Chilled VS magnum shot

2026 Views 21 Replies 14 Participants Last post by TexasTon, Feb 15, 2006

Matijevich

Discussion Starter · Jan 9, 2006

:?: Are there significant differences in pattern/range, etc?
I know the hardened shot has a little antimony in it & is a few percent lighter. Theoretically, it should pattern more uniformly, but is one really any better than the other at shooting birds or clay?
I'm seeing shot prices in this area in the $26 range for a 25 LB bag. That seems a lot higher than other posts on this forum indicate. Am I looking in the wrong places? (gun shops/bass pro)

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Case

· #2 · Jan 9, 2006

Matijevich said:
Am I looking in the wrong places? (gun shops/bass pro)

If you're looking in mom and pop gun shops and especially Bass Pro you are.

Bass Pro is a large chain with volume buying power and there's simply no excuse for the ridiculous prices it charges for shot, which I've heard can be $30 a bag or more. Those people are scum as far as I'm concerned and I wouldn't buy anything from them if they were the last store on earth.

Unless you live in an area with at least several shotgun-type gun ranges, there's no real incentive for a store to carry much shot -- or any reloading components at economical bulk prices.

You just have to search around and get the best deal you can find. Mailorder shot, of course, is out of the question owing to the weight and shipping cost.

I buy shot by the ton for about $16 a bag from the gun club at the Remington munitions plant in Lonoke, AR. It's a 340-mile roundtrip but still well worth it, since there's virtually nothing available anywhere near me.

As for the magnum vs. chilled, I can't tell any difference at all -- even in a .410. The only reason I get No. 9 magnum is because it's only a quarter a bag more than chilled from my source.

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driller

· #3 · Jan 9, 2006

I can think of few places that would be WORSE than Bass Pro to buy shot. OUTRAGEOUS pricing !

Silver Pigeon III

· #4 · Jan 9, 2006

Chilled shot is more than adequate for skeet, 16yd and doubles trap, and the majority of my sporting clays shooting. Magnum shot will pattern better than chilled but in the smaller shot sizes used for clay sports it really doesn't seem to be an advantage until yardages are really increased, (handicap trap, long SC presentations 40-50 yds+) and could be a slight disadvantage in close up shooting. If the price difference is negligible I would use the magnum shot, but don't spend alot extra unless you feel you need it.

DisinterestedThirdParty

· #5 · Jan 9, 2006

The GanderM stores in SE Michigan sell shot for about $15 for chilled, about $20 for magnum.
Cabelas seems to carry only magnum for $20/bag.
Both seem to be close on other components as well.

I learned very quickly that Bass Pro is NOT the place to buy reloading stuff. Their prices are obscene, no polite way to put it.

Which is why I spend a lot more money at Gander and Cabelas than I ever spend at Bass Pro. Real shame, as I'm even more into fishing than I am shooting.

EyeMissum

· #6 · Jan 9, 2006

I use chilled shot in everything except the .410, mag shot for it. But thats just me.

wwb

· #7 · Jan 9, 2006

Talk to the other reloaders where you shoot (They're easy to spot... they're the ones with their butts in the air and their head stuck down into the hull barrels). Find out where they buy their reloading supplies; possibly even organize a group purchase and get a better price on a ton.

As to the hard/soft shot question..... The only time I've noticed any difference is on the LONG birds with 7-1/2 shot. But, when we buy a ton, it's only two bits a bag more for hard shot, so that's what we get.

parshal

· #8 · Jan 9, 2006

My pattern testing showed no difference in patterns when comparing chilled, magnum or nickel plated (washed) shot. I tested from 16 yards to 50 yards with various chokes and velocities, too.

EyeMissum

· #9 · Jan 9, 2006

parshal, even in the .410?

parshal

· #10 · Jan 9, 2006

I shouldn't comment on the .410. I don't shoot it.

wwb

· #11 · Jan 9, 2006

parshal said:
.... I don't shoot it.....

Sissy probably wants to hang on to his sanity. Come on over to the "dark side"...... you'll be happy..... we promise.

Think of the tons of money you'll save reloading with the miniscule amounts of powder and shot you'll use. There is the occasional fistfight over an empty hull, though; but the bruises heal pretty quick.

parshal

· #12 · Jan 9, 2006

I thought I was doing that with my 28!

Matijevich

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 10, 2006

Thanks for the responses & the advice

Boofie

· #14 · Jan 10, 2006

In the 410, 3 inch, I have tried chilled shot, magnum(hard) shot, and copper plated shot. The hard shot was noticeably better than the chilled shot giving more uniform and tighter patterns. The copper plated hard shot was noticeably better than the hard shot, much better. The patterns are more uniform and tighter. Keeping the pressure below 10,000 LUP also made a great difference in the 3 inch 410. With the low pressure and copper shot, my old Citori gives very uniform and true modified patterns and very uniform and tight full patterns.

In 20 *****, the use of hard shot and low pressure also increased the tightness and uniformity of the patterns in what I consider my best 20 *****. Not as dramatic as the 410 3, but worth,to me, the extra cost of the copper shot.

I had a pet 12 ***** load with 1 ounce of copper shot and a low pressure of around 6500 lup that woudl gove 80% patterns that were almost symmetrical. When I am able to do some more reloading, I am going to work on a nickel plated hard shot 1 ounce load with a pressure of 6000 lup, an Undertaker turkey choke, and see how close I can come to a 100% pattern :shock:

I am also going to try some low pressure 3 inch 410 loads with the BP Stretch wad, and 5/8 ounce of nickel shot.

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AlwaysLearning

· #15 · Jan 10, 2006

I have started looking at shot and it appears besides chilled and magnum there are coatings on each? Is there an advantage to graphite coded shot? I think I saw wax coated somewhere also. I had reason to cut open a Remington Gun Club shell I and I do not notice a 'graphite' coating. The shot is very shiny and 'clean'.

Thanks.

EyeMissum

· #16 · Jan 10, 2006

wwb Posted:
Talk to the other reloaders where you shoot (They're easy to spot... they're the ones with their butts in the air and their head stuck down into the hull barrels).

Have you been to my skeet range? I'll have you know I don't stick my butt up in the air. I just crawl around on my hands an knees in the mud like a hog rooting for an acorn. :lol: An if I need to get whats in the barrels out, I just turn them over, first. :lol: :lol:

FarmerDick

· #17 · Jan 10, 2006

All commercial shot is graphited, with the exception of reclaimed shot which can or can not be. The shiny shot is graphited and polished. Shot here in the North West at Connie's is $14 in 1/2 ton lots. NorthWest Magnum shot Richard ^o^

driller

· #18 · Jan 11, 2006

I once bought a ton of shot at the bargin price of $6 a bag(about 30 years ago). It came from a sporting goods store that was going out of business.

When I opened the first bag---SURPRISE!!!!! It was ALL nickled shot!!!! NO markings on the bags to indicate what was in them, except the shot size.

Bobshouse

· #19 · Jan 11, 2006

driller said:
I once bought a ton of shot at the bargin price of $6 a bag(about 30 years ago). It came from a sporting goods store that was going out of business.

When I opened the first bag---SURPRISE!!!!! It was ALL nickled shot!!!! NO markings on the bags to indicate what was in them, except the shot size.

Wow, bummer! You probably couldn't take it back for a refund either since they were going out of business! Oh, well, another case of live and learn! :shock:

Bob

driller

· #20 · Jan 11, 2006

YEAH, It was a shame I couldnt return the shot and get lead instead. :lol:

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