using subs with plastic wads

[Britsmoothy]

I wasn't going to reply here, but feel that it might help, and understand these are my opinions and experiences only.

I hunt waterfowl here on Lake Champlain, and use a sxs 20 ga. perc. shotgun. I has open chokes, and I have shot hundreds of steel shot loads through it, with no sign of bll. damage. I shoot 70 grs. 2fg. with equal measure of #2 steel, fiber wad over powder,( or pre-lubed felt wads), anfelt wads over shot. Within the range of 20-25 yds. over decoys, it is deadly, for me. It patterns fairly tight, and has a short shot string due to minimal distortion of the shot. It has been used with success in early season ducks, and late season divers.....minimal success on geese with careful shots, and willing to pass on longer distances. I feel no way under gunned, and find it most enjoyable......Gary

I am glad we are getting to some real world experience now :thumbsup:

I do not see how it would not work....close enough wise!

Brits

 

[vthunter52]

Brownbear,

I do not use a shot cup..I have had really good luck with the lubed felt wads, 2 over powder, 1 over shot. Also used the combo in a 12 ga. CVA smoothbore, I like the feel and handling qualitys of the 20 much better. I need to state again that I shoot open chokes., the loads being save in my gun!

About 25 years ago, I attended a steel shot shooting school put on by Rem. Arms....won't go into details of the loads since they were modern, but if allowed to would like to relate what I learned about shooting steel. In the past, waterfowl was killed be flying through the stretched out shot string , 18 ft. long in some instances. This was due to the deformation of the lead in the bll. Steel on the other hand does not deform, and it was found the the shot string measured only 20 inches, and was travelling at higher vel, due to the lighter wt.
This shot string would show uo as a mass, like gnats, and by the end of the seminar, we could actually track the shot. Learned to swing up from behind on the bird, and when the site picture showed the bead on the beak, shoot. Went from 1/10, to a constant 8/10 by end of class. Now, I realize that the BP does block some vision, but the sight picture remains the same. I found this to work for me, hope that it has helped you all.....Gary

 

[vthunter52]

I would like to note, that I have just started experimenting with the fiber wads, and have not hunted with that load yet....Gary

 

[Britsmoothy]

It has always been a pet hate of mine hearing folk going on about a minimum amount of energy to penertrate the vitals blah blah blah.
My experience is of most instant kills are gained through head and neck strikes and with most birds small shot be it light or heavy is ample in achieving that.
Why concentrate on the body? Its asking alot more! Go for the weaker parts!
Thats what I does anyhow. Adjust the range to suit the load and quarry and stop getting yer panties all knotted over it :thumbsup:

B.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

Besides steel and other hard shot that most would not use without some form of adequate bore protection, there are the bore and thin-choke friendly but fairly expensive options of bismuth, NiceShot, and ITX Original-10. These are used as more-or-less direct substitutes for lead shot in the loads we would otherwise have used. Most of us that use them only have to do so for waterfowl as we can still use lead for other game.

Regards,
Joel

 

[theoldredneck]

Thanks for taking the time to give hands on personal experience. As said before I am not required to use steel for what I shoot. The way things are going it is possible we could all see lead become a thing of the past. It may be time for me to build a smooth bore just for steel shot and learn for myself the truth about what it will or will not do where I shoot. Sounds like it is working for you with no problems. Thanks again.

 

[vthunter52]

I would like to make a reply to the question of minimal power, and Blah,blah, blah......I stated that I start my swing on the bird, coming up from behind, and swinging through until ]I see the sight picture of the head and bill, at that point I slap the trigger, and most shot are in the head, neck and upper torso....all quick kills, unsure or marginal shots aren't even attempted....has nothing to do with marginal power, and body hits....Gary