issues instead, hoping this may sway government thinking. Hence the LAG.

How many millions of cartridges have been used over farmland over the years? How many people have suffered lead poisoning from eating British produce? How many farmers have stopped shooting over their fields for fear of lead contamination? You can be sure that if people were keeling over from eating bread made from wheat grown in contaminated soil the government would have looked into it years ago. You can also be sure that farmers wouldn't allow shooting if it meant they couldn't sell their crops. Oh, and don't forget where lead comes from in the first place.

Their 'evidence' of lead contamination in shot game doesn't really stand scrutiny in this country either, hence their use of US based statistics.

One of the things the LAG are looking at is alternatives to lead shot, if a ban does happen. Obviously steel is likely to be the most popular, due only to cost. If the RSPB etc. can show that people are happily using steel when they don't have to, then it will only serve to reinforce their argument that lead is no longer needed.

 

If I was you I'd take my old sxs, buy a load of lead cartridges and enjoy it.

 

If and when a lead ban comes in, then think about the pros and cons of the alternatives, until then there's no point worrying about it. As I've said if you want to do your bit to preserve lead DON'T use steel (with the obvious exceptions).

 

 

ANd that I think is the most important statement ever. Lead comes from the ground, it is naturally occurring. Fields that have never, ever been shot over can contain lead pollution.

[Guest cookoff013]

lead is better. any day of the week.

untill i`m forced to use steel, then lead it is. without question.

 

-thats why i tried to develop a steel clay and light game cartridge. incase "IT" happens.

[kent]

Are you sat down? Scroll down the list.

 

http://www.kelbrookshootingschool.co.uk/cartridges.pdf

 

 

Whats not being told is Kelbrook don't allow steel as its full of trees on the ground and they had a ricochet issue with the stuff.

[kent]

ANd that I think is the most important statement ever. Lead comes from the ground, it is naturally occurring. Fields that have never, ever been shot over can contain lead pollution.

This is very true but a bad stance to take to defend lead as 1000 shells contain a lot more lead than the average field and it builds annually unlike naturally occuring lead which remains static. If we are to keep lead we must choose our battles and arguments carefully, luckily i believe BASC are savy enough to get us the best deal they can.