Steel Shot vs. Lead Shot
Hi guys,
What are the pros and cons of shooting steel vs. lead shot out of a shotgun? Will the steel shot wear out your shotgun faster?
What are the pros and cons of shooting steel vs. lead shot out of a shotgun? Will the steel shot wear out your shotgun faster?
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Pros only thing legal for waterfowl
Cons cost much more
end of story0 -
The only area of the gun where there is Potential for damage is the bore and choke. If modern, up to date ammo is fired the risk to the bore is negligible. Older ammo with thin wall, low tech wads pose the risk of bore scrub in older guns that aren't steel compatible.
It is the choke of non-steel compatible guns that stands the greatest risk of damage. Even ammo with the best of wads can cause choke stretch in the older guns.
Many claim they have shot steel in their older gun for years with no signs of damage, but, had they mic'd out the choke prior to starting the practice they would likely find it has stretched.
The safest way to use steel in the older guns is to have the barrel altered to accept choke tubes and then use an extended steel tube with the choke forward of the threads. Should the tube itself stretch, and they do, you won't have a tube seized at the threads.
From your second post it seems you have limited experience with shoguns. It's wise of you to ask questions in order to learn.
You don't need, or want, the expense of buckshot or slugs for break in when high pressure birdshot loads will do the same job.
Select a load with the heaviest shot charge and highest velocity you can find. I haven't bought factory ammo in quite some number of years, but if some manufacturers still use the outdated "Dram Equivalent" use a load with the highest Dram rating with the heaviest shot charge.0 -
No advantage to steel shot-just another regulation forced upon hunters/shooters by antigun/antihunting fools. 0 -
I think steel patterns tighter because it deforms less. It also looses energy faster because it's lighter.
Use the correct metal filled lube on the threads or the choke tube.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mobuck
No advantage to steel shot-just another regulation forced upon hunters/shooters by antigun/antihunting fools.
Sounds like lead shot is the way to go. I just bought a Stoeger M2000 tactical. Stoeger says I should break it in with heavy loads (about 100 or 200 of them). What do you guys figure I ought to use for that? Lead, 3", 00 buck? I don't know, you guys tell me. The choke on the rifle is fixed cylinder.0 -
18 buffered OO pellets in a 3" is nice load. 41 #4 buck is one of my favorite. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 7.62x39Lover
quote:Originally posted by Mobuck
No advantage to steel shot-just another regulation forced upon hunters/shooters by antigun/antihunting fools.
Sounds like lead shot is the way to go. I just bought a Stoeger M2000 tactical. Stoeger says I should break it in with heavy loads (about 100 or 200 of them). What do you guys figure I ought to use for that? Lead, 3", 00 buck? I don't know, you guys tell me. The choke on the rifle is fixed cylinder.
If you're hunting or patterning your gun for hunting waterfowl, use steel. For everything else, lead.
On which ammo for breaking in your gun. . .hey, its your shoulder and wallet. If you want to put through 100 or 200 00 buckshot shells slugs, all the more power to you. . .don't forget to buy some Motrin to go with the shells.
Assuming the gun were otherwise suitable for this, if it were me, I'd go out, break 200 clays with the gun over a few weekends, then call it broken in. Heavier loads will probably break the gun (and your shoulder) in faster. . .not necessarily "better".0 -
Go down 1 in choke. From full to imp mod or mod. Go up in shot size 0 -
quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
18 buffered OO pellets in a 3" is nice load. 41 #4 buck is one of my favorite.
I take it copper plated pellets are good? Does it matter what they use as a buffering agent?0 -
Yes those plated ones work nice. I'm not sure what they buffer them with or that what the buffer is matters as long as something is there.
I don't load 3 or 3.5. My usual 2.75 load is 3.75DE 1.25 oz. shot. 12 hard cast OO or a 540gr Lyman sabot slug.0
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