LETTERS

STEEL SHOT AND CLUMPING

I remember some of the topics covered when Gough Thomas wrote for Shooting Times. I met him once at a game fair in Crieff 50 years ago when I was 19. I showed him a spreader device I had invented and tested — 48in wide by 28in high pattern at eight yards, using No 8 shot, from a full-choked AYA Yeoman with 28in barrels. He said he could do with those cartridges when after woodcock in rough ground.

One of his articles included the dangerous effect of ‘balled’ shot, which was caused by the lead being fused together by the