132
ring bulge can continue to fire steel shot. It is a cosmetic change,
and not related to safety or the risk of exploding barrels.
For shooters with interchangeable, removable, chokes, the
solution is to use a more open choke when shooting such
steel shot, as when shooting waterfowl or “high” pheasants. For
shooters with gun barrels (single or double) having “fixed” full
and extra full chokes, the choke, if necessary, can be relieved
readily by a gunsmith to a more open choke. The shooting of
steel shot of diameter smaller than US #4 (< 3.5 mm) does not
cause concerns when fired through tight chokes. The same
caveat about shooting large steel shot through fixed choke
barrels also applies to large Hevi-Shot pellets, which are also
much harder than lead shot.
This concern about ring bulges does not apply to Tungsten
Matrix or Bismuth-tin shot, both of which perform similar to lead
shot during firing and passage through the barrel.
Do lead shot substitutes
pattern like lead shot?
The lead-free shot, Tungsten matrix and Bismuth-tin, have
ballistic properties and densities similar to lead shot. Both types
are fired from the barrels at approximately the same velocity
as lead shot, and in the same shot containers. Both shot types
respond to barrel choking as lead shot, and have similar shot
string lengths. Manufacturers give steel shot similar muzzle
velocities as lead shot, so there is no perceptible difference
to shooters. Steel shot, by virtue of their spherical shape and
hardness, do not contribute as many fliers (mis-shaped or
deformed pellets) to the fringes of shot patterns, and so add
more shot to the main killing region of the patterns. Steel shot
strings are slightly shorter than lead shot strings. Steel shot
cartridges produce slightly tighter patterns than lead shot with
a given barrel choke, so do not need to be fired through barrels
with much choking.
Can my gun be used with
non-toxic shot cartridges?
Any gun that can fire lead shot cartridges safely can also fire
non-toxic shot cartridges safely, provided that they are the same
length, and of an equivalent shot weight. Thus Tungsten Matrix
shot cartridges or Bismuth-tin cartridges canbeused confidently
in any European gun with any choke constriction. One would
not fire 2.75 inch lead shot cartridges in a gun proved for 2.5 inch
cartridges, or 3.0 inch lead shot cartridges inguns proved for 2.75
inch cartridges simply because they were not made and proved
to handle these larger cartridges. The same considerations apply
to the use of Tungsten Matrix and Bismuth-tin shot cartridges.
The only possible concern about the use of steel shot pertains
to the choke region of the barrel (as addressed in the previous
points). Any UK-made gun can shoot steel shot safely provided
the cartridge lengthmatches the chamber length, and provided
that the shot sizes are consistent for use with a given choke
boring. The cartridge makers have made enormous progress in
the development of more progressively-burning gunpowders
to make their steel shot cartridges compatible for use in older
guns. Shooters are always advised to ensure that the cartridges,
whether lead shot or non-toxic shot, are of the same size as the
chambers of their guns. The European Proof Commission will
add a special proof mark (a Fleur de Lys) mark on the actions and
barrels of guns to indicate that they have been proved safe for
magnum-size steel shot loads.
Can non-toxic shot be used
with biodegradable wads?
Tungsten Matrix cartridges and Bismuth-tin cartridges are
made with shot contained in degradable fibre wads for use
in areas where plastic wads are not allowed, whether on
wetland or upland sites. Steel shot requires containment in
a hard wad that is released to the environment. However, the
UK company, Gamebore, has begun to make a biodegradable
wool felt wad that protects the shotgun barrel, and provides
an environmentally-friendly material for shooting steel shot in
sensitive areas.
Is ricochet a problem with
lead-free ammunition?
All types of shot and bullets can ricochet (i.e. deflect) from a
hard surface such as water, rocks, or the surface of tree trunks,
if they hit the surface at an acute angle. Shot made from soft
lead, Tungsten Matrix and Bismuth-tin may break up on direct
contact with rocks. Steel shot will bounce off hard surfaces,
and is not so prone to fracture. Bullets made from pure copper
or gilding metal can ricochet as readily as lead core bullets,
especially if they have a pointed meplat (i.e. spitzer points). It
is the responsibility of shooters to be aware of the backdrop to
Vernon G. Thomas, Niels Kanstrup & Carl Gremse