On the Hevishot website (www.hevishot.com) there is a blurb reporting that Environ-Metal has introduced HeviShot-Classic Doubles, safe for use in Vintage Doubles.

Reading further in this blurb one finds the statement
"• Softer surface hardness – for greater safety in older firearms".
This makes me think that this HeviShot-Classic Doubles is reqular HeviShot coated with some soft materal whose function is to protect the softer steels of vintage doubles from the hard HeviShot. Anyone know if this really just coated HeviShot? And what the coating is?

Any expectations as to how HeviShot-Classic Doubles will affect the steep forcing cones and tight chokes common to vintage doubles? I would think that a thin coating would provide little protection. Is it telling on this point that there is no statement that HeviShot-Classic Doubles can be used in any choke?

Anyone out there have any specific about actual performance?

Thanks,
Niklas

I don't possess any specific knowledge, but thought that perhaps it is the same shot material, but loaded to lower pressure and less velocity.

Guess we will have to "wait and see...."

It's right there, "Softer Surface Hardness". Meaning the same hard core with a soft coating on the outside? I'd think a cone sharp enough could strip the "surface" away leaving the hard core to strip your gun barrels. I suppose a steel-wad would eliminate that possibility, but until I see more information, I'll wait and burn up my Bismuth 1st.....

Mike Doerner

"Teardrops" are not safe in OLD doubles. Just remember, under kapitalism the burden of testing lies with the customer!

Or, as one can hear often in Russia for many decades -- "The customer is the Quality Control Officer."

Niklas

Until HeviShot provides documented testing and technical information, it's all advertising hype!-Dick

Hopefully Roster will provide the definitive testing. All I want is something for my percussion guns that will kill ducks at ranges under 20 yards.

Even if the shot is soft enough, there's still the pressure issue. Steel can't be used in "vintage" guns like the Browning Superposed. But the Browning Superposed will certainly shoot SAAMI-pressure lead loads that should not be used in other vintage Brit/European (or even American) guns. So I think--until the pressure issue is resolved--that "vintage gun" may not mean the same thing to Remington that it means to us.

That is one of my concerns too. Pressure at forcing cones and tight chokes, especially, because of the much greater hardness of HeviShot, would seem to require a rather thick coating of softer material to provide enough cushining to avoid damage to these areas of the barrel. I cannot help but think that this must be a much thicker coating than required to simply negate scorring of the bore. As noted in my original post, their silence on this issue raises suspecions.

Niklas

But what about muzzleloader cylinder bore guns or those with recessed chokes?

Hal,

I would guess that muzzle loader guns with cylinder bores would be least affected IF the soft surface layer (whatever it actually is) is thick/tough enough. Still, I would wonder how essential a thick plastic wad would be to prevent damage to the soft metal of the barrels.

So much hype, so few independently verified facts.

I have never seen any reports about damage, or lack thereof, to recessed chokes from use of steel shot or HeviShot. Are there such reports?

Niklas