Vintage Steel shot

D

digitalblue

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
55   0   0
Location
GTA unfortunately
I was given several flats of steel shot and I'm wondering if it's of any use for duck and goose.

Winchester Drylok 2-3/4" 1oz #2
Rem UMC 3" magnum 1-3/8oz BB 1265FPS

These are all early steel offerings (mid 90s vintage) so they definitely won't measure up to the performance of modern shells. While the shot sizes are exactly what I want for waterfowl, I'm a bit unsure about the payload and speed since modern steel shells seem to move a larger payload significantly faster.

Is this stuff even reasonably usable for hunting, or am I better off relegating it to blasting watermelons?
 
Absolutely they will work on large ducks and geese.

Being as old as they are I would give each shell a shake and listen to the shot rattle before I shot them in a gun I liked. Rusted blobs are not uncommon with older steel loads and it won't do your choke any good to push a steel "slug" through it.
 
Last edited:
I've checked the shells, they're all in pristine condition, apparently stored in a dry closet for the last 25 years.

Only thing that concerns me is that early steel shells had a bad reputation, likely because the speed and payload were on the low side.
Even the cheapest modern steel shells are pushing 25% more payload at 200+fps faster than these shells I have.

Am I at any disadvantage shooting the stuff I currently have (ie. limit shots to 30 yards)?
 
Steel BB shot @1265FPS is nothing to sneeze at. These loads will work if you put them on the bird. The 1 oz. Dry Locks were my go to in the early days of our steel shot mandate. Great ammo. Even today none of the factory steel shot I buy is over 1425 FPS. The real fast stuff is over rated and after 40 yards has tamed down to near what the slower loads are doing.

Darryl
 
digitalblue said:
Only thing that concerns me is that early steel shells had a bad reputation, likely because the speed and payload were on the low side.
Click to expand...

They had a "bad" reputation at that time because most of us were used to slaying waterfowl with old-fashioned lead. After I re-learned effective range and leads I killed as many birds as I did with lead.
 
Cut one open and look at the pellets. The early stuff like today's cheap stuff is far from round and far from consistent on size. As for working if it's in good condition it will kill just fine if patterned on a bird. Keep ranges within the limits of steel shot and have fun. Congrats on the good fortune
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom