[Mossberg535]

Finally managed to find one. I go midday most times and that isnt typically when squirrels are very active anyway. Got one with #4 steel, 1 1/8oz 1550fps shells. Worked very well. I think it was dead before he even started falling out of the tree. Very happy with the steel shot so far.

[MCgunner]

Steel shot on squirrels? Is this mandated where you're hunting? Well, at least a box will last a while. I get tired of paying for the stuff for duck hunting. I haven't hunted squirrel with a shotgun anyway in many years. Sidearms are my tool of choice anymore, only because I have more fun that way. I ain't really hunting 'em for the meat, though the meat is certainly good eating!

[Mossberg535]

Steel shot on squirrels? Is this mandated where you're hunting?
Nope, just a decision on my part. I figure its just a matter of time before the tree huggers win that little war so Im making sure Im ready for it when they do.
We all know theyre fighting this war to get us to stop hunting, so when they do get lead banned (if they do) Im making sure to let them know that they havent affected me in the least. I'll keep right on hunting like I always have...lead or steel, makes no difference.
Maybe when they see our resolve they'll go fight some other battle...save a whale or something.


Well, at least a box will last a while. I get tired of paying for the stuff for duck hunting.
I dont duck hunt, so for me a box of shells will pretty much last most of the season, one shell/one squirrel. But Ive read that it takes about 100 shots to take ~20 ducks or so. That could get expensive pretty quickly....especially for a new duck hunter not hitting so well. Id be complaining about steel prices at that point....I cant imagine out much the more expensive ammo would end up costing. Enough for me to give up duck hunting if I was into it and thats all I could use, Id think. Obviously exactly what some folks would like to see, no doubt.

I haven't hunted squirrel with a shotgun anyway in many years. Sidearms are my tool of choice anymore, only because I have more fun that way. I ain't really hunting 'em for the meat, though the meat is certainly good eating!
I just got back into using a shotgun a few years ago. Used a 22 and then a 17hmr for a number of years, but the 17hmr really ruined me for rifles. Damned barrel harmonics. 17hmr ammo aint cheap and when youre having to shoot 1/4 box making sure your POA and POI are the same every new box of ammo....well, I was definitely happy to get my 12 gauges after a couple years of that. Shorter range, obviously, but Im fine with that anyway.
:)

[MCgunner]

But Ive read that it takes about 100 shots to take ~20 ducks or so.

1 for five on ducks? That's pretty poor shootin'. LOL 1 for 2 or 3 is more the norm. It's only a 5 bird limit and I always seem to finish up shooting 12 or 13 rounds, sometimes 15 or 16 if I ain't on my game or have to take some long shots late season. The shots ain't that hard if the birds are working the deeks, though.

I used to hunt the woods when I was a kid with my .22LRs. I'd take the .410 when the rabbits got numerous. I could hit a running rabbit with a rifle if I had enough time, but those woods were thick and that was rarely the case, so a shotgun made sense. I just kinda like handguns and was shooting a .22 match barrel contender for a while. I have this scoped .22 Ruger Mk 2 now that shoots 1" at 50 yards off the bench. I need to make a squirrel trip with that thing. :D Practicing at the range sitting off sticks or my knees, that thing is awesome. You just don't shoot 'em on the move, have to let 'em sit still. The shotgun is more effective as a meat gitter, I just like handgunning 'em.

I'm going to do a couple of goose hunts this season, have to use steel shot. I use 10 gauge T shot. It's 25 bucks a box of 25, dollar a shot. Beats 35 bucks for 10 rounds of hevi shot 3" 12 gauge, though, kinda why I bought the gun. Hevi shot is more effective than lead and squirrel hunting, you might wanna try it. It really reaches out there, but MY GAWD that stuff is expensive. You could shoot number 6 hevi shot and slay 'em at 50 yards plus in tall pine trees, though.

Steel was a self inflicted wound on hunters, brought on by wildlife biologists doing studies of waterfowl in marshlands. They found about a 10 percent mortality in the population from lead poisoning, supposedly, from the birds picking up shot while eating. This was in heavily hunted marshes. There is absolutely NO wildlife management reason to use it in upland fields or woods. Squirrel don't feed like ducks in marshes. The tree huggers didn't have anything to do with the steel shot mandates.

I don't think squirrel will ever be steel shot mandated, but it might happen on doves if they determine the doves are picking the shot up in their craws. What's REALLY stupid is that I can hunt a sorghum field for doves in September/October with lead 7.5s. But, when I hunt that SAME grain field over a set of Texas rags for snow geese, I have to use friggin' steel shot! That just plain sux and don't make a damned bit of sense. But, I don't make the laws. I have to follow them. Man, what that 10 gauge could do with a full 2.whatever ounces of BB lead on geese! If I was hunting squirrel with a 12, I'd use 2 3/4" high brass lead sixes.

[Warhawk83]

I can't hunt the vermin till the 3rd of next month :(
I will be taking them with my Neos :)
To quote my father, "I can shoot a tick of a dog's back with that thing."

[Mossberg535]

Hevi shot is more effective than lead and squirrel hunting, you might wanna try it. It really reaches out there, but MY GAWD that stuff is expensive.I typically take squirrel within 35 yards anyway, even when I used my 22 and 17's, so steel should be fine based on what Ive been seeing so far with it at the range and the shot today.
There are other factors about steel that I like as well, but I dont want to break out the pompoms or anything for fear of giving the tree hugging type any ideas if theyre reading here. Saying that Im very happy so far with #4 steel for my hunting needs is pretty accurate :)

Ive got some #6 steel that Im going to give a try for maybe grouse hunting when the season begins. I docked the barrel on the one MB535 so its basically just bore, no choke at all, but the steel seems to pattern pretty well anyway. Ive never hunted grouse, but Ive come up on a number of them in the thick stuff a number of times when theyd fly off. Could have taken a few of them 2 seasons ago if Id had a mind to give it a shot.
They seem to wait till your right up on them before they take off for whatever reason. Almost make me jump :D
The place Ive been hunting seems like a grouse haven based on all the undergrowth Ive seen. I think Ive heard a few of them already, but havent actually seen anything yet. I think season opens in Oct here.

I don't think squirrel will ever be steel shot mandated,
Maybe not. Im not going to place any bets either way, honestly. I do know that the #4 steel Ive been giving a try really has impressed me so far as far as patterning and penetration. If going up 2 sizes works, like the ballistics Ive been reading seems to suggest, then the 1 1/8oz #4 steel 1550fps loads Ive been using should be more than adequate. I dont mind paying a few extra bucks a box seeing that one or two boxes is all I'll use in a season anyway.
But, when I hunt that SAME grain field over a set of Texas rags for snow geese, I have to use friggin' steel shot!
Good grief. Youd think that someone could see the absurdity of that :D
If I was hunting squirrel with a 12, I'd use 2 3/4" high brass lead sixes.
I was just using cheap #6 game loads before. $6 a box at wallyworld. Killed bugs dead on contact. I dont think a squirrel made it to the ground still twitchin with them. The #4 steel seems to do just as well so far.
There is absolutely NO wildlife management reason to use it in upland fields or woods. Squirrel don't feed like ducks in marshes.
I agree. :)
Like I said before, its just a personal decision. Im ok with steel and I feel like Im giving the proverbial finger to the tree huggers who think theyre going to irritate me if Im forced to use steel.
I have a lot of lead left that I may use over the next few seasons. Or I may blow it at the range for shooting clays which Im dying to try out for the first time :)

[Mossberg535]

Went back out today. Got another grey at about 20 yards. He was up in a pretty tall tree and a good part of his body was getting decent protectoin from the big limb he was on, but the first shot dropped him out of the tree. Wasnt quite dead, however, not a shot Id usually take because I thought there was good chance that he wouldnt be hit with more than a pellet or two.

I took a small target and shot it at 25 yards with these 1 1/8oz #4 steel and without any choke at all the pattern was certainly dense enough that even a very agile squirrel would have a hard time slipping thru it. I think average pellet count is 216 for this load, so for having no choke at all (docked the barrel because it was 6" longer than I want leaving no choke threads) Im pretty happy with the pattern with the steel.
I shot some 1oz lead thru this same gun at 17 yards a few weeks ago and wasnt happy with the pattern at all.

Think when I go out next Im going to try the #6 steel I have to see how it does.
Do they make a #6 at the 1500fps range like the 4's ?
:)

[MCgunner]

Ive got some #6 steel that Im going to give a try for maybe grouse hunting when the season begins. I docked the barrel on the one MB535 so its basically just bore, no choke at all, but the steel seems to pattern pretty well anyway.

On the average, steel will choke one choke tighter than lead, so if you're shooting cylinder bore, it's likely very close to lead shooting I/C. Lead I/C in my 20 gauge is good for 30 yards about. But, there is variability there, too. It's not a pat rule and every gun patterns different. I choke my 20 gauge Cyl/I-C when duck hunting and shoot 3" Number 4. But, I really prefer the 12 on ducks, patterns better than 3" 20 gauge. 3" 20 seems to have the same problem as 3.5" 12 with patterns, too long for the bore. Now here's where I'd love for lead shot to come back. I hunted ducks with nothing, but 20 gauge when I was a kid and 2 3/4" high brass number 5s were instant death on 'em, would kill to 45 yards at least. They fired great patterns out of the full choked 870 Wingmaster I was shooting at the time. That was back about 1966-1970.

Also, another rule of thumb, use 2 sizes larger steel shot than you would lead. You're finding out that 4 steel is pretty close to lead 6s, I reckon. Only difference would be pattern density, not being as many 4s in the pattern as would be 6s. That's not a biggy in the 12 gauge, plenty of shot in number 4. Steel sixes are REALLY light, think lead 8s. I've known guys to use 'em on doves when doves and ducks were both legal as in NOW with teal season and dove season both going here.

[Mossberg535]

Something I noticed when cleaning the squirrel was it had broken bones in two legs from the pellet hits. Those things must be hitting pretty hard.

[MCgunner]

Steel works fine at closer ranges, just loses it's punch out there at longish "pass shooting" ranges. That's the reason for using larger shot than you would lead, less dense so it needs the weight to carry farther.

The latest "fast steel" loads, 1550 fps loads, are quite effective on ducks. I've not used 'em on geese, not sure they'd measure up. You need that mass at long range on those birds, very tough to knock down. At .30 yards, though, T steel shoots right through a goose, total penetration with an exit wound. I was quite impressed with it last season. Steel CAN work, you just need to learn how to make it work, velocity or BIG bore guns shooting BIG shot seem to be the trick depending upon application. Lead shot is much simpler to understand and use. :D

The detractors to steel, like me, just gripe about the cost and the fact that they need a 3.5" 12 or 10 gauge to hunt geese. At first, when steel was first mandated, hunters AND ammo companies really didn't know how to make the stuff effective and it was really disappointing to slap a goose with steel shot at 40 yards, watch him gain 5 yards range from the impact, hear the hits on his chest, and watch him fly on. It was down right frustrating. Early on, the first thing ammo companies and shooters realized is that they needed larger than lead shot sizes to equal the mass. That's when T and F shot sizes came along (danged near buckshot) and the 10 gauge got a resurgence as it had the capacity to shoot that big shot and still have a decent pattern pellet count. A few years along and Mossberg introduced the 835 ultimag. Meanwhile, ammo companies worked on other non-toxic substitutes like bismuth or tungsten based "hevi shot", fine if you have an unlimited budget, very effective, better than lead, but you have to be Bill Gates to afford the stuff. Recent years, fast steel is all the talk and rage and it does work on ducks. Those geese, though, they're tough birds and still need a bit more killin'. I prefer the 10 gauge on those birds, patterns much better than 3.5" 12 gauge and with a little more capacity to boot. Wow, 10 gauge would be awesome in heavy shot, but no goose is worth spending a 10 spot on every shot. :rolleyes: Well, I haven't priced hevi shot 10 gauge, but 3" 12 it's running 3.50 a round now days. Out of my ball park for regular use. That's why I got the 10, will pay for itself soon.

Anyway, yeah, on squirrels, steel shot will perform really no worse than lead if you have the right load. There's no reason not to shoot it if that's what ya wanna do. Me, I don't break with tradition unless I just have to. LOL Heck, most of the squirrels I've ever shot with a shotgun were killed with a .410 using 6s. A 12 with 4 steel is massive overkill. LOL!

[Mossberg535]

yeah, I looked at Hevy Shot and the prices are a bit too much.
So far the steel #4s are working great, though they do seem to punch right through.
Without the choke shots between 20-25 yards seem to be just about perfect pattern wise.
Its dense enough that nothing is going to get through it, but not so dense that Im digging 40 pellets out. 5-7 pellets tops seems to be what hitting in a squirrel sized area center of the pattern based on the patterning I tried the other day (yeah, no target shooting the sign said, but I wasnt 'target' shooting, I was 'patterning' my shotgun ;) )

I was hoping to go back out again but its supposed to storm the next couple days.