Steel v Lead Shot

[poole Harbour]

Never tried steel shot cartridges before but with the price would like opinions of those that have .

 

Looking at 28g 71/2 shot for clays .

 

What effect on the Gun after prolonged use , I have Browning Ultra 12g backbored barrels Teague Chokes & Browning 425 20g Invector Chokes.

 

Also what would they be like for Pigeon or Pheasant in heavier load

 

Thanks Guys look forward to some feedback

Edited May 30, 2008 by poole Harbour

[sambu13]

loads there

im affraid i couldnt help allot!

[robbo_66]

I used to use steel shot for quite a while down to the fact that they were alot cheaper than lead but in my opinion the lead cartridges are much better due the hitting power they carry.

The steels will deal well with pheasants and pigeons in a 32g size 6 load.

As for the effect on your gun, if you use plastic wads then you should be safe as it encases it as it travels down the barrel (the gamebore clay carts do anyway, not sure about all others ) In fibre wad im not sure as steels a much harder metal and it may cause lasting damage, however ive used only fibre wads and havnt noticed any lasting damage.

Hope this helps

[Wookie]

Gamebore say that there is no difference in barrel wear and it is just like using normal lead (except for more velocity initially, but less energy at long range) when using their steel clay shot. I use them myself and they are not bad.

 

Never used steel for game though, but if I had to, I'd be tempted to drop a shot size to keep the energy up.

[jonnybgood]

For clays i would use the steel because of the price but for heavy steel loads you will be paying more than what you would be for lead. Unless you plan to shoot wildfowl i would stick to lead for all your other shooting. I f u still want to shoot steel i find Bornaghi a good steel cartridge although they are 36 gm

[me and my lad]

Gamebore ... ... I use them myself and they are not bad.

 

i've used them a few times also, leave the gun a lot cleaner than with lead

Edited June 2, 2008 by me and my lad

[poole Harbour]

Thanks for that guys think I will pick up a couple of boxes today and give them a try as I claybashing on a sporting layout this afternoon , maybe drop down a choke size to allow for tighter pattern .

[poole Harbour]

Did a back to back comparison , shot 100 28gram 7.5 steel & 100 lead at variety of clays ( all sporting layout ) Found the steel a little punchier and not so consistent at longer range . I used 1/4 , 3/8 & 1/2 chokes for the steel as I was warned off trying anything tighter ( and after reading the other thread here on Chokes and Steel Shot glad I did ) and for the Lead I used 1/4 & 1/2 and 3/4 ( Full for the high tower ) .

 

Overall for £50 per 1000 saving I would say Steel is OK for Clay bashing but for anything else I will stick to Lead .

[clayman]

When Kingsferry was forced to operate a steel only policy they found that overall averages at the ground increased.

 

This is because steel has a much higher crush value than lead, and therefore the definition of the pattern is better.

 

Lead has loose flyers and a ragged edge to the pattern - hence the alloying with antinomy or plating with zinc or copper to high grade loads to stop deformation and wasted loose flying pellets around that pattern perimeter.

 

For clays at all but rangy targets, steel is fine, if not better, than lead.

 

As the density of steel is less than lead, choose on shot size up, where no8s in lead were good, go for 7s in steel.

 

Steel will start to let you down beyond about 40 yds when it has lost its inertia. Same will apply to game, but of course if you are wildfowling you will need non-lead anyway.

 

Clayman