• Every hunter should be aware of steel shot characteristics.Jeffrey Coolidge/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Steel shot has replaced lead shot for the purpose of hunting waterfowl in various parts of the world. The concentration of lead pellets over feeding grounds of birds causes poisoning of waterfowl due to accidental ingestion while feeding. This effect has caused the United States, Canada and other countries to require the use of non-toxic steel shot. Steel pellets react differently than lead, making an understanding of steel shot specifications important.
  
  

Firmness

• Steel shot is harder than lead. When compared to the hardness of a diamond, lead shot (based on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the diamond) stands at 1.5 to 2. Steel shot, however, stands at 4 on the scale, making it approximately twice has firm as lead. This characteristic makes steel pellets likely to ricochet off hard or frozen surfaces when hunting. The hardness of steel shot causes concern over the effect on shotgun barrels that may become damaged, or experience accelerate wear from the use of firm pellets. However, as stated by the Commission Internationale Permanente (CIP), an entity responsible for applying standards to the gun and ammunition industry, steel shot is safe for use in any gun capable of properly firing lead shot.
  
  

Shot Sizes Reference

• A number and letter system characterize steel shot size. These parameters indicate the diameter of each pellet and aids in determining the amount of pellets available for accurately hitting a target. A lower shot number indicates a pellet with a larger diameter. As an example: a shot number 7 pellet measures .10 inches in diameter and a shot number 2 pellet has a diameter of .15 inches, or one and one half times that of number 7 shot. The approximate number of pellets available in a shotgun shell is specified by the amount in 1 ounce of steel shot. Due to the increase in pellet diameter, a lower shot number indicates fewer pellets per 1 ounce of shot. As steel shot sizes increase, numbers are replaced with letter designations. A larger amount of pellets in a shell creates a denser pattern of shot when fired. This increases the likelihood of hitting the target.
  
  

Additional Characteristics

• Steel shot firmness, compared to lead, make it capable of withstanding the high pressures created when firing without deforming. Lead shot softness will cause some pellets to become flattened upon discharge from the gun affecting shot pattern. The use of steel shot results in a more accurate pattern because the pellets stay round when fired.