Sure, steel shot can be used for hunting turkeys, but there are a few things to consider.
First, make sure your shotgun is rated for steel shot. Certain shotguns are not rated for steel shot, and the gun itself may be harmed if steel shot is used in one.
Second, use the right size shot. For turkeys, you’ll want to use #4 or #5 steel shot.
Third, pattern your shotgun with the steel shot you plan to use This will help you determine how well the shot patterns at different distances.
Fourth, be aware of the limitations of steel shot. Since lead shot is more effective than steel shot, you must approach your target closer.
Finally, be ethical. If you’re not sure whether you can make a clean kill with steel shot, don’t shoot.
Here are some additional things to consider:
- Steel shot is lighter than lead shot, so it loses energy more quickly. This means that you’ll need to be closer to your target to ensure a clean kill.
- Steel shot is also more prone to ricocheting than lead shot. This is because steel is harder than lead and can bounce off of hard surfaces.
- Steel shot can also be more difficult to pattern than lead shot. This is because steel shot is more likely to deform when it is fired.
Make sure to adhere to these guidelines if you choose to use steel shot for turkey hunting:
- Use a shotgun that is rated for steel shot.
- Use the right size shot (#4 or #5).
- Pattern your shotgun with the steel shot you plan to use.
- Be aware of the limitations of steel shot.
- Be ethical.
With careful planning and execution, you can use steel shot to successfully hunt turkeys
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use steel shot in my turkey choke?
A: It depends on the choke. Some turkey chokes are rated for steel shot, while others are not. Verify the choke tube’s rating for steel shot by consulting its documentation.
Q: What is the best choke for steel shot?
A: The best choke for steel shot is a turkey choke that is rated for steel shot.
Q: How far can I shoot a turkey with steel shot?
A: The effective range of steel shot for turkey hunting is about 40 yards. However, you should always get as close as possible to your target to ensure a clean kill.
Q: Is steel shot as effective as lead shot for turkey hunting?
A: No, steel shot is not as effective as lead shot for turkey hunting. However, with careful planning and execution, you can use steel shot to successfully hunt turkeys.
Additional Resources
Steel shot can be used for turkey hunting, but it is important to be aware of its limitations. With careful planning and execution, you can use steel shot to successfully hunt turkeys.
If you’re looking to get the lead of your turkey hunting, consider these non-toxic options.
Since hunting ducks with lead shot was prohibited in 1991, at least thirty states have imposed more restrictions on lead ammunition. Not all relate to turkey hunting, but some do. While at least six posted bulletins encouraged and strongly advised hunters to try non-toxic alternatives last year, several states in the East are considering requiring non-toxic loads for turkey hunting. Advertisement.
Ban or no ban, it makes little difference. Shooters in Turkey are quickly converting to non-toxic shot materials after learning that some of them have ballistic and terminal performance at least somewhat comparable to lead. That’s good news for the environment, but bad news for turkeys. Here’s a look at three lead alternatives you might consider this season.
Steel shot weighs about a third of lead pellets of the same size and is less dense. This means it slows down faster than lead shot and sheds energy rather quickly. Lead shot of equal size produces more energy than steel shot, despite manufacturers’ efforts to increase velocity. Because of these two factors, steel is less effective and not the best material to use at long range, say more than 40 yards. To compensate for the decreased weight, decreased density, and loss of velocity, turkey hunters typically load up with steel shot that is one or two sizes larger than what they would use in a lead load. Advertisement.
But steel shot has some advantages over lead and can certainly be deadly on turkeys. Steel shells contain more pellets than their lead counterparts of the same size. The popular No. A lead shell of the same size holds slightly more than 200 pellets, while a 4 steel load can hold up to 300 pellets depending on the charge. Steel shot also spreads less and delivers tighter shot patterns than lead, meaning more pellets strike the target.
Perhaps equally important is steel shot doesn’t flatten out upon impact. Unlike lead pellets, steel shot keeps its shape as soon as it exits the barrel and strikes the target; close-range penetration creates more lethal, deeper wound channels.
Hevi-Metal Turkey features a combination of steel and Hevi-Shot.
No manufacturer sells a turkey-specific, steel-only load, though some, like Hevi-Shot, offer loads with steel plus another material. Hevi-Metal Turkey, which combines steel and Hevi-Shot, is one such example.
Bismuth by itself is frangible; that is, it breaks apart upon impact. This used to be a problem, but these days, bismuth loads are mixed with tin (4%E2%80%936%) to give them the cohesiveness they need to stay together as they walk off the barrel and hit the target. Bismuth-based shells are more expensive than steel, but because of their superior ballistic and terminal performance, the extra money is well worth it.
Winchester uses its proven Shot-Lok technology in its Xtended Range Bismuth loads.
A number of manufacturers offer three-inch, bismuth-based, 12-gauge shells with No. 3 to No. 7 shot. For turkeys, sizes 5 to 7 will get the job done nicely and are popular choices. Bismuth is also available in 2 3/4-inch 20-gauge shells, typically loaded with No. 5 and No. 6 shot, for those who prefer small-bore guns.
What makes bismuth such a good non-lead alternative is its density. Bismuth pellets are similar in density to lead pellets in terms of ballistic velocities, retained velocity and energy, pattern density, and terminal characteristics upon impact. Another benefit is that bismuth shot works well with older lead-only chokes and barrels, unlike steel.
Tungsten is the most lethal of the non-toxic turkey shot materials. The reason, in part, goes back to density. Depending upon the manufacturer, today’s tungsten turkey loads have a density close to 60 percent higher than lead. Since more density equals more energy retained, as we all know, tungsten is the most dense commercially available alternative to lead shot.
Moreover, tungsten shot maintains better patterns and form at both shorter and longer ranges due to its significantly higher hardness than lead. Smaller tungsten shot works similarly to larger lead shot because it is heavier and harder, allowing more pellets to be placed in each shell.
My old No. Five 1 3/4-ounce heavy field lead loads usually carried less than 300 shot pellets; in contrast, a 1 3/4-ounce load of No. 9 tungsten carries more than 600 pellets. The weight and hardness of tungsten also makes it a viable alternative in lighter 20-gauge and even . 410-bore guns. The range limits on these guns will be shorter but just as deadly.
A 3-inch, 20-gauge load of Federal Heavyweight TSS with No. 8 and 10 shot contains 653 pellets.
Tungsten loads are available with No. 5 to 10 shot for most gauges. Regardless of size, tungsten provides a deadly combination of energy and speed retention that allows for deep penetration past the typical shooting range.
The only downside to tungsten is its cost. Last spring, a box of five 3-inch shells loaded with No. 7 shot got me a penny back in change from my $50 bill. Good thing my home state has a two-bird limit during the spring season. I still had three shells left for fall.
As with lead shells, it’s important to practice your gun’s pattern with non-toxic loads, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Not all non-lead loads shoot the same. Every shotgun is different, and your gun may shoot one type better than another.
Most modern shotguns can fire these commonly used non-toxic loads, though some may require special chokes or tubes for best results. This is largely due to improvements in wad technology and the addition of buffering agents. Firearms made before 1969, older Damascus barrels, and modern firearms with tighter or fixed detachable chokes should not be loaded with steel. If you’re not sure which choke is best for a given load or which non-lead substitutes you can use in your fixed or interchangeable choked gun, consult a licensed gunsmith or the gun’s manufacturer. Advertisement.
Lead loads may remain for some time, but as more hunters discover that non-toxic alternatives can be equally or even more successful and as game departments become more concerned about the environmental harm caused by lead, it won’t be long before more and more states enact prohibitions. Now’s a good time to find the right alternative for you.
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