Steel shot and upland birds

[Fast14riot]

With CA non-lead laws now covering all game, I haven't shot steel shot for dove before. Wondering if anyone has a favorite choke diameter for steel and dove hunting? I normally shot a light modified (+0.015") or modified (+0.020") from a 28" barrel, 12g wingmaster, which has worked very well for me. I have a non-Remington barrel and use Browning Invector chokes. Would an IC choke for steel be similar to LM with lead? Skeet2 maybe? I dont think I will be able to pattern different chokes before the season begins.

 

[PatMiles]

You might want to post your query over on trapshooters.com in the hunting section.
I would sure make an effort to put it all on a patterning board if at all possible.

 

[MrMajestic]

Agreed, nothing replaces the pattern board. Good luck with your hunt, Dove hunting is one of my favorites..

 

[mongo chicago]

I stay away from steel shot because it SUCKS, I don't care what anyone else says. The only plus is it is the cheapest of the non-toxic ammo. I love the BISMUTH ammo. It is the best of the non-toxic shot and you shoot it just like lead. Weighs almost the same and performs the same. It is the only shot that is safe to shoot in older guns that were made (and choked) before the advent of steel. The only drawback is it is a bit more costly.

 

[jackson1]

Like Mongo, I am a fan of Bismuth shot, as I have a love affair with older shotguns. For clay target shooting I reload and use newer guns, but for hunting, I can afford to buy factory shells, due to the lower amount of shots fired. I believe you would be well served to pattern test your shells.

 

[Knotwild]

I run a place where duck hunting is the main focus. My guides like using Improved Modified with the larger shot. The biggest hurdle will be learning to shoot steel. It's lethal range is much less than lead, but more importantly, it has a higher initial velocity, which causes almost everyone to have to reevaluate their lead.

We had one guest that was lethal in the dove field with lead, but couldn't hit a duck for squat because he lead it too far.

 

[sdbob]

I have been shooting steel since the '80s. Put your modified choke in the gun and forget about it.

 

[mongo chicago]

I have been shooting steel since the '80s. Put your modified choke in the gun and forget about it.

Why spend money to get a new gun just to change chokes to use steel. I loved hunting with my 1897 Winchester with a full choke. Steel is a no no. My hunting buddies also use older (pre steel) guns with fixed chokes. Newer is not always better.

 

[Fast14riot]

Why spend money to get a new gun just to change chokes to use steel. I loved hunting with my 1897 Winchester with a full choke. Steel is a no no. My hunting buddies also use older (pre steel) guns with fixed chokes. Newer is not always better.

I shoot a 1960's wingmaster that originally had a 30" fixed full choke, I replaced the barrel with an inexpensive imported barrel with replaceable chokes and 28" with vent rib, and it has served me well for the past several years. It would have cost the same as a new 870 express to get a new wingmaster barrel. I still have the original barrel, too, so the gun can stay complete if I ever want to part with it. I'm just limited to 2-3/4" shells, but since the only upland or bird hunting I ever really do is dove, I'm fine with it.

Really hope I can get out to pattern it before the season starts, but will use my Skeet choke to start otherwise.

 

[dolek]

#7 steel and Improved modified works well . Your pattern board will tell you the story .Shot/choke combo is what it's all about.

 

[varget204]

You need a more open choke w/ steel shot,Modified is usually the go to choke,i shoot 20 gauges,for doves,the 3/4 oz # 7 steel loads work good.Best way to find out,pattern some out of your shotgun

 

[KY_Windage]

The last time I did a pattern test of #7 steel vs. 7.5 lead the steel produced a slight LARGER pattern at 20 yards. It was also much more even spread.

Just don't bite down on any steel pellets.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

And don't expect the Wally world cheap steel to be consistent shot to shot.

 

[Dale264]

I shoot the super cheap Wally Word Winchester Super X Steel #7 out of my 12 ga for dove. I run an IC choke if they are over decoys and modified if they are out there a little further. The IC acts more like a Mod with lead and the Mod acts more like an IM. If youre a high volume dove shooter i'd stick with the steel. If youre made of money go with bismuth as it acts more like lead than steel.

 

[Stepsjframe]

I go up at least 1 size with steel since it doesn’t carry as much energy. In steel I use #2. I actually use tungsten or some form of “hevi” shot for public. The cost of shells for how much shooting I do is such a small portion of the trip I don’t mind spending a little more for shells.

 

[AWS]

I bought a case of Win 20ga steel target loads for my skeet gun(Rem 870 pump)I could tell the difference on the skeet field between lead 9's and the steel 7's. I use them for doves. Over the years when I was shooting a steel safe shotgun in the uplands I used steel 4's for pheasants(state land required nontox), I bought a case of Kent 12ga upland steel 5's for Chukar, huns and quail, they worked fine also. For waterfowl I shot steel 3's and 4's. We were required to shoot steel in MN on WPA's in the late 1970's I never felt handicapped when steel was introduced all we could buy were Federal 4"s back then, killed ducks just fine.

Now I shoot just old sxs's so I shoot ITX or Bismuth but 7/8 oz of 6's kill just about all my ducks and a few geese but everything is over decoys. For high volume shooting like doves I bought a steel safe 20ga sxs and shoot the Win target steel 7's