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Interesting Article On Britain's Move To Steel Shot

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oyeme

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
This article tells how the UK is moving faster than ever to steel shot for everything hunted. Is this the canary in the coal mine for the US hunters?

There was one statement made I did not understand because I have never bothered with steel shot.

It states, "Most agree with the following: that steel cannot be used through any barrel with more than Half (Modified) choke, as steel does not compress during its passage through the chokes; that the length of a steel-shot cartridge must tally exactly with the chamber length (e.g., a 2½" cartridge should not be used in a 3" chamber); that the gun must be in sound overall condition (and if there are any doubts, it should be checked by a qualified gunsmith); and, most importantly, that shooters must use the correct types of steel cartridges.

The shorter cartridge than chamber length issue with steel that this article mentions; is not one I have heard before. Doesn't make sense to me; but what do I know?

shootingsportsman.com

Britain Steels Itself for Change

The tide is turning against lead shot in the UK and forcing some awkward questions.
shootingsportsman.com shootingsportsman.com
 
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#3 ·
I don't understand this statement ( shell length needs to match chamber length) ? Of course it's not wise to shoot a
3" shell in a 2 3/4" chamber but Those of us here in the USA have been shooting shorter shells in longer chambered
guns , for years ! This article's writer could have made that statement in reverse ? There's a lot of Stupid stuff printed
these days ,IMHO !
 
#4 ·
Perhaps they are concerned with the opened 2 1/2" shell mentioned, in 3" chamber, would offer less of an easy entry into the chamber forcing cone with the steel shot?
An abundance of caution may or may not be proven wise by history.

I believe there are far more important issues out and about than either lead shot or wad construction, fwltw.
 
#6 ·
I would think many of those fine old English doubles (sxs) will be relegated to wall hangers. Many of the guns here in the U.S. were not steel friendly. I have a old Parker and Remington SxS that I would never put steel through.
 
#7 ·
Lots of people have been shooting thousands of 2 3/4 inch steel cartridges through 3 inch chambers for years. I haven't seen any negative reports on this.
Steel through a half choke as max seems to be a general consensus.
 
#8 ·
It will be difficult for American shooters to grasp the fact that the anti-lead shot campaign was largely instituted and promoted in the UK by the organisation which claims to be the principal national promoter of fieldsports (game shooting & deer stalking) - by name BASC. One of its main arguments being that "under EU jurisdiction" lead shot will be banned. Unfortunately the Gun Trade - and other fieldsport organisations - lamely fell in line with a programme devised by a previous chairman of BASC. Their subsequent endorsement of a move - totally, albeit not said openly - to non-toxic shot was explained as one that they would support....."ONLY until an affordable alternative to lead shot was available"- despite steel being the only option to meet that one point and almost entirely unsuitable for use in Original traditional/vintage British shotguns.
Of the disadvantages and undesirable side effects of using steel shot for game shooting here in the UK there has been no effective or adequately organised rebuttal. The "industry" - aka the gun trade and commercial driven game shooting have either just rolled over or buried their head in the sand ....unless they have undisclosed motive(s) for their acquiescence.?
Big commercial game shoots will have a different outlet for lead-shot game - food chain/incinerator/hole-in-the-ground. Needless to say considerable publicity on media sites has been drawn to these "malpractices" by the anti- field-sport factions. This only serves to sway public opinion (of the unknowing) toward their continuing attempts to abolish shooting sports on live game.
So where does game shooting go from here? Wild game bird populations in general are in widespread decline from the usual issues - primarily habitat loss and intensification in agriculture, although significant inroads on the legal means of predator control are an additional strain.
The main loser will be the low key traditionalist hunter gatherer.
The participants of the 400-500 bird day shoot will continue to turn up at a peg, kill as many birds that fly over him as he is capable of doing, walk off the last stand of the day.... and do it all again the next day, perhaps with different business associates.
Hmmm??... Now - where exactly, and for whom - do these sport shooting organisations, stand?
 
#9 ·
The issue is the UK's plan to ban lead shot. The author of the article seems to think that steel is the only alternative. I didn't read him mention the other non-toxic alternatives. It's almost as though the author is living 30 years or so ago when the US and Canada gradually began to require non-toxic shot which, in those days, meant steel (and poorly performing steel at that). Steel is much improved now. Moreover, steel is not the only non-toxic shot available. Surely everyone here knows that. I typically shoot bismuth when non-toxic shot is required except when I'm shooting flyers in a retriever field trial. Then I shoot what the retrieve club provides, which is steel, either 6 or 7 shot.
 
#10 ·
Technology will prevail when plastic wads are replaced , it's up to the ballistic engineers to help us make them work !
Non tox payloads are here to stay and with a little innovation and the help from sportsmen around the world , we are
on the right tract in keeping our sports alive . It's all the "other" components that have put a Clog in the wheel . What's
the holdup , I can only refer to Let's Go Brandon !!
 
#11 ·
Ravenanme said:
Technology will prevail when plastic wads are replaced , it's up to the ballistic engineers to help us make them work !
Non tox payloads are here to stay and with a little innovation and the help from sportsmen around the world , we are
on the right tract in keeping our sports alive . It's all the "other" components that have put a Clog in the wheel . What's
the holdup , I can only refer to Let's Go Brandon !!
Click to expand...
I refuse to shoot steel. When non toxic shot is required, I shoot one of the other approved non toxic shot types. There is no reason to require steel shot except in a few areas that have very heavy gunning & birds have a real possibility of ingesting spent shot. It's expensive but tungsten alloy & bismuth are light years ahead of steel shot! The CIP proof standards & guidelines have a lot of good information relating to shotgun barrels, pellet size, velocity & a bunch of other stuff you don't want to know. Unlike us, they have several levels of steel proof. If remember right, I think it starts with low velocity or standard steel proof then the levels go through high velocity steel to high performance steel. Don't quote me on that but that's the pattern. The level of proof specifies velocity, pellet size, pellet hardness & gauge / barrel size as they relate to pressure, barrel hardness & choke restriction. To simplify, I don't think anything is not considered! It is educational if nothing else
 
#15 ·
Britain is full of "anti-gun" folks. After gifting them our "sporting rifles" for "home-guard" protection in early WWII, the bastards OUTLAWED them and destroyed them as soon as the war was over!

This is an opportunity for them to "obsolete" many a fine old "BEST gun"! It's REALLY more of a disaster than realized at first glance.
 
#17 ·
The UK is an island making land very limited.
Most of the island is not owned by commoners.
They dont get along with the other European countries very well (Brexit)
Their current Prime Minster Boris Johnson was born in the USA.
Except for a very small percentage, most of UK'ers that Ive met or who have work for me still think they own the US and we are their subjects lol.
Following their lead on things is a bad idea. ( ex: note how well their automotive industry is doing . It failed and was sold to Indian or German companies or closed)
 
#18 ·
Break Wind said:
The UK is an island making land very limited.
Most of the island is not owned by commoners.
They dont get along with the other European countries very well (Brexit)
Their current Prime Minster Boris Johnson was born in the USA.
Except for a very small percentage, most of UK'ers that Ive met or who have work for me still think they own the US and we are their subjects lol.
Following their lead on things is a bad idea. ( ex: note how well their automotive industry is doing . It failed and was sold to Indian or German companies or closed)
Click to expand...
You just break-in' wind?
 
#19 ·
The eagerness with which folks over there embrace such nonsense boggles the mind. It just goes to show that people over there are getting the over bearing government they ask for.

You won't hear many US hunters supporting such a change. The fact is there is no need for non-lead shot. There is no data to support such a change.
 
#20 ·
Responding to the OP’s question; “Is this the canary in the coal mine for the US hunters?” I have to believe so. Komifornia began requiring Non-tox ammo only for all hunting/game two years ago. Sadly, as CA goes, so does the rest of the county eventually.
 
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