As the spotlight focuses on lead shot and potential health impacts many shooters in the UK are wondering if steel shot is a viable alternative. This article reveals what you should know before buying and shooting steel shot cartridges this game season.
Earlier this year rural and shooting associations joined together to call for a phase out of lead shot within five years. These associations were not alone when calling for lead free alternatives to be used when taking live quarry. Waitrose has also stopped stocking game shot with lead.
Currently the lead free alternatives you can find on gun shops’ shelves are tungsten, bismuth and steel cartridges. Steel is the cheapest option of the three and has been popular with wildfowlers since lead ammunition was banned over wetlands in England in 1999.
However, the use of steel shot can be confusing. Can you shoot steel through your usual game gun and what is the difference between standard and high performance steel cartridges? Hopefully this article will clear up any questions you have when it comes to steel shot.
What is the Difference Between Standard and High Performance?
Standard Steel cartridges have been designed by manufacturers in association with proof authorities. They must have a cup wad to protect the barrel, shot sizes can be no larger than 4, and they cannot exceed the normal pressure limits of nitro proved guns.
High Performance cartridges use a different propellant to achieve higher pressures which in turn generate higher velocities.
What Steel Shot Cartridges Can I Use?
The first thing you need to determine is what type of cartridges you can use in your gun. Check the proof marks on your barrels.
- All guns that have been nitro proofed after 1954 will be able to handle standard steel cartridges (the British Proof Authority does not give guidance on pre-1954 marks and recommends the re-proof of such guns). Obviously your gun should be in good order before shooting any cartridges through it,
- If they have ‘STEEL SHOT’ and/or the fleur de lys proof marks you can use high performance steel shot,
- Steel cartridges should not be used in damascus and twist barrelled guns. You should look for alternative cartridges, such as bismuth or tungsten, in these cases.
What Shot Size Should I Use?
When shooting steel shot you should increase your shot size by at least two sizes. If you usually shoot number 6 shot in lead, you should go up to number 4 shot in steel.
The tighter pattern produced by steel will compensate for the reduction in the total number of shot in the cartridge. You do not need to increase the load weight.
What Choke Should I Use?
The general consensus is that steel shot patterns tighter than lead. Half choke becomes more like full choke when using steel shot. Due to this you should consider opening up the choke on your shotgun. However this should be tested for your individual gun and cartridge of choice using a pattern plate (this is a good idea whenever changing cartridges, no matter what shot is used). A gun with fixed chokes will need them opened up by a gunsmith.
It is recommended that no more than half choke should be used with steel cartridges. There were trials carried out in 1991 (The Assessment of the Tolerance of Shotgun Chokes to Steel Shot – An Initial Study, Allsop, RMCS, May 1991) using standard steel cartridges with light, 24 gram, loads and 3/4 chokes. The trial demonstrated that a light walled game gun of contemporary manufacture showed no damage after firing 1,000 rounds through tight chokes. However, there have also been cases in the field where light walled guns have suffered slight bulging at the choke neck. The risk of bulging would increase with a larger shot size, heavier load and tighter chokes. Old guns would be even more vulnerable. It is due to this that it is recommended to err on the side of caution and use nothing greater than half choke.
Shooting With Steel Shot
Before shooting any live game you should be confident that your gun and cartridge combination produce the best possible results. You should look to pattern plate your chosen gun and cartridge combination to ensure that there are no major gaps in the pattern. Most clay grounds can help you with this. Traditional steel pattern plates should be avoided due to the ricochet risk with steel shot.
Spending some time shooting clays before going into the field is also advised. You should have absolute confidence that your equipment can consistently produce clean kills.
