I played with the steel shot/lead fishing weights payload swap idea of yours. Tried 1/4" sling shot steel ( sports store ) with a #8 2.75" factory load ( Federal ). 17 pellets stack, didn't pattern bad at 30-35 yards. Recoil was mild for a buckshot type load. Do not have a powder coating setup just yet. So I ran them naked. Finally found a use for #8 bird loads. Thanks for all that you do Wade.
I have done the same and I have found out that since it’s a little lighter you need to melt the shell closed for a crimp …. The little bit extra time it takes for it to open up increases FPS by about 300 … I punched clean through a fire extinguisher with the 1/4 …. I have made some 3/8 also and need to test them still
Before powder coating , I sprayed steel bbs with a few times so I could shoot a bunch in my rifled pellet guns to protect the barrels , in lead projectiles , it keeps it from leading the barrels . In air soft it makes the bbs heavier and thicker for a better seal .
Just use a standard shot-cup wad and then buy ball bearing that have the proper diameter to fit in the wads. I've done this with for nearly 10 years with my 20ga rounds and my .410 rounds. I dont remember the exact diameter of ball bearing i used in my 12ga grey wads, but my 410 rounds have the standard claybuster shot wads with (x3) 3/8 chromium ball bearings
wash your hands dont beleve all the lead hipe it ant gun hunt scam most privet land and indan land still use lead dont let happen in your state i am leo ret gave up hunting shooting over this
You posed the question '' Why powder coat steel'' and really never answered it. Other than to make it look good, and it does, what is the advantage of powder coating it? The Only thing I can think of would be rust resistance. Seems it would be a bit rough on barrels as there is NO ability to flatten out where it contacts the barrel like lead buckshot does. I'd sure want a thick wad to protect the barrel.
I know this is an old film but you need a very tough full length wad for steel shot ,especially with pellets that big. Buffer will actually help your steel patterns too
I want to think you for all ur information on reloading I definitely like the video with the fishing weights I mult fishing sinker myself that info really helps out alot I would like to come meet you ur not far from where I live
Hi Wade. Love your videos. Steel shot has been the only realistic legal option in New Zealand for waterfowl for 10 years now. New powder has increased the speed but the range is really 30 yards whereas lead was easily 40 yards. That is a huge decrease. There are lots of youtube vids on the range of steel but not on the best size for ducks or geese or turkeys and virtually none on the penetration or best effective shot size for steel. Can you help here? Lead is still permitted for upland game and in pine forests. Sawmillers do not want to cut steel pellets in timber milling. We have had hyposonic, pellets that a cube shaped, even federal flying saucer shaped pellets. What is the best?
hello, I hope can answer this question. I know the post you put is more than 4 years old I just came by it yesterday! I have read that there is possibly a problem shooting "steel shot" may damage your shotgun ! is this true or do you feel "powder coating" protects the barrel? thanks and really enjoy your down to earth way!
Mr. Wade Rush. I have purchased the New 5th edition Lyman manual. My question comes from the wads section. Have you tried mylar wrap for steel shot to tighten up the loads? Does this help? I see the mylar wrap comes in different thicknesses. 004, .007, .010. Which In your opinion works best? And have you done testing on this? Thank you for the great videos.
Uncle used to apply steel powder to the paint he painted his aluminum heads with back in the dirt track days. It was enough for a magnet to stick. Told em the enamel tractor implement paint must be thick. So this idea in theory would work
@@timhallas4275 that’s strange, I’ve had uncoated steel shot that’s sat around for 15 years without any rust. The barrel of your shotgun needs to be hard enough - all modern shotguns are made to handle steel, but never use if in grandad’s old shotty.
Why powdercoal? Make them Slicker? Regular lead is graphite tumbled. Steel is so hard they won't bind when shot. With steel you would use a wad anyway, or you coat them for shooting without a wad? I use pellet sizes that stack evenly, down the wad. 3 ontop of 3, or 4 ontop of 4 and buffered. Made my open choked 25 yds gun into a 40 yds gun with buckshot. With a interchangeable choke much further
I'm new to reloading I don't see what powder coating would do From what I understand is the weight of steel changes the ballistics and the hardness blows out your choke
That all depends on your choke Tom... You never fire steel shot thru any choke that isn't rated for steel. Usually no choke smaller than a Mod. you don't want to be squeezing the shot too much as steel won't compress like lead will.
Or always run em with a shot cup to save the barrel. I’ve been converting #7 birdshot to ball bearing rounds. Single ball .6oz. load .625 (5/8) diameter w/wadding. Double ball 1.2oz. Load .625 (5/8) ball bearings w/no wadding. 0000 buck .375 (3/8) ball bearings. 0 buck .3125 (5/16) ball bearings. 3 buck .250 (1/4) ball bearings. I’ve found all these available on Amazon and can convert these all for around $.50 a round total ($.25 for #7 round & $.25 for the load).
what would happen if the weight of the shot is less than recommended for the powder load while using steel, i understand why the weight shouldn't be over but I'm reloading factory loaded super x shells
I have done the same . I loaded them with bird shot in any empty space . I melted the shell to crimp it and I think since it has to fight the crimp, pressure and velocity is incredible .
A possible advantage to steel: won't deform like lead. So, patterns should be more consistent?? Also, I'd guess that steel shot would like slightly less choke ... the choke might bounce the steel around rather than funnel it??? Just guesses, eh.
Most of the basic principles were figured. check out in the early days of steel shot for waterfowl . Greatly Oversimplified : Yes , harder steel shot can potentially give very tight patterns . To maintain sorta similar patterns , one size more open choke . For energy levels vaguely sorta kinda close to lead pellets , use steel two sizes larger than lead , ie steel BB to substitute-ish for lead #4 . To actually match downrange energy , should be three sizes . ie steel BB to replace lead #6 . But that would make pellet counts way smaller , and patterns too thin . Again greatly oversimplified , but the two choices are put up with reduced performance and reduced range with somewhat affordable steel , or spend $$$ on exotic non- toxics .
It looks like pellets are above the wad and definitely scraping down the barrel. I would at least want a mylar wrap on those. One or two shots might not cause damage but you are inviting a gouge in the barrel even with powder coat. Steel shot needs to be completely in the wad. It's in the Status of Steel Manual in the "words part" of it that doesn't get read on any reloading manual by most people.
A lot of folks asked me if it was possible to powder coat steel just as another layer of protection for your barrel and choke! Some older shotguns need a little more protection from the steel shot. Most modern shotguns have chrome lined barrels and are more resistant to damage from steel shot. Wade
Interesting concept. Should be effective at 50 meters... After that, steel shot putters out. Love the status of steel manual. It has high velocity loads, unlike my Lyman 5th-- which is disappointing. I'm looking to use the BPI 3" 1-1/8 ounce steel load for waterfowl this year. 43 grains Steel powder with LBC-43 wad-- 1605 FPS.
Well , it will * Pattern * out to 50yds . But the patterns aren't the limiting factor , terminal effectiveness is . Weight of the .31 pellets is only 30gr . Sectional density is way down , velocity drops way faster , penetration is significantly less . So instead of 50-55yd capabilities limited by pattern , think 30-35yd , limited by energy . Two generations of waterfowl hunters think that Steel Shot is " Normal " , and anyone who remembers lead #2's is an old fart .
Hey Wade, have you ever considered powder coating smaller game load pellets just to see how it performs? Say 3,4,5 or 6’s. I’d be curious to know if it would be worth the effort.
Steel and other alloys are hard and need no coating. If you use lead, you should get Hard lead, Copper plated or the best Nickel plated. Buffer is much beter than coating for long range
Good Morning Sir, I run a steel load for ducks, that calls for 36 grain of alliant steel, this is a 1 1/8 load using the BP ranger elite wad, in a 3 inch fio hull with the 616. I am running low on steel powder but have 7 or so pounds of blue dot. Can i sub the blue dot for the steel in this load and what would you suggest for charge? Thanks again for everything you do. Dustin
Lead is a terrible poison and we hunters should not be peppering it all over our beautiful outdoors. Tungsten alloys can be used, but tungsten on it’s own will tear up a barrel. Steel works fine. It deforms less so patterns better. It is less dense so you should use larger sized shot than the equivalent lead. If you shoot 2 3/4 shoot 3, if you shoot 3, shoot 3.5. Once we get used to it, it’ll be fine for everything. Since it’s light, the velocity for same size lead shot will be faster. It looses power faster, but that can be compensated by using bigger shot. If you shoot #4 lead, shoot #2 steel and you’ll do just fine.
Quick question good sir, why do you powder coat the steel bearings.? Is it because you don't want corrosion to have effect or is it to protect the barrel?
it's not necessary at all Steven. The only reason that I tried it is that my subs asked me if powder coating steel were possible. it was just an experiment!
Just wondering why you need to powdercoat the steel. Is to stop rusting? Here in NZ we are lead free over water but in the forest lead is used as if it ends up in a tree it won't wreck a saw blade when it is milled.
Yes , as exotic non- toxics go , Bismuth is a semi- affordable decent option . But back in the day , it took a lot of R&D to get the right balance to be malleable enough , but not crumble upon firing . So you probably won't be casting at home using store brand antacids . As HawkKnives points out above , people hunting in California will have to develop a different mental calculus . For rifles and pistols , and shotguns up to geese , non toxics at least as effective as lead exists , but is $ to $$$ . Buckshot on purpose , sucks with steel , and HeaviShot is $$$ . If wished to hunt big game with a 12ga , rather than buckshot on purpose , the non- toxic slug choices are better than buckshot alternatives . If you compare the total expenditures for a week long hunting trip , then even $10 or more per shot is small percentage of overall costs . But it will be an era where " good " ammunition is only used for actual shots on game , and no practice or recreational shooting of hunting ammo .
hey Joey... Same data for 2.75 inch only difference is pellet count; 28 pellets of the .25 inch #3 pellets and 12 pellets of the 5/16th inch #0 sized pellets.
Hey David... it's just 1 more layer of protection! I have several subs from Cally that asked me if it were possible to powder coat the steel pellets. Wade
@@BubbaRountreeOutdoors thank you for the reply,, since I new reloading and see that you also using sling shot steel balls off of ebay and I live in California. what size of the steel sling shot off of ebay would you recommended for #4 and 00 lead size and weight , Thank you for any info-David I am Using lyman 5th pg.357 and do you know any substations for powder SR 4756?
Powder coat just adds an extra layer of protection for your barrel and choke. The main reason was I was asked if it were possible to powder coat larger steel ball by several subs in Cally. And if I could work up some loads for the larger steel ball.
" Steel Rated " chokes , if you look closely , are intended for pellets up to a certain diameter . Implied is commonly used for waterfowl , some tighter specialty choke tubes will explicitly state use only up to certain size . Worst case , chokes will become a consumable commodity . Off the top of my head , an extended choke tube , that doesn't start constricting until beyond the barrel , hopefully wouldn't damage the threaded portion of the barrel .
Pewter or tin would still work with all your lead equipment, just like lead. When I buy a new mold I do my first casting in tin so when handling, or showing them we aren't exposed to lead.
New to this shot gun reloading. But why do you need to powder coat the steel balls? I can see powder coating lead balls so it doesn't lead up your barrel, Curious on the reason to powder coating the steel ones? Thanks.
no... it's not necessary to PC steel! I was asked if it could be done so I attempted it for the folks that asked if it were possible. Thanks for stopping by! Wade
@@BubbaRountreeOutdoors looking for a good load for #4 buck and longshot and hs6 all in 2-3/4 shell size. Could I use steel shot in place of lead shot?
@@woodknack1 yes, you can use the steel shot in place of lead but the weight of the steel is lighter and may not cycle an autoloader but will work great in all other shotguns!
Lead is just damn horrible for the environment... if it wasn't so damned cheap! The Russians had It right, steel core ammo is cheaper than lead and hell it worked amazing! Sad we have to rediscover some things that we had a few years before it was banned. Crazy world crazy times.
Hey folks. I live out here in the communist state of californis. Since there are no steel slugs, I've been pondering copper sabot or steel ball as a viable option for slug hunting with .410. Has anyone attempted this with success? I can't seem to find any videos showing if this was ever attempted. Thank you
Fantastic work .TT for geese is almost the size of 4 b and you need it to take down geese at distances you could with BB in lead .Bismuth and tungsten copper ,tungsten steel ,copper is crazy expensive .At the same time you are forced to shoot cylinder bore with those big steel balls .Many old shotguns have been made obsolete because of these idiotic leftists .Lead has been used for hundreds of years for everything from drinking water to sewage to just about everything .From before roman times !When you go to cylinder bore .flight control wads are a must full length cups are important
Steel shot of any size for deer, coyotes, or whatever critter??? SMH. Might as well powder-coat a Nerf football. TSS 4s, 3s, 2s, BBs, Ts, #4 buck and #1 buck all day everyday for coyotes and larger game where lead is banned. 1oz TSS Ts have 23 pellets, better penetration than 0 buck, patterns tighter than any buckshot, and can be loaded for $3 per shell. Why so expensive? Cause its worth it. Killed a nice GA buck in front of beagles this year with Ts at 45 yards. All passed through except 1 recovered pellet, perfectly round. TSS Ts can be an absolutely devastating replacement for lead 0 or 00 buck for about 2x the cost.
quit hunt over the non lead law some old freands need to hunt for food they have copper amo in gun in pocket is lead this has Ben pushed by ante hunting crowd behind this dont let this happen in your state remember a just man dose not obey unjust laws
This could also come in handy when you can’t find lead or plated buckshot to reload like right now for instance.
Posibillities are just endless with shotguns i love it
I played with the steel shot/lead fishing weights payload swap idea of yours.
Tried 1/4" sling shot steel ( sports store ) with a #8 2.75" factory load ( Federal ).
17 pellets stack, didn't pattern bad at 30-35 yards. Recoil was mild for a buckshot type load. Do not have a powder coating setup just yet. So I ran them naked.
Finally found a use for #8 bird loads.
Thanks for all that you do Wade.
I have done the same and I have found out that since it’s a little lighter you need to melt the shell closed for a crimp …. The little bit extra time it takes for it to open up increases FPS by about 300 … I punched clean through a fire extinguisher with the 1/4 …. I have made some 3/8 also and need to test them still
Threw .25" slingshot ammo in target loads after dumping out the lead shot for giggles and it was alright. Had about 17 pellets I believe.
I just did the same you can fit 20 6mm SS in a birdshot load from Winchester it’s lighter only .63 on the scale instead of the full 1oz lead
Before powder coating , I sprayed steel bbs with a few times so I could shoot a bunch in my rifled pellet guns to protect the barrels , in lead projectiles , it keeps it from leading the barrels . In air soft it makes the bbs heavier and thicker for a better seal .
As a person living in Tax-a-fornia thanks for your work.
Soon as I can I am moving to a free state. God Bless.
Depleted uranium is still legal for hunting in California. Smoke them if you have them.
Just use a standard shot-cup wad and then buy ball bearing that have the proper diameter to fit in the wads. I've done this with for nearly 10 years with my 20ga rounds and my .410 rounds. I dont remember the exact diameter of ball bearing i used in my 12ga grey wads, but my 410 rounds have the standard claybuster shot wads with (x3) 3/8 chromium ball bearings
Thank you! -California sportsmen
My pleasure brother...
Thanks love your reloading and range testing
thank you for making this video, i am a teenager and i dont want lead exposure when reloading 12 gauge (for my grandfathers shotgun)
my pleasure buddy!! Wade
wash your hands dont beleve all the lead hipe it ant gun hunt scam most privet land and indan land still use lead dont let happen in your state i am leo ret gave up hunting shooting over this
Hey Wade, can you use any 2 3/4" shells for anything? If you need any hit me up. I have a couple of 30 gallon trashcans of them.
J
Haw do you think the data would change if you did not powder coat them?
good video Wade lookin at the way things are going it would not suprise me to see a ban put on fishing lead
You posed the question '' Why powder coat steel'' and really never answered it. Other than to make it look good, and it does, what is the advantage of powder coating it? The Only thing I can think of would be rust resistance. Seems it would be a bit rough on barrels as there is NO ability to flatten out where it contacts the barrel like lead buckshot does. I'd sure want a thick wad to protect the barrel.
that's all it is... It helps with resistance. And several folks asked if it was even possible to powder coat steel pellets. Wade
I love the education Budda!
Keeping hunters up on things is appreciated very much
Excellent info as usual. Thanks. Oh, You look good Rocking those Tactical Crocks.
Buy all that you can or it will go up in price when demand comes this is my advice from what I have learned
Reason 711 why not to live in California. Great video. I need to start reloading. Your videos will definitely help.
Christos Anesti from CA. The real question is can we order reloading components...
Hey Wade. First, thanks for all the great content. I am very new to reloading but I’m stoked. Do you ever do seminars?
I know this is an old film but you need a very tough full length wad for steel shot ,especially with pellets that big.
Buffer will actually help your steel patterns too
I bought some black bbs for my BB gun. But I have been shooting them in my sxs 12 gauge.
Frangible bulits is a great idea for controlafornia
I want to think you for all ur information on reloading I definitely like the video with the fishing weights I mult fishing sinker myself that info really helps out alot I would like to come meet you ur not far from where I live
Hi Wade. Love your videos. Steel shot has been the only realistic legal option in New Zealand for waterfowl for 10 years now. New powder has increased the speed but the range is really 30 yards whereas lead was easily 40 yards. That is a huge decrease. There are lots of youtube vids on the range of steel but not on the best size for ducks or geese or turkeys and virtually none on the penetration or best effective shot size for steel. Can you help here? Lead is still permitted for upland game and in pine forests. Sawmillers do not want to cut steel pellets in timber milling. We have had hyposonic, pellets that a cube shaped, even federal flying saucer shaped pellets. What is the best?
hello, I hope can answer this question. I know the post you put is more than 4 years old I just came by it yesterday! I have read that there is possibly a problem shooting "steel shot" may damage your shotgun ! is this true or do you feel "powder coating" protects the barrel? thanks and really enjoy your down to earth way!
Like to see how well that works on car doors, etc.
I load up steal shot myself, and i can tell you i turned a washing machine into swiss cheese with steal loads and it works well.
I think I got a couple dents in the compression cone area of my barrel from this load. I used the tps wad. Steel 5/16” was powder coated
Mr. Wade Rush. I have purchased the
New 5th edition Lyman manual. My question comes from the wads section. Have you tried mylar wrap for steel shot to tighten up the loads? Does this help? I see the mylar wrap comes in different thicknesses. 004, .007, .010. Which In your opinion works best? And have you done testing on this? Thank you for the great videos.
Yes I have! Sometimes a Mylar wrap can help a lot! I use .007 mil more than anything else.
Thanks from Caliban. I'll check them out. Thanks B.R.O.
Steel powder in heated wheel weight lead..swage it..magnet sticks to it..throws game wardens off
It will also damage your barrel.
...and goes against the ethics and conservation of hunting itself.
@@paulrodriguez3982What is unethical about using lead ammunition?
Uncle used to apply steel powder to the paint he painted his aluminum heads with back in the dirt track days. It was enough for a magnet to stick. Told em the enamel tractor implement paint must be thick. So this idea in theory would work
why powder coat first? is it to protect the barrel somehow, or just to look cool?
The plastic wad cup protects the barrel. The powder coating is used only to prevent corrosion.
Thank you for asking this question I was looking for this answer also.
@@lordeedoort9882 ...cause you know,, nobody wants rusty balls.
@@timhallas4275 that’s strange, I’ve had uncoated steel shot that’s sat around for 15 years without any rust. The barrel of your shotgun needs to be hard enough - all modern shotguns are made to handle steel, but never use if in grandad’s old shotty.
@@patrickandkennafenwick3958 Grandad's shotgun is made of better steel than your new one.
Hey, great video. Now, what would be the purpose of powder coating the shot? Looks like you started to explain it, but didn’t finish it.
the powder coat is an extra layer of protection.
I read somewhere that slingshot steel shot is too hard to be shot safely. That it is ten times harder than the steel used in shotshells. Am I wrong?
You can fire any steel out of a full-length wad. and most all modern barrels can handle any kind of steel shot.
Thank you for clarifying that. Is there a way of making full length wads at home?
Why powdercoal? Make them Slicker? Regular lead is graphite tumbled. Steel is so hard they won't bind when shot. With steel you would use a wad anyway, or you coat them for shooting without a wad? I use pellet sizes that stack evenly, down the wad. 3 ontop of 3, or 4 ontop of 4 and buffered. Made my open choked 25 yds gun into a 40 yds gun with buckshot. With a interchangeable choke much further
Good deal in helping these folks out.
Great idea will be loading up some coyote loads!
I'm new to reloading I don't see what powder coating would do From what I understand is the weight of steel changes the ballistics and the hardness blows out your choke
That all depends on your choke Tom... You never fire steel shot thru any choke that isn't rated for steel. Usually no choke smaller than a Mod. you don't want to be squeezing the shot too much as steel won't compress like lead will.
Or always run em with a shot cup to save the barrel. I’ve been converting #7 birdshot to ball bearing rounds.
Single ball .6oz. load .625 (5/8) diameter w/wadding.
Double ball 1.2oz. Load .625 (5/8) ball bearings w/no wadding.
0000 buck .375 (3/8) ball bearings.
0 buck .3125 (5/16) ball bearings.
3 buck .250 (1/4) ball bearings.
I’ve found all these available on Amazon and can convert these all for around $.50 a round total ($.25 for #7 round & $.25 for the load).
@@22mtrent thanks Matt!!
@22mtrent I'm new to this and thinking about reloading but want to use steel. What recipes are you using for 0 buck and 3 buck? Thanks!
what would happen if the weight of the shot is less than recommended for the powder load while using steel, i understand why the weight shouldn't be over but I'm reloading factory loaded super x shells
Why does it matter if its steel payload weight or lead payload weight? Id really like to see the pellet count with a 2 oz load.
Wade. Couldn't find Southern Powder coat? Could use your help. Thanks.
Have you tried 5/8 steel ball ? I picked some up and was wondering what your thoughts were on these .
I have done the same . I loaded them with bird shot in any empty space . I melted the shell to crimp it and I think since it has to fight the crimp, pressure and velocity is incredible .
A possible advantage to steel: won't deform like lead. So, patterns should be more consistent??
Also, I'd guess that steel shot would like slightly less choke ... the choke might bounce the steel around rather than funnel it???
Just guesses, eh.
Most of the basic principles were figured. check out in the early days of steel shot for waterfowl .
Greatly Oversimplified :
Yes , harder steel shot can potentially give very tight patterns .
To maintain sorta similar patterns , one size more open choke .
For energy levels vaguely sorta kinda close to lead pellets , use steel two sizes larger than lead , ie steel BB to substitute-ish for lead #4 . To actually match downrange energy , should be three sizes . ie steel BB to replace lead #6 . But that would make pellet counts way smaller , and patterns too thin .
Again greatly oversimplified , but the two choices are put up with reduced performance and reduced range with somewhat affordable steel , or spend $$$ on exotic non- toxics .
It looks like pellets are above the wad and definitely scraping down the barrel. I would at least want a mylar wrap on those. One or two shots might not cause damage but you are inviting a gouge in the barrel even with powder coat. Steel shot needs to be completely in the wad. It's in the Status of Steel Manual in the "words part" of it that doesn't get read on any reloading manual by most people.
RSVP2RIP he said in the shot description that the manual called for the longer wad but he didn’t have any so he used what he had.
No , he said he used the 41mm on purpose for better crimps .
Dumb question, what is the powder coating for? So it doesn’t rust?
A lot of folks asked me if it was possible to powder coat steel just as another layer of protection for your barrel and choke! Some older shotguns need a little more protection from the steel shot. Most modern shotguns have chrome lined barrels and are more resistant to damage from steel shot. Wade
Interesting concept. Should be effective at 50 meters... After that, steel shot putters out.
Love the status of steel manual. It has high velocity loads, unlike my Lyman 5th-- which is disappointing.
I'm looking to use the BPI 3" 1-1/8 ounce steel load for waterfowl this year. 43 grains Steel powder with LBC-43 wad-- 1605 FPS.
Well , it will * Pattern * out to 50yds . But the patterns aren't the limiting factor , terminal effectiveness is . Weight of the .31 pellets is only 30gr . Sectional density is way down , velocity drops way faster , penetration is significantly less . So instead of 50-55yd capabilities limited by pattern , think 30-35yd , limited by energy .
Two generations of waterfowl hunters think that Steel Shot is " Normal " , and anyone who remembers lead #2's is an old fart .
Wade what about copperhead bbs?
He already has a video with a steel shot turkey load with daisy BB’s... it’s actually my go-to duck load now. Works awesome.
Amen brother
Hey Wade, have you ever considered powder coating smaller game load pellets just to see how it performs? Say 3,4,5 or 6’s. I’d be curious to know if it would be worth the effort.
Steel and other alloys are hard and need no coating. If you use lead, you should get Hard lead, Copper plated or the best Nickel plated. Buffer is much beter than coating for long range
Good Morning Sir, I run a steel load for ducks, that calls for 36 grain of alliant steel, this is a 1 1/8 load using the BP ranger elite wad, in a 3 inch fio hull with the 616. I am running low on steel powder but have 7 or so pounds of blue dot. Can i sub the blue dot for the steel in this load and what would you suggest for charge? Thanks again for everything you do.
Dustin
There is a similar load using BD, same load, just different powder charge for BD
What lead you to using green powder coat (punt intended)😁
Yeah... cally going green!!
Lead is a terrible poison and we hunters should not be peppering it all over our beautiful outdoors. Tungsten alloys can be used, but tungsten on it’s own will tear up a barrel. Steel works fine. It deforms less so patterns better. It is less dense so you should use larger sized shot than the equivalent lead. If you shoot 2 3/4 shoot 3, if you shoot 3, shoot 3.5. Once we get used to it, it’ll be fine for everything. Since it’s light, the velocity for same size lead shot will be faster. It looses power faster, but that can be compensated by using bigger shot. If you shoot #4 lead, shoot #2 steel and you’ll do just fine.
The steel shot requirement has to be one of the dumbest laws of recent times. No telling how much lead fishing rig gear is lost every year.
Don’t throw away small ball bearings, can always use the balls in them. Ha
Just wondering if all they need to do is convert to steel why powder coat it not really necessary
Does Led hurt More then steel?! 🤔
Aren't these already coated in zinc?
When you shoot them in that color can you you see any of the color.
Where is the cheapest place to find powder coatings you use on buckshot?
Harbor Freight / eBay
Is there a need or advantage to powder coating the shot ?
Since the background check will be enforced July 1st, 2019. Can shooting 00 steel shot damage a smooth bore over time quicker than lead shot?
If you use the correct wads no more then lead shot. Also use a choke designed for steel and start with a cylinder choke and work your way up.
Quick question good sir, why do you powder coat the steel bearings.? Is it because you don't want corrosion to have effect or is it to protect the barrel?
both are correct. it's an added layer of protection.
Thank you Bubba
I'm not very smart, so here goes
Why does steel need powder coating?
it's not necessary at all Steven. The only reason that I tried it is that my subs asked me if powder coating steel were possible. it was just an experiment!
Just wondering why you need to powdercoat the steel. Is to stop rusting? Here in NZ we are lead free over water but in the forest lead is used as if it ends up in a tree it won't wreck a saw blade when it is milled.
I was wondering that too.
I still dont get why the shot has to be powder coated.
Doesn't have to be. Several folks from Cally asked me if it were possible. Just 1 more layer of protection for the barrel and choke.
Why powder coat the shot?
Looking forward to the Russian Slugs Wade.Yehaa from East Ky
What about casting shot out of Bismuth metal instead of lead? Melts at the same low temps as lead, is cheap, and can be cast using hand molds.
bb shot kills just about everything, bird wise.Nosler E-tips are good and so are Barnes Trippleshok.
Lead can still be used for target practice.
Yes , as exotic non- toxics go , Bismuth is a semi- affordable decent option . But back in the day , it took a lot of R&D to get the right balance to be malleable enough , but not crumble upon firing . So you probably won't be casting at home using store brand antacids .
As HawkKnives points out above , people hunting in California will have to develop a different mental calculus . For rifles and pistols , and shotguns up to geese , non toxics at least as effective as lead exists , but is $ to $$$ .
Buckshot on purpose , sucks with steel , and HeaviShot is $$$ . If wished to hunt big game with a 12ga , rather than buckshot on purpose , the non- toxic slug choices are better than buckshot alternatives .
If you compare the total expenditures for a week long hunting trip , then even $10 or more per shot is small percentage of overall costs . But it will be an era where " good " ammunition is only used for actual shots on game , and no practice or recreational shooting of hunting ammo .
Wade, when you say to put the nitro card into the Bottom of the wad, Are you talking about the OUTSIDE of the Wad or Inside the shot collum?? Thanks
Pretty sure he means under the shot. Put the card in the bottom cavity of the wad and put the shot on top.
Steel likes to bounce..just hard though
What would you suggest for 2 3/4 inch loads with this set up?
hey Joey... Same data for 2.75 inch only difference is pellet count; 28 pellets of the .25 inch #3 pellets and 12 pellets of the 5/16th inch #0 sized pellets.
Will the steel shot scrub your barrel?
can i use 6 mm ball bearings?
I forgot to ask was this a tps cushion wad or just a normal tps wad?
just a reg. TPS wad.
Hello,, Newbie shot Reloader ,,, what the reason of power coating steel shot?
Hey David... it's just 1 more layer of protection! I have several subs from Cally that asked me if it were possible to powder coat the steel pellets. Wade
@@BubbaRountreeOutdoors thank you for the reply,, since I new reloading and see that you also using sling shot steel balls off of ebay and I live in California. what size of the steel sling shot off of ebay would you recommended for #4 and 00 lead size and weight , Thank you for any info-David I am Using lyman 5th pg.357
and do you know any substations for powder SR 4756?
@@davidclark7402 the closest that you can come with the slingshot ammo is the 1/4" (#3 buck .25 cal) and the 5/16" (#0 buck .31 cal)
no orig buffer in any this time?
No need for it with steel shot!
I don’t understand why powder coat steel why not leave it as is thanks
Powder coat just adds an extra layer of protection for your barrel and choke. The main reason was I was asked if it were possible to powder coat larger steel ball by several subs in Cally. And if I could work up some loads for the larger steel ball.
Because bare steel will start to pit your barrel and choke over time (a short time)
Wow that’s interesting even with the proper steel wad your barrel and choke still gets damaged
" Steel Rated " chokes , if you look closely , are intended for pellets up to a certain diameter . Implied is commonly used for waterfowl , some tighter specialty choke tubes will explicitly state use only up to certain size .
Worst case , chokes will become a consumable commodity . Off the top of my head , an extended choke tube , that doesn't start constricting until beyond the barrel , hopefully wouldn't damage the threaded portion of the barrel .
Is powder coating a must?
not at all Ryan! it's just another layer of protection.
Pewter or tin would still work with all your lead equipment, just like lead.
When I buy a new mold I do my first casting in tin so when handling, or showing them we aren't exposed to lead.
What about ITX? BPI
I haven't tried the ITX shot yet... I need to get BP to send me some! Wade
New to this shot gun reloading. But why do you need to powder coat the steel balls? I can see powder coating lead balls so it doesn't lead up your barrel, Curious on the reason to powder coating the steel ones? Thanks.
no... it's not necessary to PC steel! I was asked if it could be done so I attempted it for the folks that asked if it were possible. Thanks for stopping by! Wade
@@BubbaRountreeOutdoors looking for a good load for #4 buck and longshot and hs6 all in 2-3/4 shell size. Could I use steel shot in place of lead shot?
@@woodknack1 on my website, you can download my personal load sheets for free: www.bubbarountreeoutdoors.com/reloading.html
@@woodknack1 yes, you can use the steel shot in place of lead but the weight of the steel is lighter and may not cycle an autoloader but will work great in all other shotguns!
Why does California citizens put up with this
Cummiefornia? Take care about environment is not bad idea but...
Lead is just damn horrible for the environment... if it wasn't so damned cheap! The Russians had It right, steel core ammo is cheaper than lead and hell it worked amazing! Sad we have to rediscover some things that we had a few years before it was banned. Crazy world crazy times.
Hey folks. I live out here in the communist state of californis. Since there are no steel slugs, I've been pondering copper sabot or steel ball as a viable option for slug hunting with .410. Has anyone attempted this with success? I can't seem to find any videos showing if this was ever attempted. Thank you
I've been using the 40 caliber sinter fire bullets. They are a 125 grain. They work good out of a 410.
@@krod2162 may I ask what choke your using?
Imp cyl
@@krod2162 thank you
Fantastic work .TT for geese is almost the size of 4 b and you need it to take down geese at distances you could with BB in lead .Bismuth and tungsten copper ,tungsten steel ,copper is crazy expensive .At the same time you are forced to shoot cylinder bore with those big steel balls .Many old shotguns have been made obsolete because of these idiotic leftists .Lead has been used for hundreds of years for everything from drinking water to sewage to just about everything .From before roman times !When you go to cylinder bore .flight control wads are a must full length cups are important
Steel shot of any size for deer, coyotes, or whatever critter??? SMH. Might as well powder-coat a Nerf football.
TSS 4s, 3s, 2s, BBs, Ts, #4 buck and #1 buck all day everyday for coyotes and larger game where lead is banned. 1oz TSS Ts have 23 pellets, better penetration than 0 buck, patterns tighter than any buckshot, and can be loaded for $3 per shell. Why so expensive? Cause its worth it. Killed a nice GA buck in front of beagles this year with Ts at 45 yards. All passed through except 1 recovered pellet, perfectly round. TSS Ts can be an absolutely devastating replacement for lead 0 or 00 buck for about 2x the cost.
I would suggest that Californians stop letting there paid servants tell them what they can or can not do.
Why did you power coat
powder coat help reduce friction.
Why does it need to be Powder coated ??
quit hunt over the non lead law some old freands need to hunt for food they have copper amo in gun in pocket is lead this has Ben pushed by ante hunting crowd behind this dont let this happen in your state remember a just man dose not obey unjust laws
To be fair its a pretty awful idea to just pepper the landscape with bit of lead
Do you have to powder coat steel balls?
no... the powder coat is just an extra layer of protection for the barrel and choke.
@@BubbaRountreeOutdoors But you would still recommend hulls and wads made for steel?
What size 00 buck?
#00 is .33 caliber
@@BubbaRountreeOutdoors thank you