What is tempered lead shot?

iron cat said:
Different term for the modern age, same result.
Cat
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Yes the same . at one time or another I have had bags of shot labelled with magnum shot , chilled shot , extra hard shot . from what I have read and been told any more than 6% antimony and the shot will be brittle and fracture just like bismuth .
 
Grizzly Adams said:
I always thought it was "chilled" shot ? :confused:

Grizz
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I was thinking that too, and there used to be the terms 'hard chilled shot' and 'hardened shot.' In fact, not wanting to trigger any more lead phobias I've been a bit reluctant to post this, but I seem to remember reading that in the old days arsenic metal was added to lead shot to harden it. If so, I'm sure that's no longer done.
 
Arsenic can be added to lead for hardening and might have been used more than one might think. Many metals can be used such as copper, tin, bismuth, antimony, selenium and others but I think antimony is the most common among comercial shot manufacturers these days. Exposure to a lot of these metals is not good for you and reinforces the notion that rubber glove use is a good idea.
 
I recall reading some time back that orchard owners in the western united states concocted a cocktail containing lead and arsenic to control insects back in the 1800's. Lead and arsenic don't break down over time or at least take a long time to do so and millions of acres are still polluted with the metals as they tend to stay in the topsoil. Eventually DDT took over in the mid 1900's as the pesticide of choice and lead arsenic was phased out. And we wonder why so many of us get cancer.....
 
We have sent a request to Clever to clarify what tempered lead shot means. Just from experience using the T2, they're an excellent shell. The T2 Handicap makes an excellent meat shoot or Annie Oakley shell but they do recoil pretty hard in over/under shotguns. They cycle any semi auto we've used with the stuff and it hits steel targets really hard which makes it a good choice for three gun.
 
Falconflyer said:
I recall reading some time back that orchard owners in the western united states concocted a cocktail containing lead and arsenic to control insects back in the 1800's. Lead and arsenic don't break down over time or at least take a long time to do so and millions of acres are still polluted with the metals as they tend to stay in the topsoil. Eventually DDT took over in the mid 1900's as the pesticide of choice and lead arsenic was phased out. And we wonder why so many of us get cancer.....
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Arsenic was considered a "tonic" for horses at one time, it made them more work capable . They actually developed a dependency on it and suffered badly to the point of death when it was withdrawn.

IN the early 1900s, horse tonics regularly contained arsenic, as well as strychnine, belladonna, cocaine and caffeine. These were claimed to stimulate appetite, give a glossier coat and treat anaemia.

Grizz
 
Grizz, I went to Agribition in Regina back around 1979 or so and a purebred Black Angus breeder from Texas had a bull die at the show. The rumor at the time is that they were feeding it arsenic for the same reasons you list but accidently gave it too much!
 
I've yet to see a target continue unscathed because the shot squished flat when it hit it. A buddy of mine used to make his own from melted wheel balancing weights and whatever else he could scrounge and it broke targets no problem. I'm more concerned with staying focused (not as easy as I age) and centering the bird. Last thing I need is to start wondering how much antimony is in the shot in my shells. Heck I'm happy if I get the full ounce I paid for! :p
 
the spank said:
I've yet to see a target continue unscathed because the shot squished flat when it hit it. A buddy of mine used to make his own from melted wheel balancing weights and whatever else he could scrounge and it broke targets no problem. I'm more concerned with staying focused (not as easy as I age) and centering the bird. Last thing I need is to start wondering how much antimony is in the shot in my shells. Heck I'm happy if I get the full ounce I paid for! :p
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George Digweed can undoubtedly break targets at 100 yards with cheap promo loads that have less than 2% antimony but the rest of us mere mortals need all the help we can get!
I never worry about the antimony level of my shells, all I know is that I need some help way out yonder and if a few cents per shell makes that difference then I'm all for it. Confidence is a strange thing, if you have it then you do well and if you don't well then ... good luck!
Spank, you've been playing this game long enough to know it's a head game so stop thinking about your shell and shoot with confidence!
 
Falconflyer said:
George Digweed can undoubtedly break targets at 100 yards with cheap promo loads that have less than 2% antimony but the rest of us mere mortals need all the help we can get!
I never worry about the antimony level of my shells, all I know is that I need some help way out yonder and if a few cents per shell makes that difference then I'm all for it. Confidence is a strange thing, if you have it then you do well and if you don't well then ... good luck!
Spank, you've been playing this game long enough to know it's a head game so stop thinking about your shell and shoot with confidence!
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I was just trying to emphasize that shooters need to focus on the target and stop worrying about variables. Like you I've shot my share of shells in my day and honestly aside from recoil differences have found little diffrrence in breaking targets. Premium shells may have a slight edge for longer shots but I sometimes even question that. I've been floating back and forth from the 25-27yd line since 1987 and have shot every shell brand and line and the biggest difference I've found in achieving good breaks from the back of the fence has been practice and dropping from #8 shot to #7.5.

FF I don't even bother patterning other than to set up my POI after making adjustments to my stock and even at that I am a set it and forget it fellow. My gun still has the same #7 IM choke in the barrel that was seized in when I bought it 8 years ago.(Chris Dawe got it free'd up but it went right back in and it remains there for singles and caps and only gets removed for cleaning and lubing) Once it's impacting where I want I leave it alone. I'm not one of those move my comb, change my choke and change my shells when I'm having a bad day guys. Instead I just take a break, clear my head, reset and go again. And as for the ammo...I buy whatever is cheapest I can get my hands on these days. I used to be a dyed in the wool Federal shooter after I gave up reloading years ago but now I shoot whatever I can get my hands on most economically.

90% of clays shooting is focus, the other 10% is between the ears.
 
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