Steel: the hard facts
The topic of using steel shot in shotgun cartridges has been talked about for more than 20 years. In fact, ever since the use of lead shot was banned for use over wetlands, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and areas where wildfowl are found and hunted. Precise restrictions vary between countries but the essence is that, to reduce the chances of wildfowl ingesting lead shot, the material was banned for such use.
Wildfowlers were left largely to get on with things. With the US having a similar lead ban for wildfowl, much early development came from there. Early steel shot loads drew considerable criticism, with increased levels of wounding/crippling of birds being recorded. This gave steel shot a bad start in shooters’ perceptions and those problems first encountered still crop up in discussions when the effectiveness of steel is discussed.
“Steel pellets typically need to be two sizes larger than lead pellets for a similar striking energy”
Things gradually improved as cartridge makers
