?? about steel shot

[SASS#23149]

friend with very little gun kowledge,but a real desire to bust clay targets,was telling me he buys steel shot loads at WalMart for the same price as lead,and that he uses em because of cattel and sheep in the area.
I told him i"d ask a ?? or two here,so here goes.....
I thought steel wasy way more expensive,no??
I know steel was designed for saving birds (fear that they would eat the lead shot as I recall) is lead shot around 4 legged critters a problem.? Can steel shot be used in old shotguns or do you need one designed for it.?? His guns are all 'cheapies' from a used gun place.Will he ruin the barrels using steel?
I shoot a lot but not a hunter so not familiar with 'alternate' ammo like steel and bismuth,etc.
Thanks guys!! I"ll pass the info along to him.

 

[sm]

Older gun bbl may not be steel compatible, and steel shoots "tighter" than lead, hence the caveat to use a more open choke...which also means that too tight a choke may cause bulging of the bbl...or worse.I would definitly make sure the gun he is using is okay for steel.

Yes the steel I have was more expensive than lead.

I know many persons whom use lead around farm critters. I have not heard any "complaints".
That said... I will keep my opinions to myself on the topic of "non toxic" shot. I read and studied the NILO Tests, and well...NILO farms did a bunch of interesting research.

BTW for the new folks, NILO is OLIN reversed...you have heard of Winchester - yes ?

 

[P95Carry]

Hey Steve!!

All I know is ....... apart from Steve's mention re choking factors ..... steel costs more!!

One club my son and I shoot at have been barred from lead now (despite maybe a gazzillion tons already in and around the shotfall zone from years of shooting) ....... the Cambria and Somerset Authority has spoken!! We used to shoot for $3 per round ... and my homeloads were around $2 to me .. so $5 per round ... was OK with that.

Now ....... $8 per round .... shells supplied ... and that with a good discount from local shop .... proprietor shoots there.

I am not ''anti-environment'' one bit ... but this edict does not make sense. Fortunately the club carries on .... just. But I have been there less often ... cos local range has trap and sporting ... and lead is OK. Just the skeet I miss.

 

[SASS#23149]

I'm pretty sure he was mistaken about the shells he was using as being steel,especially for the same price as lead.
I'll stop by Wallys' today and investigate,just for the heck of it.
I'll pass all info on to him.
Thanks fellas!!

 

[sm]

"click" light bulb on

I bet he bought those "steel based" value packs instead of "brass" base. Who knows he may have been mis-informed by a sale-person.

Look at the bases of the Win dove and quail and then compare to the Fed,multi-purpose load. I betcha. FWIW tho' I'm a Win fan...those suck...the Fed multi purpose are much much better IMO.

 

[SASS#23149]

sm
how cold you possibly think that the 'experts' at 'Wallys gun world' coud lead someone astray??
I'm with you,I think they sold him the shiny based shells and the word 'steel' go mishandled in there somewhere.
I tried to by a shotgun for a B.day present one night at Wallys.After an hour I just left,and believe me no one noticed.sheesh. The guy that knew anything.......well,he didl't know anythoing.

ok,anyboyd else have on opine as to whether steel will wreck a barrel,or is it ok to shoot?

 

[sm]

Well Sir, what can I say?

I would for sure find out the make , model and age/year of gun...oh what choke that bbl is. ( Granted just because something is marked so and so don't make it so). Between the factory and the bunch here at THR if we know the particuars of gun and load we might save a bbl ...and much more. I respect the fact you are doing this "safety concern" for another. We gun folks are really good people, no matter what others may think or say.

 

[labgrade]

& I just must throw this in ...

All waterfowl shot must be steel, but we can hunt quail, squirrels, rabbits whatever in these same fields, w/lead, that we must use steel for for anything waterfowl/federally protected ....

Anybod6y see something stupid here?

 

[mete]

Steel shot can be determined with a magnet very easily, though the box should be clearly labeled. If you're hunting waterfowl make sure . Steel shot has a thicker wad to protect the barrel therefore will will have a tighter pattern than lead. First check ,if the gun is loder, that the manufacturer recommends steel shot. Then , as you always should do , pattern the loads.