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Post by featherduster on Feb 23, 2010 16:33:17 GMT -5
For those of us that waterfowl hunt we know that the modern steel shot shells on the market today tend to hold tighter patterns then lead shot shells. It is recommended that when shooting steel use a wider choke such as instead of using a full choke use a modified or cylinder bore choke.
Has anybody ever attempted to pattern steel shot on a turkey target with a full choke.Was the pattern the same as a turkey choke with lead shot of equal size.
Now I know that some chokes are not intended for steel.
JUST CURIOUS.
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Post by huxbux on Feb 23, 2010 21:10:56 GMT -5
I haven't tried, but I wouldn't use steel shot on turkey.
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Post by featherduster on Feb 24, 2010 8:09:39 GMT -5
Why not use steel shot.
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Post by gobblerstopper on Feb 24, 2010 9:08:27 GMT -5
I saw a bird shot with steel shot on accident one day. Buddy of mine was shooting Nitro's and when he pulled them out of his glove box, there were some steel shot in there also.
Don't think it really hurt the bird. He was 35 yards walking away and just kind of flinched when he shot.
I wouldn't suggest hunting turkey with steel, but if you did, what size shot would you use?
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Post by buster on Feb 24, 2010 10:06:32 GMT -5
Well, you can only use 4, 5, 6 and 7 1/2 for turkey by law. I would also avoid steel if at all possible, due to the reduced foot pounds of steel vs. lead or an HD alternative.
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Post by huxbux on Feb 24, 2010 14:42:09 GMT -5
What buster said. Less weight and less retained energy.
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Post by featherduster on Feb 24, 2010 20:22:03 GMT -5
OOOOOOOOOK I won't argue that the weight factor of lead shot offers more punch or knockdown power. However the speed and hardness of steel offers cutting power.
If you can stone kill a 10-12 pound goose at 40 yards why couldn't you kill a head shot turkey at the same distance.
I am guessing that nobody has tried it. As soon as the weather breaks I will attempt the shots and 35-45 yards to test the pattern on steel vs lead (same size shot). Then I will shoot a magazine of equal pages and see what the penetration is like.
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Post by huxbux on Feb 24, 2010 21:37:51 GMT -5
OOOOOOOOOK I won't argue that the weight factor of lead shot offers more punch or knockdown power. However the speed and hardness of steel offers cutting power. If you can stone kill a 10-12 pound goose at 40 yards why couldn't you kill a head shot turkey at the same distance. I am guessing that nobody has tried it. As soon as the weather breaks I will attempt the shots and 35-45 yards to test the pattern on steel vs lead (same size shot). Then I will shoot a magazine of equal pages and see what the penetration is like. Turkeys are a lot tougher than geese. |
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Post by gobblerstopper on Feb 25, 2010 8:07:48 GMT -5
I'm guessing you could pick up the cheapest turkey specific load or even a heavy load of #5's and be money ahead and have better patterns. Why would you want to shoot lead?
Or how about this....If there were no regulations against it, would you shoot lead or steel at the geese? Based on performance only.
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Post by buster on Feb 25, 2010 8:30:27 GMT -5
Lead, hands down!
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Post by HighCotton on Feb 25, 2010 9:19:58 GMT -5
This does not fully compare to your scenario fdstr but you might find it interesting - at least I did. Last month before an upland hunt, one of the guys wanted to shoot some clays just to warm up. Half way through he said he wanted to shoot some #4 steel and compare to #4 lead he had with him. He had read somewhere that the lead should average 135 pellets and the steel around 190 pellets so he figured he should have at least as good a shot with the steel if not better. He was shooting an 870 with a modified choke and was a pretty good shot. He and I were very surprised that he did not bust half the clays with steel as with lead. Or to say it better, he busted twice as many clays with #4 lead. I know this is very unscientific and he used the same choke and we did not pattern on a "fixed" turkey target. I came away convinced on lead as I had wondered about steel vs. lead.
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Post by gobblerstopper on Feb 25, 2010 9:55:01 GMT -5
I was watching a hunting show the other day and they were shooting ducks oversea's somewhere using lead shot. The guys were talking about having to adjust their lead due to the speed difference between the two loads. I would think that would have a factor in your buddy busting more clays with lead.
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Post by HighCotton on Feb 25, 2010 11:36:29 GMT -5
I was watching a hunting show the other day and they were shooting ducks oversea's somewhere using lead shot. The guys were talking about having to adjust their lead due to the speed difference between the two loads. I would think that would have a factor in your buddy busting more clays with lead. Yeah, I was kind of wondering about that, too. Good point. I'm not saying I would forever be against steel shot. Heck, I think featherduster brought up an interesting topic. I just know for me right now, with the season coming on quick, I'll stick to lead until I've learned and experimented a bit more. |
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Post by throbak on Feb 25, 2010 12:01:47 GMT -5
the thing about steel shot is they are hard on your teeth ;D
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Post by featherduster on Feb 25, 2010 21:39:54 GMT -5
The idea for using steel shot came to me during the late goose season when my hunting partner asked me what size chock I was using. I thought I was using a modified chock until I pulled it out and found it was cylinder bore. I was clean killing geese at approx.35-40 yards with 3 1/2 inch 2's that travel at 1550 feet per second.
I started hunting in the lead 60's and then in the 70's when steel shot came along I had the hardest time adjusting to the cheap steel shot that was available back then.Fast forward to today these steel loads can now be purchased with better quality shot that travels at speeds up to 1700 feet per second.
I have plucked way to many geese in my life time and without a doubt they are a lot tougher then any turkey I have ever cleaned. Also as far as the inability to break clay pigeons with steel
the questions that need to be asked is what size choke was being used and how fast was that steel compared to the lead loads that shooter was used to using.
Like I said at the start of this topic I am just curious to know the difference.
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