Pigeon shooting: In your opinion, are more pigeon shooters now using steel shot cartridges to keep costs down? The reason I ask is that nobody seems to be talking about the subject, yet clay shooters openly admit that they are using the stuff.
PIGEON SHOOTING
Peter Theobald
I don’t know of any serious pigeon shooters who regularly use steel loads, for the same reason that nobody would voluntarily use them for wildfowling – and that’s because they are inferior to lead for killing live quarry at any given distance.
Clay shooting is another ball game entirely, where the only requisite is to break a visible piece off the target, to score a ‘kill’.
Steel shot will certainly perform adequately out to about 35 yards, but I don’t think the prospect of saving a few pence per shot should tempt any of us to give it a try, and maybe compromise the results you will undoubtedly get with lead.
Get the latest news delivered direct to your door
Discover the ultimate companion for fieldsports enthusiasts with Shooting Times & Country Magazine, the UK’s leading weekly publication that has been at the forefront of shooting culture since 1882. Subscribers gain access to expert tips, comprehensive gear reviews, seasonal advice and a vibrant community of like-minded shooters.
Save on shop price when you subscribe with weekly issues featuring in-depth articles on gundog training, exclusive member offers and access to the digital back issue library. A Shooting Times & Country subscription is more than a magazine, don’t just read about the countryside; immerse yourself in its most authoritative and engaging publication.