Steel for clays

[ChrisPackham]

The grounds I shoot don't ban steel and now the price is compelling, I'm sure steel kills barrels eventually and the noise is unpleasant but can be lived with for the few clays I shoot per year (once a fortnight ish).  

Any comments good or bad about steel for clays?

The main downside is plastic wads which I don't like using.

 

[Paul120]

Basically what you"ve said.  A while ago when cart prices started to jump I tried some at DTL. I shot 2 lines with 24g 7s steel and 2 with 24g  7 lead.  Not only the lead much more pleasant to shoot the best I did wihh steel was a 21 x 25 where I did 50x 50 with a couple of second barrels with lead. 

Made my mind up then that steel like for like were no replacement. 

To mske up the difference in performance maybe 28g 5s steel would  match lead but I'm not sure how pleasamt it would be to shoot 100 + in a session. And I don't think the prices for the larger load are much different to 24g lead.

 

[ChrisPackham]

Basically what you"ve said.  A while ago when cart prices started to jump I tried some at DTL. I shot 2 lines with 24g 7s steel and 2 with 24g  7 lead.  Not only the lead much more pleasant to shoot the best I did wihh steel was a 21 x 25 where I did 50x 50 with a couple of second barrels with lead. 

Made my mind up then that steel like for like were no replacement. 

To mske up the difference in performance maybe 28g 5s steel would  match lead but I'm not sure how pleasamt it would be to shoot 100 + in a session. And I don't think the prices for the larger load are much different to 24g lead.

Cool, thanks 

 

[FreeShot]

PP - see this:

Testing Steel brands for Fitasc this Weekend

and my review of Hull Pro Steel:

Hull Pro Steel 28g #7

I've and still am shooting steel on regular basis and the more I use it the better it gets (must admit it takes time to let go tho).

To sum it up - look at #7 (2.5mm) steel as a #8 (2.2mm) lead - energy and pellet number wise. 

 

[Salopian]

In my opinion Steel (soft iron) shot should be banned as it is harmful to the environment due to rust burns to foliage and trees as well as making it more difficult and expensive to harvest soft wood trees such as Pine.

If cartridge companies REALLY cared about the customer , Farmers and the environment , they would develop a biodegradable poly wad . The technology and materials are readily available but they just cannot be bothered . They highlight cost , but have no issues with constantly increasing cartridge costs because they know they have a captive customer.

 

[Doctor Lecter]

being hypothetical for a moment  ,  I wonder what would happen  if the majority of us shooters all bought one brand of cartridge for 12 months ?    price drop ,  manufacturers going out of business   ? what do you think ? 

 

[Salopian]

Dr.

 it would be trhe perfect scenario , but never likely to happen.

The only hope we have is for a manufacturer to offer a decent budget cartridge such as a plentiful supply Nationwide of Jocker or Rio , a brand with good reviews and readily available .

If we the majority then bought them , you watch the others squeal and hastily price match.

 

[ChrisPackham]

Dr.

 it would be trhe perfect scenario , but never likely to happen.

The only hope we have is for a manufacturer to offer a decent budget cartridge such as a plentiful supply Nationwide of Jocker or Rio , a brand with good reviews and readily available .

If we the majority then bought them , you watch the others squeal and hastily price match.

It does feel that there is something of a cartel in existence..

 

[JDL]

I'm sure steel kills barrels eventually

I’m not sure about this.

Eventually can also be a few hundred years, so you might be right in the end 

Have to shoot steel for 99% of the time, still haven’t had any issues, nor witnessed someone else having problems.

Even old Husqvarna side by sides seem to be able to withstand shooting lots of standard pressure steel carts.

Off course I prefer lead, but as everyone has to use steel it’s a level playing field.

 

[Skeet UK]

Steel won't kill barrels;

1) The shot is contained in a plastic cup, so it won't touch the barrel walls. 

2) It isn't 'steel', it's soft iron and is not as hard as chrome lined barrels, or unchromed barrels.

 

[westley]

PP,

IF you are shooting clays so infrequently,  WHY bother with steel  ?

 

[Skeetfreak]

If cartridge companies REALLY cared about the customer , Farmers and the environment , they would develop a biodegradable poly wad . The technology and materials are readily available but they just cannot be bothered . They highlight cost

There is ONE on the market that i am aware of Armusa Green Shoot - link:-  http://greenshootcartridges.com/

£214 a thousand - http://www.purbeckshootingsupplies.com/clayshells.html 

 

[ChrisPackham]

PP,

IF you are shooting clays so infrequently,  WHY bother with steel  ?

Just pissed off with cartridge companies having everyone over..

 

[westley]

Just pissed off with cartridge companies having everyone over..

In that case THIS may be of interest,  I have just received the Shooting and Fishing Trade magazine and the first story I read is, and I quote,  "Steel Shot supply shock". Briefly it would appear that the Chinese Government, in an effort to reduce pollution, has closed all of the steel shot producing plants ( I was unaware that they grew it in the first place ?). This has created a massive shortage of steel shot, which............................wait for it.........................."Inevitably leads to increases in price" . So although the supply, or lack of, may come as a  'Shock',  the inevitability does NOT  !  Maybe the sales of lead cartridges have fallen, in favour of steel, after all the Chinese were the alleged cause of the lead shortage which resulted in massive price increases to start with.

 

[Doctor Lecter]

getting fed up being ripped off constantly ,   could be time for a change of hobby .

 

[westley]

Shooters do seem to be getting a bit of a 'raw deal' at present.

 

[ChrisPackham]

Ahaaaa ... however today having tried various budget cartridges I discovered noble 28g 7.5 for 169 per thousand and they seem to suit me and my clay gun well, the only downside is plastic wads (sorry Polar Bears - blame Gamebore)

 

[Salopian]

Interesting post from Westley / Shooting & Fishing Trade magazine !

Steve Dales,  former owner of Gamebore , now Clay & Game Reloading Supplies pioneered British steel shot making using a company based in Derbyshire .Basically the production consisted of cutting Iron wire into very short pieces and ' barrelling ' in a rotunda machine until pieces were round balls.

So how did China steal (pardon the pun) the process? Can we not ban Steel shot on the grounds of extortion?

 

[westley]

It was Mr. Dales that was interviewed, "Owner of the 'Steel Shot Company', a leading supplier of steel shot to Europe" said " There is a supply glitch and it's unfortunate that it has started right at the start of the Game Season, however, we do have supply and we are fulfilling orders, albeit with a limited supply at the moment".