Rather than clutter the thread on flyer shooting w/this topic though it is correctly mentioned there I thot I'd start another.
Aside from improved patterns when the shot is hard enough, nickel plated shot's real advantage on birds is that it is known to not 'draw feathers' and so there is a better chance of the pellet reaching the vitals, particularly on a 'driver', a low flying going away bird. The older Remington International target loads of 36 grams of nickel plated #8's accounted for a lot of birds back in the 60's & early 70's. It was great ammuntion.
Federal Premium 36 gram 3&3/4 DE loads [popular w/many shooters now] utilize a very hard copper plated shot. I don't have any personal experience using that ammunition. On copper plating drawing feathers, I've heard it discussed both ways & I've personally seen instances where it has drawn feathers w/'Hawk' brand copper plated shot used on feral pigeons. Not all plated shot is hard. As a matter of fact, that Hawk brand is quite soft.
Federal's older paper hulled 3&1/4 DE X 1&1/4oz. 'Flyer loads' utilized their now discontinued two-piece 'Pushin' Cushion' 12C-1 type wads and hard lead unplated pellets and was the choice of many a champion while it remained available. It was also very effective for pass shooting dove or feral pigeons at longer ranges. Would it draw feathers? Absolutely.
Today, we have Cheddite loading helice specific ammunition [their 'Mach 3'] with hard nickel plated #8.5 28 gram loads with the thought being that 28 grams of that shot has the exact same number of pellets as the older 36 gram #7.5 shot flyer loads. When helice first bacame popular & before the rule change to 28 gram max., we were using the Remington 'Sure Shot' ammo in 32 gram loads because it had relatively soft shot and was more effective on the Mexican targets that took 'more killing' at the time than the Italian ones. Those old tough targets made from less than ideal plastics are now history as well and striking regulation international helice targets with hard shot works just fine, when the bird is pointed correctly. hahaha.
So, what are the other opinions or experiences out there on the subject of plated shot? Its as good a subject as as any to toss about as Feb. approaches, is it not?
