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From: scott@bierstadt.scd.ucar.edu (Larry Scott)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: steel shot
Message-ID: <506@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>
Date: 6 Apr 91 12:53:16 GMT
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>it does not deform like lead does.  Now, not all the lead shot gets   
>deformed, and most of the deformities are simply indentations on the 
>pellet from the other shot, rather than becoming elliptical or    
>something.  Anyway, since the lead isn't (necessarily) round any more,
>it tends to fly in an arc, rather than a straight line.  Ever shoot a 
>slingshot with a pebble? -- Same thing.

Agreed!

>An aside to steel shot vs. lead shot patterns.  Since the steel doesn't
>deform, it tends to produce more back-pressure.  So, if you have a lot
>(too much) powder, the pattern goes to hell, and spreads out more than
>lead would with the same load.  Also, a modified choke for lead is 
>equivalent to a full with steel, or so some say.

However, it depends on the individual gun. My buddy and I patterned
our guns using 3" steel BB loads. His Wingmaster, with an Imp/Cyl
choke tube in, percentaged out to just barely under a Full choke
pattern! In order to get a true Modified choke percentage he had to
special order a Cyl choke tube.  While my Citori, with Modified tubes
in, barely percentaged out to what would be "Imp/Mod". In order to get
good killing power on geese, I had to order an Imp/Mod tube to bump it
up to Full choke percentage.

An added plus to patterning your shotgun..... While doing this, we
found that my Citori consistently shot 14 - 16 inches high of the
point of aim! No matter which one of us shot it! While his 870 shot
right on for both of us.  No darn wonder I missed all those easy shots
last year! :*> I had a gunsmith correct for this and now I'm concerned
about finding a viable excuse for next year!!

I LOVE this group! Let's keep it going!

Larry and Hershey (Choc Lab)