APPROVED NON-TOXIC SHOT - density, gr/cc (Lead shot ~11.1 gr/cc)
Steel (soft iron) - 7.9
Hevi-steel - 9.1?
Bismuth-Tin - 9.4-9.7
Tungsten-Iron, Hi-Density T-I -10.2-10.4
Tungsten-Polymer (Matrix) - 10.4-11.1
Tungsten-Nickel-Iron (TNI; Hevi-Shot) - 12.0
Hevi-Shot 13
Heavyweight - 15.2
Tin (temporary approval)
STEEL SHOT
Hard. Many hunters achieved better results with early steel using 3 or even 4 sizes larger than they would use with lead. Now the new loads are so much better that they may use only 2 sizes larger. Best steel loads are fine for up to 40 yards. Goose loads ok farther in 3.5”.
From Byron Ferguson, et. al.:
Using Benelli SBE, #1 Steel, 3” = 92 hits in 24” @ 30 yards with Ballistic Specialties Full Choke
#1 = best in live mallard tests
#3 = all around duck load
BB or BBB = all around goose load
#6 = cripple shooting
HEVI-STEEL
25% W, 75% Fe 15% heavier than steel. 25-30% more range and penetration than steel. Can drop shot size and increase pellet count.
BISMUTH
Shoot the same size as lead. Soft. Patterns tight, good for long range.
#5 = decoying ducks, BB & #2 = geese
TUNGSTEN - IRON
Low pellet count. Very hard. Patterns tightest, short shot string. Expensive, better for long range.
BB = geese
#2 = snows & specs
#4 = ducks
TUNGSTEN–POLYMER (NYLON MATRIX)
Performs exactly like lead. Soft. Use the same shot sizes and chokes with Tungsten - Polymer as you would with lead. Does not pattern as tightly as bismuth or tungsten-iron.
Federal = Tungsten-Polymer
Kent = Tungsten-Matrix
#1 = geese
#3 = geese over decoys
#5 = ducks
TNI (HEVI-SHOT)
50% W, 35% Ni, 15% Fe. Slightly irregular in size and shape, very dense – 10% heavier than lead, about as hard as or harder than steel. Corrosion resistant. Can use slightly smaller sizes than you would with lead. Patterns extremely tightly - hard to do less than 70% with any choke. Any 12 ga. choke tighter than 0.665” will open the pattern. A standard Full choke, at about 0.691”, will pattern over 85%.
MAG-SHOK HEAVYWEIGHT (Federal)
Tungsten Alloy. 37% denser than lead, 15% denser than HeviShot. Uniformly spherical.