A bolt from the blue

Reading the letters to the Editor, steel shot seems to have become a topic of debate so visceral in tone that it rivals the rumpus over whether cream or jam goes first on a scone. There are a few simple truths we should all agree on. First, lead shot is going to become history. Secondly, steel shot is not as good as lead shot for shotgun ammunition. Thirdly, steel does humanely kill birds — wildfowlers would have given up shooting years ago if it didn’t.

However, steel is not without its problems, particularly if you shoot an older gun or one with barrels engineered in anything other than ubiquitous 12- or 20-bore. While steel is relatively cheap, it is an unforgiving and rigid material. It lacks the flexibility and density of lead so requires more