I'm considering reloading steel also. I'll get that handbook. I think the Alliance powder "Steel" maybe the one to go to. I've also been thinking of looking into a hevi-shot steel combo like the hevi steel folks are putting out, but that may be too complex a reload. Another item I am watching is Winchester's square shot venture. They are loading 1 3/8 oz into a 3" steel, 1/8 oz more then the usual max of 1 1/4 oz usually found in a 3". This gives the 3" the load of current 3 1/2" shot shells. They are driving their load at 1400 fps muzzle. Normally I consider the higher speeds a waste because the column goes subsonic after about 20 yards. But in this case Winchester may be on to something. With the sonic bow wave preceding the column there will be little air resistance encountered by the individual square pellets until the shock wave breaks up at about 20 to 25 yards, then the wind resistance on the square pellets will cause them to diverge. Thus killing zone of 30 to 40 yards should have some pretty decent patterns.
This is all theory, only the pattern board and the hunt will prove them. Will the square shot become available for reloading and can the square shot be vibrated in to place by us amateurs are questions to which I have no answer. Hopefully, if successful, the Winchester square shot shotshells will come down in price.
Last edited by pooch; 07/27/12 12:03 PM.
