Lead Shot Restrictions

[julesl2000]

Now that there are restrictions in England what is the best alternative to lead if you are shooting duck or indeed pheasant over certain areas ? Also what do you use if your gun is not proofed for steel shot?

[henry d]

Now that there are restrictions in England what is the best alternative to lead if you are shooting duck or indeed pheasant over certain areas ? Bismuth or ITM

Also what do you use if your gun is not proofed for steel shot? As above.

[casts_by_fly]

I'd shoot steel, but only because the alternatives are expensive. Here is a good article about Pheasants with steel shot. It was a scientific study by the DNR in Minnesota. Some states are going to non lead in all management areas so this team wanted to assess the impact on harvests and killing efficacy by switching to steel. Long story short, they tested #2, #4, and #6 steel on pheasants out to 60 yards. Bigger shot won the day.

 

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fwt/back_issues...1/article5.html

 

I've used #4 fast steel (Kent, 3", 1 1/8 oz at 1350+ fps) on ducks and it is a potent load. I'd have no problem using it on pheasants for all of the shooting I do.

 

If you can't shoot steel, then tungsten matrix will be the next best, possibly heavy steel (if you can get it here). Heavi-shot crushes birds and shoots like lead (a bit tighter patterning, so adjust accordingly), it is just expensive.

 

Thanks,

Rick

[yanibaby]

I've never done any duck shooting myself, but have been speaking to someone who does a lot... He uses Steel (because like casts-by-fly mentioned, the alternatives are very expensive) From what I understand, and I'm no expert, if you are shooting large shot sizes like 3, or anything bigger, you must use a gun with Steel proofed barrels, but shot size 4 (32gram) is ok in a normal gun (two and three-quarter inch chamber) but I guess that might be too small for ducks, unless at close range perhaps, or maybe pheasants.

[fortune82]

Ive used 32 grams no.4 steel for the last 3 seasons with good results on flighted and driven duck. I have been using some 32 gram 5 bismuth so far this season with good results through 1/4 and 1/2 chokes.

[yanibaby]

Who makes the bismuth cartridges? Eley or Express? I can't remember.

[Guest cookoff013]

Who makes the bismuth cartridges? Eley or Express? I can't remember.

 

eley.

 

bismuth can be choked up.

the other alternates MAY be harmful.

[yanibaby]

the other alternates MAY be harmful.

 

TMX?

[Guest cookoff013]

tungsten i twice the hardness of steel !

 

however. there is some newer products coming out to use in old guns. `nice shot` and `soft` shot.

 

google `em

[robkayak]

steel is the cheapest alternative. If you do not want to reload, the best are Eley Grand prix. Get the fastest load you can. No 4 is fine for ducks at 35 yards. I make my own loads & chronograph them. Commercial loads fib about their speed. Hull say their FITSAC rounds do 1500 fps. They dont, they actually do 1300 fts a meter from the muzzle & I do not believe that they slow down by 200 fts in a Meter. My 1 oz steel loads do a genuine 1730 fts one meter from the muzzle and the 1 1/2 oz loads in a 3 1/2 inch magnum do 1332 fts. If you are shooting at 40 yards you will need a 3 inch case with 36 g of 3.5 mm or 3.25mm steel shot. They recoil a lot as they have to be driven hard. If you have a light sbs use the Lyvale hevishot 32g No.6. I cannot reload them for the price they sell them at. They are very very effective.