unfortunately, that's just not true....the superior ballistic qualities of heavi-shot (and lead) mean that they will always be superior to any steel load....matching correct shot sizes and chokes is a way of minimizing the disadvantage of steel, but you will never close the gap. that's just a fact of life.
I'm just packing my shell bucket tonigh because I'm driving to SW La. for the opener Saturday....hunting below Geuydan Saturday, fishing Big Lake Calcescieu in the afternoon, and then duck and goose hunting above Cameron Sunday morning...busy weekend. Anyway, I'm packing five boxes of Hevi Shot classic doubles load, and using my old LC Smith. Bringing an A5 for backup, and five boxes of regular 2 /3/4 hevi shot for that. Are they expensive? Hell, yeah. But not as much more than steel as you'd think, because you shoot a hell of a lot less to get your limit. And you don't waste a bunch of 80 cent premium steel loads shooting cripples repeatedly on the water so they don't escape. And you don't lose cripples sailing away to die in the marsh.
for all the time and money we spend duck hunting, the difference in price between hevi-shot and steel pales into insignificance. I mean, the limit is six ducks....how many shots do you fire to get your limit? how pissed are you when you lose cripples? It's an easy choice to me. YMMV, of course.
Hi Steve,
I disagree with your view.
While lead-shot may be a denser/heavier material than steel, it is far from perfect. I still seem to recall the measures (copper/nickel plating, buffering etc.) that were used to get it to perform at length ranges.
As for hevi-shot, well it seems to be playing second fiddle to other products such as Winchester�s �XTENDED RANGE HI-DENSITY� or Remington�s �Wingmaster HD� or is it. When all is said and done, any bird that is killed cleanly and consistently at 40, 50 or 60 yards with any of these products is basically dead. The only difference is how much we paid for that privilege.
The same applies to steel shot! At the end of the day, Steel shot will kill ducks and geese cleanly well beyond the shooting skill range of average hunters. To suggest otherwise is nonsense!
While I don�t personally encourage shooting at extended ranges beyond 45-50 yards, ranges out to 60 yards or more are not a problem with steel. But don�t take my word for it, have a look at the peer reviewed science that has been collated on this subject by groups such as the USFWS, CONSEP, Winchester, Remington etc. Further to this look at blind-test studies of hunters (5 lead vs steel studies) who used both lead and steel � there were �no� differences in the number of wounded birds or harvest rates.
As for matching up loads and chokes, this is a normal and common shotgunning practice, not just because we are using steel. Just in the same way you have carefully selected and adjusted your choke and hevi-shot load choices to meet your waterfowling needs, the same has to be done with steel shot or any other product for that matter. To compare non-toxic shot alternatives such as Bismuth, Tungsten-Polymer, Hevi-Shot, Steel, Wingmaster HD etc. directly with one another is a pointless exercise. Simply choose a product and match it to your game and shooting ranges.
As for cost, I estimate you�re paying about a $1.50 per round more than premium quality steel shot. Just for your hunting trip alone, you�re already spending $150 more. If we further consider later season trip and additional ammunition, the cost starts to come up greatly.
One last thought. While many non-toxic shot alternatives have come and gone, steel shot has remained. It will continue to remain for the simple reason that it is an economically viable product and it kills game well.