doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Effectiveness of #4 lead

Back to the topic, I would still like information on the above questions.

I have an old chart published many years ago by Winchester for lead. It doesn't cover the ranges though you asked for, only going up to 1330 fps on the high end but down to 1135 on the low end. Here are the results for #4 lead @ 20, 40 & 60 yds.
MV = 1330-----20yd-V = 1010------40yd-V = 815-----60yd-V = 685
MV = 1235-----20yd-V = 955-------40yd-V = 780-----60yd-V = 660
MV = 1135-----20yd-V = 895-------40yd-V = 740-----60yd-V = 630
From these figures can be seen how quickly round pellets lose speed above the speed of sound. Here 195 fps difference at the muzzle results in a difference of only 55 fps by 60 yds. Steel being much less dense than lead with a lower sectional density will of course fare much worse than lead. To get sufficient velocity for adequate penetration for clean kills it is necessary to use much higher initial velocity or increased pellet sizes, or a combination of both, over the use of lead.

Thanks, Miller. Does #8 shot have less difference between lower and higher mv downrange? I.e. is the 55 fps difference at 60 yds., with #4s, less with #8s?

Thanks, SRH

I've asked for it before. You've come up empty before. If you have it, start another thread on the subject. And post the links. Simple as that.

cpa, here's what I find in Taylor's "Shotshells & Ballistics": 1500 fps MV, #4 steel: 590 fps @ 50 yds. 1250 fps MV, 536 fps @ 50 yds.

Same book, #4 lead: Can't give you 1500 fps. 1400 is the fastest listed: 710 fps @ 50 yds. 1250 MV: 665 fps @ 50 yds.

Comparing with Miller's post, the charts in this book give slightly slower down range velocities.

Stan, comparing 8's @ 60 yds, MV for the 1135 fps load is 438 fps; for the 1330 fps load, 477 fps. The difference for 4's @60 yds, 1330 fps vs 1145 fps: 618 vs 569.

Thanks Larry.

SRH

#4 steel comparisons don't mean much to hunters who normally use much larger size steel shot, not just for geese, but for ducks. My experience with #2 and #BB in 1 3/4 ounce 3 1/2" ten gauge loads and tight chokes has taught me that I am not working under much if any handicap compared to lead or expensive no tox loads in 12 gauge guns. My "lifetime" supply of 1 3/4 ounce steel ten gauge shells is all I have used for years for waterfowl. My initial investment was about $5.00 a box of 25 on closeout many years ago.

I tell you what I'm so disappointed in about all this, Stan didn't post pictures of the shoot.

Stan;
My chart doesn't have #8 shot listed at those extremes, but does have #7�. At the 60 yd mark the 1330 load had dropped to 580 while the 1135 load had dropped to 540 so only 40 fps difference at 60 yds for the 195 fps difference at the muzzle.The # 7� size lost more over the first 20 yds than did the #4 size.
This is all based on two factors, first drag increases tremendously when the speed of sound is passed.
Secondly as all round pellets have the same shape ballistic coefficient is base purely on their weight versus their drag/surface area. Weight of a sphere goes up proportionately to the cube of its diameter while its surface area goes up proportionate to the square of its diameter. Thus as long as made from the same material the larger the ball/pellet the higher its BC so the better it retains speed. A given size of lead pellet though weighs some 45% more than a steel pellet of the same size so retains speed much better. This is why it is necessary to GO UP in size when using steel.

Thanks for the replies. About what I expected, though interesting. I guess every little bit helps at long distances.