The Patterning Debate....

[caseysmith14]

Ok, so RJ and I have a disagreement and want to straighten it out....

When it comes to shooting lead/steel shot... What produces a tighter pattern?

I say shooting steel leads to a tighter pattern.

RJ says lead leads to a tighter pattern.


Whos right???????????????????????????

[Bassman25]

i say steel shot...

Long-range choke delivers tight, well-placed shot patterns when shooting between 45-55 yards
• Ideal for ducks, geese and long-range pheasants
• Full Choke Tube puts 65-75% of pellets in 30" circle at 40 yards
• When used with steel shot, patterns are slightly tighter

[War Eagle1]

I think lead and it has more knock down power

[kstatebass]

I agree with RJ, and steels worthless.

[jbassman87]

Lead by far. I have seen the test before. Can't recall where. Just one of those useless pieces of info stuck in the head!!

[Bassman25]

I really do think steel has a tighter pattern, but we all know that lead is stronger and has way more knock down power and range....steel is total $hit

[caseysmith14]

http://www.choketube.com/patterning.html


"When shooting steel shot always shoot a more open choke than you would with lead because steel patterns are tighter, at the same distance, than lead shot."


Hence; Steel shoots tighter

[Beetle]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bassman25 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i say steel shot...

Long-range choke delivers tight, well-placed shot patterns when shooting between 45-55 yards
• Ideal for ducks, geese and long-range pheasants
• Full Choke Tube puts 65-75% of pellets in 30" circle at 40 yards
• When used with steel shot, patterns are slightly tighter
</TD></TR></TABLE>That depends. Based on what? You are shooting like rounds, say 3" mags, 4 shot, same gun, full choke, only difference being steel vs. lead? Then lead will get the nod from me. Steel shot patterns very poorly through full choked guns or full choke tubes. Hence the reason for shooting steel shot through a mod. choke when hunting waterfowl. Have read and always been told to shoot steel through a modified choke to get "full choke" performance.


Modified by beetle at 10:05 PM 8/30/2007

[jbassman87]

Are you sure it's steel. I thought it came out of the barrel with a spin on it. Something about not being able to comform as it comes out of the choke.

[Beetle]

Im not going to say Im sure. I have read that becaues steel does not "form" it fly's truer resulting in better patterns. I guess I can't truly say if it's true or not I've never tested it. I DO KNOW THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT I'VE READ, I KNOW THAT LEAD PERFORMS BETTER DOWN RANGE AND KILLS BETTER LESS PELLETS OR NOT!!!!!!! It really isn't a matter of what patterns better as much as what has better down range performce on game. LEAD!LEAD!LEAD! That's why when guys go down to old mexico, or other south of the boarder locations for ducks they shoot lead. Seeing how we can't waterfowl hunt hear in the U.S. with steel it's really not worth arguing about.

[jbassman87]

Hear pretty soon the option to shoot or fish with lead might just be a memory! I don't hunt waterfowl so I never shoot steel. Most of My hunting is european hunts at Lonepine.

[TimS]

If shooting factory chokes, most will use imp. or mod. for steel. Full choke performance is poor. I am a firm believer in the wad-restricting aftermarket chokes (Wad Wizard, Patternmaster) and that is all that I will ever shoot with steel. Great performance with lead turkey loads as well. You won't find a better pattern with any other chokes when it comes to steel. I have some pictures somewhere if I can find them, there is no comparison with factory chokes.

[caseysmith14]

It was just a simple debate... What shoots a tighter pattern? We aren't arguing over what should be used..... No chit that lead preforms better than steel, we all know that

I'm quite confident that in general, steel shoots a tighter pattern. Take a gun with a modified choke; only variable is the shell (being lead or steel). The lead shot will produce a "larger" patterned area than the steel shot, hence steel shoots "tighter".


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by beetle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Have read and always been told to shoot steel through a modified choke to get "full choke" performance.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Whereas shooting lead though a modifed choke truely shoots with "modified choke" performance right?

Steel (full choke performance) &gt; Lead (modified performance)

Steel shoots a tighter pattern

[PII Magnum]

I like a 3/4 football head jig that made of lead

[R.D.]

Dont know.........Dont care to know.........all I do is put shells in and put hole in the air anyway...........Cant miss the air

[bigfishingstud]

so whats the right answer

[caseysmith14]

Steel shoots the tighter pattern Not saying its a better load but just saying it's ballistic properties lead to a tighter distribution of pellets.

[dukhntr]

we'll shoot a factory full choke with steel #4's and facotry full with lead #4, and see which is tighter. O' wait, we can't shoot steel through a factory full choke, because it has crummy inconsistant patterns that may damage the barrel.

That is from the Benelli owners manual.

[Beetle]

You guys need to kiss and make up!

[dukhntr]

No need to make up, It's all good. We're going to whack some dove in the morning.