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Why was the shot cloud bright silver at the Olympics?

Nickel plated shot: It was fascinating to see flash clays disintegrating in the shot cloud during slow-motion replays in the TV coverage of the Olympic trap, double trap and skeet.

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But sometimes the shot cloud looked grey, and at other times bright silver. Why?

NICKEL PLATED SHOT
Mike George
I noticed this, too, and believe the silvery effect was due to the fact that the majority of shooters, particularly in the trap disciplines, were using nickel-plated shot.

As to why, some shooters will tell you that nickel-plating makes shot harder.

It doesn?t, but it does give the surface of each pellet a more slippery, lubricated film.

This helps prevent shot becoming oval, particularly when forced through the tight chokes preferred by trap shooters, and therefore give better patterns.