what shot to use

[joeboleo1]

About to shoot shot from my smoothbore for the first time. I got hold of a little #6 shot so I can try it out. My quesion is what type of shot should be used in a smoothbore ---- steel, lead??? I wasn't sure what to use and didn't want to use anything that might harm the barrel. Also, not sure what this shot that I have is. Is there an easy way to tell if it is lead or steel or something? Probably won't be using shot very often, but want to give it a try on a clay bird or two to see how it goes. Thanks

 

[roundball]

About to shoot shot from my smoothbore for the first time. I got hold of a little #6 shot so I can try it out. My quesion is what type of shot should be used in a smoothbore ---- steel, lead??? I wasn't sure what to use and didn't want to use anything that might harm the barrel. Also, not sure what this shot that I have is. Is there an easy way to tell if it is lead or steel or something? Probably won't be using shot very often, but want to give it a try on a clay bird or two to see how it goes. Thanks

Lead shot is fine in a bare bore like its always been...but steel requires a special shot cup to protect the bore from being gouged...and limits the amount of choke you can squeeze them through if your ML has a choke...cylinder bore is fine of course.
Having to use a thick shot cup made for steel also reduces the size of the shot charge available in a particular gauge.
I've always had best success just using chilled or hard lead shot, copper plated lead, or nickel plated lead.
For skeet, you'd be much better off with larger volumes of smaller size lead shot normally used for skeet like #9s, or even 8's...6's would result in a much smaller pellet count.

The shot containers, bags, bottles should be labeled with what kind of shot it is...worst case, a magnet will attract steel pellets, and not lead.

 

[Lorne Johnson]

To follow up on Roundball's good advice:

For clay targets 7/8 ounce of 8's will give you as dense a pattern as 1 1/4 ounce of 6's. And, it won't beat you up the way a heavy load does. Helps prevent flinching (a lot), and if you have a double, getting on the second target much faster. 8's are fine for clays out to 30 or 35 yards, and that's a good rule-of-thumb range limit for a muzzle loader (and most of us garden variety shooters).

In the North East many clubs limit target shot to 7 1/2's or smaller.

 

[joeboleo1]

Thanks for the replies guys. Made me think --- guess I should also ask if anyone knows where you can purchase say a 5 pound bag of lead shot in #7 1/2 or 8? I have #6 and may as well buy a smallish bag if I can find one. TOTW sells 5 lb but #6 is their smallest.

 

[roundball]

I think MidwayUSA or Ballistic Products are a couple places that sell 10lb bottles

 

[joeboleo1]

Thanks RB. I will check their sites now.

 

[Leatherbark]

Use more shot volume than powder. Experiment with the smaller shot charges as more shot does not always make an even pattern. Your cylinder bore patterns will be sparse compared to a modern full choke so the best you can hope to achieve will be a consitant sparse and equally distributed shot pattern without "holes" (large areas where a bird/squirrel/rabbit could escape injury)...

And if you decide to hunt with it then you should find your maximum range (with me its about 30 yards for squirrels) Have patience and wait for the critter to come to you and you shouldnt have no problem.................Bob

 

[trent/OH]

Thanks for the replies guys. Made me think --- guess I should also ask if anyone knows where you can purchase say a 5 pound bag of lead shot in #7 1/2 or 8? I have #6 and may as well buy a smallish bag if I can find one. TOTW sells 5 lb but #6 is their smallest.

If you just want to timker with a few shots, you can cannibalize a few modern shotgun shells for the lead. You can keep it in a small glass jar, or a film canister, or something like an Altoids box. Perhaps someone else will chime in with makeshift shot measure ideas, other than just using your powder measure.

 

[joeboleo1]

Good option for a few shots to see how I like it. Thanks to all.