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From: rickr@pyrthoth.pyramid.com (Rick Rasor)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: steel shot
Summary: It takes some getting used to
Message-ID: <399@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>
Date: 19 Mar 91 12:48:43 GMT
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From: rickr@pyrthoth.pyramid.com (Rick Rasor)


 I have been using steel shot for about 5-6 years now. In the beginning
I was very disgusted with the performance of the patterning, meaning
I wounded quite a few birds or I hit them so badly that all I could
do was breast them out. The first thing I tried was my skeet barrel, much
better improvement over the full choke I had been using and since I shoot
mostly over decoys, I wasn't worried about the possible loss of range.  This
I later learned was a misconception on my part, since steel holds a pattern
much tighter than lead the effect of changing chokes is reduced considerably.
  The greatest difference I found was the amount of lead on passing shots.
Outside of 50 yards I don't even consider shooting anymore unless I have in
goose loads (T,BB). At 40-50 yds. I lead just in front of the bird, and inside
of these ranges I aim from the bird's bill on back through it's neck. Your 
own leads may vary but they should be much less than what you are used to
with lead shot. IMO if the use of steel shot helps only a small percentage of
game, or non-game for that matter, the change is very worth it.


Rick Rasor