Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Upland Birds => Topic started by: chukarguy on August 05, 2010, 01:41:42 PM
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New regs require steel shot on my hunting grounds. I have never used steel and have know idea what to buy. I usually hunt with a 20 gauge for chukars. So what size steel shot should I use. Thanks for the help
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Im not sure about shooting steel for chukar but I used to hunt hunter farms and we shot 5's and 6's at the pheasants there and that was more then enough. But thats the lame release sight birds. I would use the same size steel as lead. :dunno:
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Rule of thumb is 2 sizes larger for steel than what you would use in lead. Probably size 3 or 4's for chukar.
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I wouldn't go any smaller then 4's. We shoot 2's and 3's for ducks so I don't think you can go wrong with 4-6... :twocents:
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Took my 20ga to MT last year and used #5 steel for the first shot and backed it with #4 Blackclouds worked just fine for huns sharptails and pheasants.
AWS
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Steel usually patterns a little tighter than lead too so you might want to go with a more open choke if you can.
As mentioned be sure the barrel can handle steel shot, many older guns can't. Then you'd have to use some of the super expensive non toxic shot.
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Id start looking for some deals on bismuth or hevi shot or some of the others ones that are similar. I hate steel.
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#5 or #6 would probably be fine. Steel has come a long ways from it's inception. It has picked up a lot of speed, so in close you will have a shorter lead. I would pattern the type you want to shoot as you may have to open your choke up some. If you have the money you can pick up Heavy Shot and it will perform and shoot similar if not better than your lead.
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#4 is what i would use.
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I wouldn't use a 20ga. with steel for chukars. Larger shot size with steel = poor pattern density in a 20ga and lots of cripples, as chukars can be tough birds, especially at longer ranges. I'd go up to a 16ga or 12ga in steel, or reload your 20ga. with ITX shot in #6. If you got a 16ga, you would also have the perfect all around upland gun, especially in areas you can use lead.
