I'm looking at doing some dove hunting in an area this year that requires USFWS approved non-lead shot.
Any recommendations on loads? What size steel shot should I consider #6? #7?
Thanks for the help
Ken

I've used Remingtons cheap steel loads, like $6 a box, on doves and quail and they'll kill em', but my shots were 25 yds and under. The 7's patterned better out of my Beretta for what little patterning I did.

It may come to pass that my areas are all designated lead free so I'm gonna play with some steel handloads for upland birds this year.

I'm from Louisiana, and for those dove hunters who shoot from sandbars on the rivers, steel shot is not mandatory, but rather at the discretion of the individual wildlife enforcement agents who check your license, gun, and other things. We ARE mandated to use #7 1/2 shot and smaller.

For those who hunt the fields lead shot is still allowed. Though, since doves are considered/classified as 'migratory game birds' I wouldn't be surprised if steel shot was not mandated in the near future.

John

If I had to shoot steel for dove I would go with #7 over #6. Fortunately I do not. For myself and others that hunt with something smaller than a twenty gauge steel is not an option.

SH

All my shotguns but one are OLD! And will not do the steel shot thing without damaging the bore, or at least that's what I've been told. Only one shotgun has the chrome bore for steel shot, and that is my Baikal 12 gauge O/U. Sure hope they don't make me go to steel shot in everything.

John

Go with bismuth for the smaller gauges, it's soft and won't harm the barrel.

Matter of fact I'm gonna try handloading it for my 20 and 28 gauges for upland birds and snipe.

No bismuth for me. I'm happy with lead.

SH

This is my Steel target / dove/ quail load .
Coppyed from Alliant reloading manual

In a Federal Goldmedal Hull
7/8 oz Steelshot , 1,700fps , Fed. 209A primer , 42 gr Steel powder , Reloading Specialties "SAM 1" 12 ga 2 3/4" wad 7,800 PSI

I load #7 steel for doves , quail and clay targets
#4 for pheasants

Johnch

John, are you using the Federal Gold Medal hull for that load ?

And have you ever tried 6's or 5's for teal with that ?

Sorry I did forget the hull

Yes I do use GM hulls .

No I use #4 for teal also
Don't keep #5 or #6 steel around , when #4 patterens so well for me .

Johnch

Thanks, I've got a couple thousand of em'

As I said earlier, it may well be that part of, if not all, of CA goes lead free for ALL hunting ammo due to endangered species issues.

So I'm going to play with steel for upland a lot this year. Illegitimi Non Carborundum !!

I wish someone sold that tungsten iron shot Federal loads because it works very well on waterfowl.

And I'm damn interested in Remingtons new non toxic shot, Wingmaster HD , though of course they'll never sell us bags of shot.