Cranfield Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 We have been asked whether any work has been done to compare the shot travelling distance of lead-v- steel , with the same loads. Which travels furthest, or are they the same ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Steel is less dense than lead so must travel a shorter distance if propelled at the same speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Steel is less dense than lead so must travel a shorter distance if propelled at the same speed. +1 Any study would involve the pellets' BC and as, like for like, that of the steel is smaller than that of lead, the above is correct. Purely as an example, a No 6 lead pellet fired at 1400 ft/sec will travel c229 yards (26*) and the steel, 209 yards (19*). * = degrees elevation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Surely carrying it across a field would be the same as lead. Try a wheelbarrow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Surely carrying it across a field would be the same as lead. Try a wheelbarrow! Yeah, but can you push the barra as fast as the lead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 This discusses it a little: http://shotshell.drundel.com/steel.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Yeah, but can you push the barra as fast as the lead? That's just silly, lead can't push a barra, I mean I struggle! U lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 I would have thought in reality there will be little difference as to get the best out steel you have to go up 2 if not 3 sizes on lead. So a no 3 in steel will travel the same distance as a no 6 in lead if not a little further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 I would have thought in reality there will be little difference as to get the best out steel you have to go up 2 if not 3 sizes on lead. So a no 3 in steel will travel the same distance as a no 6 in lead if not a little further.Don't forget increased drag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 (edited) I would have thought in reality there will be little difference as to get the best out steel you have to go up 2 if not 3 sizes on lead. So a no 3 in steel will travel the same distance as a no 6 in lead if not a little further. Yep, c253 yards, but the OP question specified the same loads. It will also carry more energy than lead. Edited October 9, 2015 by wymberley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Yep, c253 yards, but the OP question specified the same loads. It will also carry more energy than lead but for a steel pellet to be as lethally effective (this is not the same as saying a No3 steel pellet will not kill because of course it will) as that of a No 6 lead pellet, a No 1 shot is required. Have I read this incorrectly? Are you saying that No1 steel is the same (in terms of lethality) as a No.6 lead pellet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 No way. I find no 4 steel just as good as no 6 lead. To be fair to steel I'm starting to wonder if the 2 sizes rule is correct. They seem to kill just as well. Maybe it's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 It depends on what ranges you are shooting , I have been using steel for all my shooting for a while now . Even steel 7.5s are fine over decoys but energy soon falls off if you start pushing the range too much I do prefer 4s and have shot some good birds with them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Number one rule of shotgun effectiveness, accumulative effect of strikes is more effective than an individual pellets kinetic energy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 Have I read this incorrectly? Are you saying that No1 steel is the same (in terms of lethality) as a No.6 lead pellet? Motty, No, you read it correctly. What I should, perhaps, have said was that the two pellet sizes shared the same energy density (which is linked to their lethality). The explanation of which is way outside the thrust of the OP question. To avoid any further confusion, I have deleted this part of my post. Suffice to say, your doubts are obviously valid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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