shot hardness

[frontgate1]

The harder shot is the less deformation of the shot as it leaves the barrel.
The less deformation of the shot, the more uniform the pattern.
Is there any info available, charts, etc. on the relative hardness of common shot shells on the market.
Hundred packs of Win., Fed. and Rem sold at WallyWorld and other low priced shells, for example.

[shotgunjoel]

The reason that harder shot is better is because spheres fly through the air better than when they get squished and deformed. This is why you can throw a baseball straighter than a frisbee. I'm sorry, but there are no charts that I know of that give the hardness of various shells. Oh, by the way, WallyWorld has the same stuff as any other place, manufacterors don't mess around with stuff like that.

[huntsman]

The rule of thumb is the cheaper the ammo the softer the lead. It’s antimony that makes lead hard and it's expensive. You want hard shot buy target loads or heavy field.

[Virginian]

And then there is Hevi-Shot, which is misshapen and stuck together, AND wiped out the competition at the World Turket Shoot Championships. Which leads me to believe density may overrule shape, but hardness is always good.

[45crittergitter]

Some data I've compiled over the years:

Shotshell Pellets - Antimony Content

Activ Lead = 4%
Target & HV Hunting = nickel plated

R-P Shurshot, Standard & Heavy Game, Sport, Express (Long Range) = chilled
Express High Velocity Extra Long Range = copper plated
Premier = 6%, copper plated

Federal Classic Field & Hi-Power = 1.5-3%
Gold Medal = Extra hard, High Antimony
Premium = High Antimony, copper plated, buffered

W-W Dove & Quail = 0-1%
Super-X Game and Turkey = 2-4% (bigger shot needs more antimony)
12 and 20 ga. Skeet loads = 3% (28 & .410 Skeet = 6%)
All other Target loads (Premium & International Pigeon) = 6%, Very hard, High Antimony
Buckshot = 0%, exc. law enforcement #4B, which is harder

West Coast Shot (32 Red Rock Road, Carson City, NV 89706) has the best shot.

"Soft-shot 28 gauge factory loads don’t exist. All 28 gauge loads use hard shot, often copper or nickel plated. This produces very short shot strings, about 6 feet or less at 40 yards, compared to magnum 20 and 12 gauge strings of 12-20 feet." - John Barsness

[chas08]

And then there is Hevi-Shot, which is misshapen and stuck together, AND wiped out the competition at the World Turket Shoot Championships. Which leads me to believe density may overrule shape, but hardness is always good.

Theres something to this. As we know a perfect sphere will loose velocity faster than its mishapen counterpart because of the vaccuum on the back side, hence the dimples on a golf ball. Perhaps the hardness is a factor. But that stuff sure patterns good. :)