Steel shot for clay shooting grrrrr.

It will suck for the reloaders as they will need different wads to go along with the steel shot, both of which will be more expensive and whatever stock of lead shot and wads they have will become obsolete if clubs won’t let them use lead shot anymore
Buying factory ammo will cost a lot more too for the non reloaders
One positive thing maybe is that clubs might try to reclaim the steel shot which would be easier then reclaiming lead shot and prices on reclaimed shot would be less so could help with reloading costs
Also I believe you get better patterns with steel shot due to less shot deformation
 
Steel will likely hurt skeet more than sporting clays, as steel will mean larger size and less shot, which will be a handicap with the 410, and to a lesser extent the 28 gauge.
 
I patterned some of the Winchester steel target loads a few years ago. Very tight patterns. I would shoot them through my Beretta 391 but would hesitate using them in a shotgun with thin wall Briley chokes.
 
stubblejumper said:
Steel will likely hurt skeet more than sporting clays, as steel will mean larger size and less shot, which will be a handicap with the 410, and to a lesser extent the 28 gauge.
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On the skeet field at the ranges shot I cannot see having to drop down a couple pellet sizes. It's not like it requires the same energy to break a target as kill a duck or goose. A load of 7.5 steel in a 410 should break targets well on the skeet field. You should see how well steel 6's work at dispatching wounded ducks and geese on water.
 
the spank said:
On the skeet field at the ranges shot I cannot see having to drop down a couple pellet sizes. It's not like it requires the same energy to break a target as kill a duck or goose. A load of 7.5 steel in a 410 should break targets well on the skeet field. You should see how well steel 6's work at dispatching wounded ducks and geese on water.
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I use lead #9 exclusively for the 410 and 28 gauge, increasing to #7-1/2 will greatly reduce the number of pellets, and will make it much more difficult to accomplish long clean runs. It's tough enough to run 75 or 100 straight with the 410, being forced to use steel, will make it extremely rare. At least with some of the larger gauges, you can change wads to shoot the same weight of shot charge in steel, but with the 410, there isn't enough room to fit 1/2 oz of steel in a 2-1/2" hull.
 
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Clay Huntin' Canuck said:
From what I heard the UK is banning lead shot by 2029?
My question is how long do you think Canada is in doing the same?
And what will it do to the clay shooting sports? even higher ammo prices, more clubs being shot down? Thoughts?
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Already happening.

Had a skeet/trap club that was on the base closed. Because they no longer wanted lead to be introduced into rhe ground.
 
OkayShooter said:
Already happening.

Had a skeet/trap club that was on the base closed. Because they no longer wanted lead to be introduced into rhe ground.
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We must use non toxic shot during a three day sharptail grouse hunt on a base near me, yet they still fire hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lead core rifle bullets in training.
 
They shut down the Greenwood Gun Club here in N.S. that was located on a Air Force base several years ago all over unsubstantiated claims of lead contamination.

Dartmouth Gun Club was shut down over plastic wads and lead going into the ocean.
 
REM3200 said:
They shut down the Greenwood Gun Club here in N.S. that was located on a Air Force base several years ago all over unsubstantiated claims of lead contamination.

Dartmouth Gun Club was shut down over plastic wads and lead going into the ocean.
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Was weird not seeing the Greenwood Skeet/trap sign when I drop past it today.
 
I was given a couple cases of the Kent steel target load. With imp cyl chokes in my beretta 687 it makes the sun disappear. They’re fast and the recoil is slightly more than comparable lead shells. Don’t think I’ll ever put any through my Perazzi with the Briley thin walls.
 
Longstud said:
I was given a couple cases of the Kent steel target load. With imp cyl chokes in my beretta 687 it makes the sun disappear. They’re fast and the recoil is slightly more than comparable lead shells. Don’t think I’ll ever put any through my Perazzi with the Briley thin walls.
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Would be fine if you had the VX series chokes...ran a ton of steel through a model 12 with Briley thin wall VX series chokes. They are made for steel.
 
Thanks for that info Spank. I’m still not going to shoot steel outah my Perazzi MX 8 Mirage with steel shot. Maybe with the extra barrels I have but not with the original barrels. Enjoyed your Waterfowler pics and vids this year as usual! Cheers
 
Our club is just starting to grapple with this so it’s likely sooner than later.
My question is what is the least damaging to older guns without removable chokes?
Is there a better alternative to steel, or?
I have a couple that I don’t want to damage but still be able to use every now and again.
Very low volume, maybe 200/year on one and maybe 25/year on the other…I just don’t want them as wall hangers.
Or is my concern over barrel issues ill founded?
 
stubblejumper said:
I use lead #9 exclusively for the 410 and 28 gauge, increasing to #7-1/2 will greatly reduce the number of pellets, and will make it much more difficult to accomplish long clean runs. It's tough enough to run 75 or 100 straight with the 410, being forced to use steel, will make it extremely rare. At least with some of the larger gauges, you can change wads to shoot the same weight of shot charge in steel, but with the 410, there isn't enough room to fit 1/2 oz of steel in a 2-1/2" hull.
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why would you not use steel #9
 
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