Chilled shot

[JackAubrey]

Having been looking for shot for my sxs muzzleloading shotgun I happened upon a source of "chilled shot".My shotgun cannot handle steel shot,lead shot only.What is chilled shot exactly and will it score my barrels as would steel?Best regards,J.A.

 

[roundball]

Chilled shot, a.k.a. hard shot, a.k.a. magnum shot, is simply lead shot with a small % of antimony added to make it a little harder to resist pellet deformation from rubbing the bore walls.

100% pure lead shot, like is found in cheap promotional dove loads, is so soft it deforms easily when making it's trip down the bore, affecting pattern uniformity.

Chilled shot is what's used in good quality shotgun shells, it's what is used for reloading trap and skeet shells, etc...doesn't harm smoothbores at all...it's made for use in smoothbores / shotguns

 

[Rebel]

You can safely use chilled shot, plated lead shot, Bismuth, and a couple of other types with no problem. If your gun has cylinder bore barrels like mine, you can safely use steel shot as long as you use the special hard plastic steel shotcups with it. I have shot a lot of it in my double, and no signs of nore wear.

 

[Wes/Tex]

If finding chilled shot ever becomes a problem for you, there's a trick for hardening soft shot or balls. Pre-heat your oven to 400 and set a cookie sheet with the shot lying on it in the oven and let it heat about half an hour...longer for balls. Hold the cookie sheet with oven mitts and let the shot roll off into cool water. Basically, it hardens the shot in a similar method to quenching steel in water. Just be careful not to let the splash get away from you. You can reverse the process and soften hard lead by doing the same but turning off the oven and venting the door slightly and allowing the shot or balls to cool to room temp. Simple fix in needed. :hatsoff:

 

[JackAubrey]

Gentlemen,Thank you so much for your replies,this has cleared up much confusion!I am happy I can safely use this in my shotgun.Yes, my Navy Arms 12 guauge SxS is a cylinder bore.I like the idea of the plastic shot cups for steel.I was told never shoot steel in it so migratory fowl have been safe around me.No more,says I!Thanks again and best regards to all.Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours,J.A.

 

[Rebel]

Jack, my double barrel is also a Navy Arms. I called them and asked about using steel shot in it before i tried it. They said with the cylinder bore it wouldn't hurt a thing as long as i used the Heavy plastic steel shotcups. I have fired hundreds of steel loads through it over the years, and absolutely no sign of bore wear.

 

[JackAubrey]

Having never used shot cups which would you recommend?Do they leave plastic fouling in the barrel?Best regards,J.A.

 

[Rebel]

I have been using Multi Metal shot cups that i get from Ballistic Products. The hard plastic cups don't seem to leave much plastic in my bores. I put an overpowder wad over the powder, then the shotcup, so the wad may help scrape out any plastic left behind. My normal load for ducks and Canada geese is 95 gr Pyrodex RS, overshot wad, 3" shotcup, 1 1/4 oz of #1 steel, and an overshot card wad. Hope this helps. Have fun.