I agree that hard lead shot or plated shot is a’ priori for patterns. It’s nothing that wasn’t discovered long ago (Bob Brister) but soft shot deforms and flys erratically out to the edges (or further) of POA.
Over the years, I’ve gone to nickel-plated Fiocchi 1 oz 20’s and and 1 1/8 oz 16’s at 1245 and 1310 respectively. I parted ways with their 12’s however, thinking 1 13/8 oz at 1485 is unnecessary for pheasants in my world.
I’m sure there are others as worthy.
