I like the comment Markethunter made about modern steel shot shells, "they'll actually kill birds just fine". The most important thing to learn about steel shot shells is that the old wive's tale about their patterning is just that. Steel shot ammunition is just like any other ammunition. The more choke you put in front of the shot, the more shot goes into the paper. The "old wive's tale" for those who have no grey hair to aid in thinking and comprehension is as follows: "The tightest patterns with steel shot are shot with improved cylinder or modified chokes. The use of full chokes causes pattern dispersement and less effective patterns than those shot with more open chokes." In the great majority of cases, this is absolutely incorrect information, and, in my opinion, was put in the sporting media by writers who were influenced by the manufacturers in order to lessen the liability from barrel damage that was predicted from the effects of early steel shot on tightly choked guns. All pattern experimentation I have done over the years since the advent of steel shot ammunition has resulted in tighter patterns from tighter chokes. I have successfully killed big birds at extreme ranges with big loads of big steel shot for many years. I repeat, big shot, big loads. My experience is that those who complain about poor performance of steel shot are shooting light loads of small or medium size steel shot out of less than full choked guns that they have not patterned. They are also less than good shots and would have had bad results with lead shot in the same gun. I use, and have used for years for most of my waterfowl shooting, including ducks at more than decoying range, Winchester 1 3/4 ounce loads of steel #2 and BB in a tightly choked 3 1/2" ten gauge. I have never shot with another shooter who has had any better results from non steel no tox loads from any 12 gauge gun. I just wish my gun didn't weigh what it does. However, it is a small price to pay for shooting cheap ammunition with good results.
