Steel shot for upland hunting

Z

zane Every

Well-known member
Any members using steel shot for grouse and woodcock? Or for shooting clays for that matter? If so have you seen any difference in the performance? I'm thinking it would be fine but curious what others thoughts on the subject might be. Maybe a silly question??
Thanks,
Zane
 
Can,t comment on woodcock or grouse but have heard several people talk about having to go to steel 6,s to get satisfactory performance shooting doves where required.
 
Although I still reload lead 7 1/2 for grouse and doodles on state land here in northern MN, I'm required to use non-toxic shot when hunting on Agassiz NWR. I got a deal on 20 gauge #7 (3/4 oz load), and they work just fine on late season grouse (refuge is only open for upland hunting after the firearms deer season). The cover is thick, and shots are 15-30 yards.

Joel
 
Not for grouse or woodcock, but we have to use steel for doves at some state sites. I like 2 3/4" steel #6 in a high brass duck load. I prefer the faster duck loads over the less expensive and slower #6 or #7 steel game loads. I also use these #6 shells loads to teal hunt.
 
Good morning, Zane~


A bit off-topic, but I have always used Kent Fasteel 3s (my favorite duck load) for Old Mister Longbeard in the Spring. It has never failed me (or the turkey for that matter).



All the best,


SJS

 
Zane,

I primarily use steel shot for just about everything I shoot. Probably half and half on prairie grouse and pheasants. Since some of the places we would hunt out west we have to use steel shot, I just found it easier to pretty much always use steel shot so I have been migrating more to steel shot and getting rid of my lead shot. 6s were a little light sometimes for the longer shots but they do great on early season sage grouse, prairie chickens, huns and sharptails. Kent makes some steel 5 shot that I REALLY REALLY REALLY like on grouse and pheasant out west. I'll buy me another case or two when I can find them back in stock. I use steel shot here on woodcock and quail because the chance to shoot woodducks are pretty high when out chasing quail and woodcock. I use 6 shot steel usually chasing quail and woodcock and woodducks.

I haven't been unhappy with the steel shot. It's not the steel's fault that some days I am a sucky shot [laugh]

Dani
 
"It's not the steel's fault that some days I am a sucky shot [laugh]" Hahaha, more of us should adopt that mantra Dani.
 


I have used steel shot for pheasant, and all upland bird hunting out west with no problem. Dani has already covered the reasons why.

What must be considered is the wind.

Wind = Good bird hunting, especially Sharptails.

Therefore choose steel shot size, and choke accordingly.


my 2 cents
VP
 
I have been shooting low brass steal 6's for grouse and woodcock here in the UP for years. I generally have a chance to jump wood ducks in the area so that is why I started. Never had any issues with ruffies. They are soft and a mean look can kill them .

Out west for sharptails and other prairie grouse I shoot kent teal steal. I don't know if they are 5's or 6's. given the choice I would use 5's now due to the windy days. Kill lots of pheasant with those loads as well.
 
I've been using mostly steel (some bismuth) for upland hunting (including woodcock research) since 2002 when I started toxicology projects at UConn. I use either a skeet or cylinder choke in my 12 or 20. Wish I could get factory spreader loads actually. No real difference in killing power, but I rarely take an upland shot over 30 yards. I shoot 7s early with the 20, especially the right barrel, and add 6s as the leaves come down and the shots get a bit longer. This year I had a place with more open shots and I used 7s in the right & 6s in the left barrel for grouse. Worked great and I shot more grouse than I have in a long time.

I also run the Trap Club at my university and I only use steel there too.

It patterns tighter than lead (or bismuth) and has a shorter shot string than either, so it's normally a hit or a clean miss.

I did just pick up a 1940 Hunter Arms "Hunter Special" 16 gauge and I'm contemplating reloading bismuth in that due the age. Had the chokes opened to IC and mod. Will pattern first then decide if I open them more and use steel.

Brian
 
Thanks Everyone for you input. Pretty much what I was thinking. Afterall, we have been shooting non-toxic shot for ducks for years.
I guess my biggest concern was how well the lighter shot might penatrate through conifers and brush. I think I will buy some and give it a go.

Thanks
Zane
 
Brian,

Way back... When I was a young lad.

The second double gun I used, was my late uncles Hunter Arms 16ga., about the same vintage as yours. That was when the 16ga. became my favorite gauge to use.

Had to give the gun back to my cousin, for her kids. They never used it, and gawd knows what happened to it as they moved to Cali.

I still have many high and low brass paper shells that were given to me when I used the gun. I always put a few low brass papers, in my hunting coat when I use the 1935, Model 12, 16ga. mod. for upland birds. The gun likes them, and the birds do not.

Nothing beats the smell of a fresh fired paper shotgun shell IMO.

May you enjoy many years with your "new", old timer.



Best regards
Vince
 
Thanks Vince,

I'm pretty excited to put it to use. The wood appears to have been replaced and it's gorgeous. Still has case-coloring and bright bores. As a guy from upstate NY originally I'm hoping to pick a few examples of the older side by sides made in NY. I have my Grandfather's Fox & Savage (but it's F & F) that I use for Sharpies and Chickens and it was made in Utica (right after Fox sold their stuff/name to Savage). Hoping for a fixer-upper Ithaca or LeFever in the future.

can't have enough guns...now we just need to be able to get ammo!

Take care,

Brian
 
Steel #7's work fine on rails (where they are required) so I start using them for woodcock, too. When I think I'll see mostly partridge, I've been going with the BOSS bismuth, and also tried some of their duck loads. I probably won't go all bismuth for ducks due to cost, but I don't take that many shots upland hunting, and 6 or 8 shells a day won't break the bank.

In steel, I've used 7/8 and 1 oz 20 gauge loads from Upland Fasteel, Winchester, Remington, and Fiochi, and they all kill birds if I do my part.
 
I've used steel shot for some time and I like a large size steel for wild roosters...#3 or even #2. I adhere to the old go up two shot sizes in steel to get the like performance of lead and since the steel pellets are very round; the pellet count of say #4 steel and #6 lead are nearly the same per ounce. Tom Roster's recommendations seem to follow those thoughts (see attached). That said, I actually prefer the new bismuth loads or the old Kent Tungsten Matrix loads for my non-toxic hunting.

https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/documents/TomRosterNontoxicShot.pdf
 
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