Plated buckshot?

[Power Pill]

What are the benefits of plated buckshot over regular buckshot? I've noticed it cost more than regular buckshot and i'm wondering if its worth the extra $$

 

[B]

I took apart a Winchester Supreme shell with copper plated buck. The plating was similar the coating you see on .22lr. I don't see how that extremely thin layer of copper would be of any real benefit. I went through a couple hundred rounds of Remington's fancy Nickel plated buck shells a few years ago as well. It grouped ok but didn't seem to penetrate any deeper than the cheap stuff.

 

[tjhaile]

It supposedly resists deformation better than plain lead, thus providing better patterns. The only way to say for sure is to test it in your shotgun.

 

[JamesM]

Same as all lead shot Buckshot compresses and deforms somewhat during firing, this in turn can cause your gun to produce less consistant patterns and a consistant pattern is crucial to ensuring enough pellet strikes to ensure a humane kill. Now at some point in time during the heyday of lead shot some bright fellows realized if they plated their shot in copper it would deform less and produce more consistant patterns.
Also and I've never tested it to confirm it supposedly penetrates better.
So if all you're using it for is making holes in stuff and making yourself feel warm and fuzzy inside you don't realy need it. If you're using it on game you may appreciate the slight edge you gain, but then again with buckshots short effective range (roughly 40 yards on deer IMHO), it might not be noticeable.

 

[Grove]

I shoot the Fiocchi nickel plated buckshot and it does punch through sheet metal decently.

Plain lead sometimes just dents and goes flying.

 

[brybenn]

Shot nowadays is copper washed not plated as they'd have u believe the difference is very minimal. True nickle plated shot is great but very expensive as each ball has to b electrically bonded togtehr to form a plate around the ball. Every critter I've ever shot with buck shot couldn't tell the difference. Inside 35yards I use 2 3/4" buffalo bore 00buck in a full choke I get a nice 12" pattern so far only 1 deer has stood back up just long enuf for me to pull the 2nd trigger. This was due to a steep quarting angle. Best to buy what u can shoot a lot find out what patterns best and go buy as much as you can afford