Favorite steel

B

Bob Peters

Well-known member
I know all the basic load requirements, but wondering what your favorite brand of steel shell is for a pheasant? The only ones I really stay away from are those Winchester x ones from wal mart, a buddy who duck hunts more than you can shake a stick at told me they're junk. I cut one open and sure enough they are.
 
You "cut one open" and sure enough....is that code for you patterned a few or you physically opened one and were able to determine by examining the components, that they wouldn't pattern in your gun? Can't comment on the use of steel, as I am not sure I haven't fired a non-tox in the last 2 decades.
 
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When using steel on pheasants, it is best to go with loads that contain #2 or #3 steel pellets. Steel shot lethality research conducted on pheasants by Tom Roster showed #2 steel to be more effective (at all ranges) than either #6 or #4 steel. Yes, #4 or #6 steel loads will kill'em too, but a little extra pellet energy is a good thing on wild pheasants where shots are often taken at longer going-away angles. The research also showed #2 steel resulted in fewer cripples than both #6 and #4 steel; and Roster speculated that the #3 steel pellet would be a good compromise between pellet count and downrange energy.

Here’s a link to an article on the study.

Steel Shot for Pheasants | North Dakota Fishing and Hunting Forum (nodakoutdoors.com)

Here are a few of my pattern numbers to give you an idea of how some #2 steel loads perform, in my gun/chokes!

Patterning results from a 12-gauge Browning Citori with 28" Invector-plus barrels using Briley flush chokes (patterns average of five, 30" post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, and in-shell pellet count average of five).

12 GA 2 3/4" REMINGTON SPORTSMAN HI-SPEED STEEL LOAD
1 1/8 oz #2 steel (139 pellets) @ 1375 fps
30 YARDS – SK / pattern 116 (83%)
30 YARDS – IC / pattern 129 (93%)
40 YARDS – IC / pattern 111 (80%)
40 YARDS – LM / pattern 114 (82%)
40 YARDS – M / pattern 114 (82%)
50 YARDS – LF / pattern 100 (72%)
50 YARDS – F / pattern 106 (76%)
 
If you want to see a comparison of various 12ga #3 and #2 steel loads, here are a few of my pattern numbers for your consideration.

Patterning results from a 12-gauge 3-inch Remington 870 Special Purpose with a 28-inch barrel and factory flush Rem-chokes (pattern average of five, 30-inch post-shot scribed circle, yardage taped muzzle to target, in-shell pellet count average of five, and true choke constriction from bore gauge).

40 YARDS – IC REM-CHOKE (.009" const.)
Winchester Xpert 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #3 steel (162 pellets) pattern 87 (54%)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 112 (60%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 113 (59%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 109 (56%)
Remington Sportsman 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (139 pellets) pattern 85 (61%)
Remington Hyper-Sonic 3" 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (141 pellets) pattern 63 (45%)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 92 (60%)
Federal Ultra-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (147 pellets) pattern 82 (56%)
Federal Black Cloud 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (144 pellets) pattern 88 (61%)
Fiocchi Golden 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (156 pellets) pattern 86 (55%)
Hevi-Metal 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 / #5 (164 pellets) pattern 70 (43%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 63 (43%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 88 (57%)
Kent Silver Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (153 pellets) pattern 74 (48%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 76 (50%)
Remington Nitro Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (151 pellets) pattern 90 (60%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 76 (52%)
Winchester Drylok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (162 pellets) pattern 94 (58%)
Winchester Blind Side 3" 1 3/8 oz #2 steel (176 pellets) pattern 85 (48%)

40 YARDS – MOD REM-CHOKE (.018" const.)
Winchester Xpert 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #3 steel (162 pellets) pattern 111 (69%)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 128 (69%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 146 (76%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 131 (67%)
Remington Sportsman 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (139 pellets) pattern 116 (83%)
Remington Hyper-Sonic 3" 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (141 pellets) pattern 78 (55%)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 115 (75%)
Federal Ultra-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (147 pellets) pattern 109 (74%)
Federal Black Cloud 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (144 pellets) pattern 92 (64%)
Fiocchi Golden 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (156 pellets) pattern 115 (74%)
Hevi-Metal 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 / #5 (164 pellets) pattern 93 (58%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 100 (68%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 103 (66%)
Kent Silver Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (153 pellets) pattern 112 (73%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 110 (72%)
Remington Nitro Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (151 pellets) pattern 117 (77%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 106 (73%)
Winchester Drylok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (162 pellets) pattern 121 (75%)
Winchester Blind Side 3" 1 3/8 oz #2 steel (176 pellets) pattern 104 (59%)

40 YARDS – FULL REM-CHOKE (.037" const.)
Winchester Xpert 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #3 steel (162 pellets) pattern 118 (73%)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) pattern 141 (76%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) pattern 150 (78%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) pattern 154 (79%)
Remington Sportsman 2 3/4" 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (139 pellets) pattern 118 (85%)
Remington Hyper-Sonic 3" 1 1/8 oz #2 steel (141 pellets) pattern 100 (71%)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 118 (77%)
Federal Ultra-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (147 pellets) pattern 119 (81%)
Federal Black Cloud 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (144 pellets) pattern 113 (78%)
Fiocchi Golden 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (156 pellets) pattern 123 (79%)
Hevi-Metal 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 / #5 (164 pellets) pattern 116 (71%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 119 (80%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 116 (75%)
Kent Silver Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (153 pellets) pattern 122 (80%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 117 (77%)
Remington Nitro Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (151 pellets) pattern 115 (76%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 118 (81%)
Winchester Drylok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (162 pellets) pattern 133 (82%)
Winchester Blind Side 3" 1 3/8 oz #2 steel (176 pellets) pattern 109 (62%)
 
Black box dryloks were always good to me . What I shot of them I liked kent silver steel( I think discontinued)?faststeel 2.0s I think took their place. Changed maybe a little? They haven’t killed quite as dead for me . Fiocchi golden steel is supposed to be good. I think I’m going to shoot some Migras this year and see if I like them. Trying to work my way through a case of Rios I bought during the shortage. They are just ok. Shot supreme dryloks for years and a buddy big greens and we both liked them. if I want to try another shell I’ll run anout 4 boxes of another brand and see how well it kills for me. Dryloks have been the best there’s something to be said about having complete confidence in a shell one less thing to worry about
 
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Xpert is what you are thinking of, there isnt a round piece of shot in it and a #3 will have #6-bb in it. They are terrible. Now they are tricking consumers by calling them "superx xpert drylok" but its the same junk. The black box drylok is a great shell, it is the old Winchester supreme drylok.

Federal speed shok, kent fasteel 2.0, hevi-steel, remington nitro steel, Rio blue steel. All great shells, pattern and see what your gun likes.
 
remy3424 said:
You "cut one open" and sure enough....is that code for you patterned a few or you physically opened one and were able to determine by examining the components, that they wouldn't pattern in your gun? Can't comment on the use of steel, as I am not sure I haven't fired a non-tox in the last 2 decades.
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The shot looks like gravel. Very rough gravel. In fact maybe I shouldn't say that, the gravel might be offended because it's more spherical.
 
I haven't used them much on pheasant specifically, but I did pattern the loads and have used other sizes on quail, grouse, Ptarmigan, and chukar. The kent faststeels and teal steal. They seem consistent to me and patterned well.
 
Have used quite a few cases of Hevi Metal for waterfowl north of the border, #3 for big ducks and #BB for geese. Worked fine keeping range less than 45yds. Saving some Kent Impact #5 for public land Dec. hunting in MN. Thanks Joe for your detailed patterning stats.
 
benelli-banger said:
Off topic a bit, but I like Hevi Metal for pheasants when I can’t use lead…
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Full disclosure I do use the Hevi Upland on occasion, they pattern amazingly from my guns. And only a few companies offer steel 5 which is awesome for grouse. But overall I dislike the company a lot. Between how often they quietly change things up and their over hype marketing with 15% bismuth layer which is most likely a detriment not a benefit, I just don't trust them much. I also tested their hevi hammer and it patterned like complete crap.

So basically my warning for their stuff, absolutely make sure you pattern it. It could be the best load for you gun or the worst load. I certainly wouldn't pick up a box of it and just go hunting with it.
 
I can’t keep it all straight, but the load I was referring to is a duplex load of steel and hevi shot; they may now use steel + bismuth? Mine are several years old…#3 shot.
 
benelli-banger said:
I can’t keep it all straight, but the load I was referring to is a duplex load of steel and hevi shot; they may now use steel + bismuth? Mine are several years old…#3 shot.
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Hevi-metal is now steel+bismuth and has been for several years.

Hevi-metal xtreme is how the old stuff was with steel+tungsten, but its $65/box now.. it also uses the federal flight control wad.
 
benelli-banger said:
I can’t keep it all straight, but the load I was referring to is a duplex load of steel and hevi shot; they may now use steel + bismuth? Mine are several years old…#3 shot.
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Yeah that's what I mean by not liking them. They change their wording and it's always confusing.

Currently Hevi-Hammer, Hevi-Metal Long Range, and Hevi-Hammer (Upland or Dove) Are Steel/Bismuth Mix. Typically 15% bismuth. And worse the bismuth is the same size as the steel, so they go easily 50% further than the steel but only 15% of the pellets.

The Hevi-Metal Extreme is Steel/Tung but the tung is only 3 shot sizes smaller than the steel. So again you get one 70% of your pellets which drops off like 80% sooner than the tungsten. That 30% pellets is not going to be a great long distance shot due to lack of pellets.


Admittedly the penetration calculators are about single pellets and ballistics of a group would be much more complicated. There is potential for pellets to draft behind others and also get bumped by others depending if the denser shot is put in front or behind the other. But unless the company shows how they decided to do their duplex loads, I don't trust the idea.
 
12 GA 3” HEVI-Hammer Upland No. 3 Bismuth/Steel duplex load
I acquired some HEVI-Hammer Upland 12-gauge 1 3/8-ounce No. 3 Bismuth/Steel duplex loads from a hunter. I then cut open five shells, from the same box as the shells to be patterned, and the components (powder and shot) were weighed, counted, and measured for consistency. Here are my findings from those dissections.

12 GA 3" Hevi-Hammer Upland Duplex (bismuth/steel) load
1 3/8 oz #3 Bi (55 pellets) + #3 Steel (126 pellets) = 181 total pellets @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 3/8 ounce = 601.6 gr)
183 / 568.9 gr
183 / 565.1 gr
181 / 557.3 gr
179 / 545.9 gr
178 / 549.9 gr
Aver. / 180.8 / 557.42 gr + flax seeds 16.38gr
(Bi/55.4 + Steel/125.6 = 181 pellets) (Bi/30.6% of payload)

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 Bi pellet dia. = .140”)
.149”, .148”, .148”, .146”, .146”, .146”, .145”, .145”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .142”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .134”, .131”
Aver. / .14128” dia.

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 Steel pellet dia. = .140”)
.141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .137”
Aver. / .13976” dia.

POWDER / SHELL (grains)
40.0 gr
40.0 gr
39.9 gr
39.4 gr
39.4 gr
Aver. 39.74 gr

PATTERNING RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.

Hevi-Hammer Upland Bismuth/Steel Duplex load
12ga 3” 1 3/8 oz (Bi/55 + Steel/126 = 181 total pellets)
40 yards / Modified Rem-choke
107
102
102
100
94
Aver. 101.0 (55.86%)

So, how did this Hevi-Hammer Upland Bismuth/Steel duplex load perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, bismuth duplex, and steel loads using the same gun/choke as above for comparison.

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS / Modified Rem-Choke (.018” constriction)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) / pattern 126 (66%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) / pattern 143 (54%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 ½ oz #3/#5 Bi duplex (226 pellets) / pattern 121 (54%)

Kent Upland Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) / pattern 119 (60%)
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) / pattern 126 (59%)

HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) / pattern 85 (37%)
HEVI-Hammer Upland 3” 1 3/8 oz #3 Bi/#3 Steel duplex (181 pellets) / pattern 101 (56%)

Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) / pattern 128 (69%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) / pattern 146 (76%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) / pattern 131 (67%)

Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) / pattern 115 (75%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) / pattern 110 (72%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) / pattern 106 (73%)
 
Joe Hunter said:
12 GA 3” HEVI-Hammer Upland No. 3 Bismuth/Steel duplex load
I acquired some HEVI-Hammer Upland 12-gauge 1 3/8-ounce No. 3 Bismuth/Steel duplex loads from a hunter. I then cut open five shells, from the same box as the shells to be patterned, and the components (powder and shot) were weighed, counted, and measured for consistency. Here are my findings from those dissections.

12 GA 3" Hevi-Hammer Upland Duplex (bismuth/steel) load
1 3/8 oz #3 Bi (55 pellets) + #3 Steel (126 pellets) = 181 total pellets @ 1350 fps
PELLET COUNT / WEIGHT (grains) (1 3/8 ounce = 601.6 gr)
183 / 568.9 gr
183 / 565.1 gr
181 / 557.3 gr
179 / 545.9 gr
178 / 549.9 gr
Aver. / 180.8 / 557.42 gr + flax seeds 16.38gr
(Bi/55.4 + Steel/125.6 = 181 pellets) (Bi/30.6% of payload)

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 Bi pellet dia. = .140”)
.149”, .148”, .148”, .146”, .146”, .146”, .145”, .145”, .143”, .143”, .142”, .142”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .138”, .138”, .138”, .137”, .137”, .136”, .134”, .131”
Aver. / .14128” dia.

PELLET SIZE (25 pellets, 5 pellets/shell, #3 Steel pellet dia. = .140”)
.141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .141”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .140”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .139”, .137”
Aver. / .13976” dia.

POWDER / SHELL (grains)
40.0 gr
40.0 gr
39.9 gr
39.4 gr
39.4 gr
Aver. 39.74 gr

PATTERNING RESULTS
The patterns were shot at 40 yards with a Remington 870 Special Purpose 12-gauge using a 28-inch Rem-choke barrel and factory flush Modified Rem-choke, .018-inch constriction from a bore gauge. The 40-yard (muzzle to target) pattern data is the result of pellet hits registered in a 30-inch post-shot inscribed circle from five separate pattern shots.

Hevi-Hammer Upland Bismuth/Steel Duplex load
12ga 3” 1 3/8 oz (Bi/55 + Steel/126 = 181 total pellets)
40 yards / Modified Rem-choke
107
102
102
100
94
Aver. 101.0 (55.86%)

So, how did this Hevi-Hammer Upland Bismuth/Steel duplex load perform? Well, here are a few more of my pattern numbers from some other bismuth, bismuth duplex, and steel loads using the same gun/choke as above for comparison.

PATTERNS / 40 YARDS / Modified Rem-Choke (.018” constriction)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (192 pellets) / pattern 126 (66%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 3/8 oz #5 Bi (267 pellets) / pattern 143 (54%)
Boss Unmuzzled Bismuth 3” 1 ½ oz #3/#5 Bi duplex (226 pellets) / pattern 121 (54%)

Kent Upland Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (197 pellets) / pattern 119 (60%)
Kent Waterfowl Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #4 Bi (212 pellets) / pattern 126 (59%)

HEVI-Bismuth 2 ¾” 1 ¼ oz #5 Bi (228 pellets) / pattern 85 (37%)
HEVI-Hammer Upland 3” 1 3/8 oz #3 Bi/#3 Steel duplex (181 pellets) / pattern 101 (56%)

Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (186 pellets) / pattern 128 (69%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (193 pellets) / pattern 146 (76%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #3 steel (195 pellets) / pattern 131 (67%)

Fed. Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) / pattern 115 (75%)
Rem. Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) / pattern 110 (72%)
Win. Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) / pattern 106 (73%)
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You really do have a dissection/pattern result for everything don't you. And it does help confirm why I don't like the company. First that 573 grain payload (includes flax) vs 601 (1 3/8 ounce) means they are under filling by 5% which is pretty bad. But also from every way I look, the bismuth is either 30% of the pellets by pellet or like 25% of the payload by weight. And the box is saying 15%. Although I suppose better to get more of the "better" pellets. But not great seeing the difference.

I personally don't like doing the % pellets in a 30 inch circle though since it doesn't show the full picture. Would be more curious to see the pattern for if there are holes or not.
 
Bob Peters said:
Just avoid the entire hevi brand all the way around. Gimmicky junk. Not worth messing with.
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Hevi-steel is fantastic. I cant even begin to count how many ducks and geese I have killed with it. Its just normal steel shot, very similar load to kent fasteel- same wad. Dont think ive ever let one off at a pheasant though.
 
Yes, it is just a steel load and nothing special about it.

40 YARDS – MOD REM-CHOKE (.018" const.)
Federal Speed-Shok 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (154 pellets) pattern 115 (75%)
Hevi-Steel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (148 pellets) pattern 100 (68%)
Kent Fasteel 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (155 pellets) pattern 103 (66%)
Remington Sportsman 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (152 pellets) pattern 110 (72%)
Winchester Xpert 3" 1 1/4 oz #2 steel (146 pellets) pattern 106 (73%)
 
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