The use of lead shot in a smoothbore

[Patch@Ball]

I bought a friends Pedersoli trade gun. Do I need to only use soft lead shot or can I use hard lead shot? Thanks!

 

[Archer 756]

YES do not use any steel shoot

 

[Patch@Ball]

YES do not use any steel shoot

Can I use lead with antimony in it. What would be the best or good brand of lead shot to use?

 

[biliff]

So called "hard" lead shot is just fine. In case you're really bored: Understanding Lead Shot Quality: Part 2

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

do not use any steel shoot

Curious as to why this is a bad idea.

Never mind, requires a modern wad or well constructed homebrew style and it's is apparently beyond the average smoothbore shooter to figure that out.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I bought a friends Pedersoli trade gun. Do I need to only use soft lead shot or can I use hard lead shot? Thanks!

Yes you can use hard shot; chilled shot...with a shot cup and buffer, you can even use steel shot (though I wouldn't if the barrel is choked).

 

[Archer 756]

The barrels need to be made for steel shoot, Pedersoli barrel are not design for steel shoot

 

[hanshi]

Any lead shot is fine for ML shotguns. The barrels are not built for steel shot and damage can/will occur. Pedersoli does make some barrels with a "chromed" bore and they can handle steel shot. I had a Pedersoli dbl and asked them about steel shot. They responded back to me that my gun had chrome lined bores and could safely handle steel shot. Other than that, NO.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

The barrels need to be made for steel shoot, Pedersoli barrel are not design for steel shoot

Shoots fine out of mine...I don't see any damage or gouging in the barrel. I do not have choked barrels though...I use mine for water fowl hunting and I use Steel shot.

I don't see this as a hard "yes" or "no"...more of a personal choice.

 

[bud in pa]

Patchball If you need harder shot, other than for water fowl, you might try nickel plated shot. it's harder then chilled shot, but wont damage your bore.

 

[oldwood]

Used copper plated lead shot in my Bess , Pedersoli SXS 's, and Charlisville musket w/o a problem..oldwood

 

[Historian]

Any lead shot, chilled, magnum, copper plated or nickle plated will not hurt your trade gun period! Neither will bismuth/tin mix, or standard ITX, and Nice Shot. I shoot bismuth/tin in all my smooth bores. Good shooting.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Sir. The fact Pedersoli chrome plate their shotgun barrel is correct.
The assumption that it is to facilitate the use of steel iron shot is wrong!
It is to aid cleaning and protection from corrosion only.
It is safe to use steel or iron shot in their muzzleloaders when an interface between barrel wall and shot are used just the same as any commercially loaded ammunition use today!
I have used a card wrap in the past. Some success and no damage.

The choice is the individual's as to whether or not to use a protective layer betwixt the barrel and steel shot. I personally dont see it doing much harm but please dont assume wrongly regarding the chrome plating in Pedersoli barrels. It is very thin!
Pedersoli have been asked many times about steel shot and safety because bizarrely many believe that using it will raise pressures. Probably born due to the availability of current high performance ammunition for modern breach loaders and warnings of their use in older and weaker shotguns!

 

[Griz44Mag]

Seems to me that the same volume of steel shot as lead shot would actually reduce the pressure. Steel is lighter than lead.
Steel is also much more abrasive. In my guns, on the rare occasion I use shot, I always use a compression wadded shot cup finger lubed with a small dab of mink. That way, I don't have to worry about it for any reason.

 

[Feltwad]

If we are talking about sxs sporting guns on repros with steel barrels the steel shot would be ok if use has a standard load . It is totally different on original guns with Damascus barrel which are too soft a material and steel caused a lot of harm , When the plastic wad became used in modern guns it was tried in original barrels . It and steel shot ruined many Damascus barrels steel scored the bore and plastic from the wads using black powder was burnt onto the bore wall with constant use caused barrel ripple this I found in many restorations that came my way . plastic and black powder are a poor combination.
Feltwad

 

[Griz44Mag]

If we are talking about sxs sporting guns on repros with steel barrels the steel shot would be ok if use has a standard load . It is totally different on original guns with Damascus barrel which are too soft a material and steel caused a lot of harm , When the plastic wad became used in modern guns it was tried in original barrels . It and steel shot ruined many Damascus barrels steel scored the bore and plastic from the wads using black powder was burnt onto the bore wall with constant use caused barrel ripple this I found in many restorations that came my way . plastic and black powder are a poor combination.
Feltwad

That's why I use a light greasing of mink on the plastic wad cups. I have seen no deposits at all in mine. However, that said, I have shot less than 50 of such rounds out of the Bess.
Powder - over powder card, shot cup, shot then over shot card. All cards are lubed with mink.

 

[ApprenticeBuilder]

Powder - over powder card, shot cup, shot then over shot card. All cards are lubed with mink.

This as described above would eliminate issues with plastic shot cups leaving deposits behind, and if you've an aversion to the plastic then heavy construction paper will serve as a fine shot cup in it's own right.