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From: matkowsk%tinton.ccur.com@RELAY.CS.NET
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Steel shot
Message-ID: <446@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>
Date: 28 Mar 91 13:03:54 GMT
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> pht@ohgua.ATT.COM (Phil True)
>
> ...Also, a modified choke for lead is 
> equivalent to a full with steel, or so some say.

Don't you have this backwards?!? Steel shoots a very tight pattern.
I've read several articles on it that have said basically if you shoot
a full choke for lead shot you should shoot modified for steel. Last
season I was shooting full choke steel and I must say it produced a
VERY tight pattern. Too tight for ducks. Being last year was the first
year I've ever shot steel, I wasn't doing very well with it. I had one
duck land in my decoys. I got set, aimed for the head, and took my shot
>from about 20 yards. I hit him but the shot was off a bit. I only managed
to get his beak. So here I am chasing this beakless duck who couldn't seem
to fly but nonetheless had quite an adrenylin rush and was easily outrunning
me in 3 feet of water. I only had two shots left, it was almost sundown, I
took another shot from about 10 feet, just as I fired, he turned slightly,
complete miss! I couldn't believe it! One shot left, I would've felt terrible
if he got away, so I made this count, and it did! I'm glad the kill shot
went to the head (where I aimed) because it basically removed it, and would
have wasted the drake if I had him anywhere else. Cleanest and tastiest
mallard I've ever had! Didn't have to remove a single pellet from the meat!

Moral of the story, unless your 'Sure Shot Mcgee' don't shoot anything
tighter than a modified choke for steel. It's just too tight for such small
game, at least in my experience. Although I'd be interested in hearing from
anyone who shoots full choke steel shot, and your thoughts about it (that
is, afterall, what this group is for :-) 

BTW, although you should leed less with steel, doesn't the shot get affected
a lot more by the wind? It would seem so in my limited field experience 
using it. 
 
> Another interesting aside:  There is an English manufacturer that has
> come up with some metal/plastic polymer that deforms like lead in the

I believe you are referring to tungsten shot. Yea, it's supposed to be better
than steel, carries a heavier wallop that is similar (although still lighter)
to lead. However, it makes steel shot seem cheap, and does have a few downfalls
in its own right, but I don't recall what they are. 

                                           *** Joe Matkowski ***

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    "Those willing to give up a little liberty for a little security
     deserve neither security nor liberty".   ------   Benjamin Franklin
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Of course I need a disclaimer, I LIKE my job !!!