Shot Talk

What are the most important new shotshell products for 2008? Where does the most “newness” occur? Not in the domain of lead shot. In fact there are so few new products in lead this year that they hardly justify mentioning. Thankfully, there’s enough new in nontoxics that I can revisit developments in lead in a future column.
Although lead certainly is not dead, its usage worldwide in shotshell ammunition continues to shrink each year, whereas the volume of nontoxic shells purchased continues to grow. This trend is evident in the lineup of new nontoxic shot types and loads for ’08.

Nice Shot
With the demise of Bismuth Cartridge Co. last year, due largely to the death of co-founder Bob Petersen in March 2007, shotgunners wanting to shoot or reload soft nontoxic shot have been scrambling to find a substitute. The challenge has been that a new nontoxic pellet would have to be relatively soft so that it could be used in any shotgun and loaded in any gauge, plus have a higher density than steel shot and be available for reloading. A price that could compete with the currently available tungsten-composite pellets would be a huge plus.
Enter Nice Shot. If you shoot RST shotshells or follow the company’s Website or advertising, you might already know about Nice Shot, which has been available since mid-2007. Manufactured in China (like many currently available tungsten-composite pellets) and marketed in the US by ecoTungsten Manufacturing Services, in San Jose, Nice Shot is a darn nice substitute for bismuth. It already is being loaded in a variety of gauges and shot sizes by RST—the Pennsylvania shotshell maker catering to vintage-gun shooters—and loose Nice Shot is being sold for reloading by ecoTungsten.
Here are the details: Nice Shot pellets exhibit about the same uniformity and sphericity as high-quality lead pellets. The pellets have a slight silver cast as a result of their being a tungsten-iron-tin composite. Tungsten, you fear? Fear not. The resulting hardness of Nice Shot is a bit harder than high-antimony lead but way softer than any steel shot and softer than all mainstream tungsten-composite pellets—other than Kent’s Tungsten Matrix or Hevi-Shot’s new Classic Doubles. What is excellent about Nice Shot is that it has a higher density (10.2 gm/cc) than bismuth/tin and Classic Doubles (both at about 9.75) and one that is very close to Tungsten Matrix (10.4). In contrast, lead-shot density hovers around 11.0. Its softness means that Nice Shot can be loaded in lead-shot wads in any gauge and fired in any shotgun suitable for lead shot without fear of bore or choke damage from erosion or down-bore radial pressures.
Available in a wide variety of pellet sizes for reloading—BB, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 71/2—Nice Shot could be purchased from ecoTungsten for $60 per kilogram at press time, or approximately $27.25 per pound, according to General Manager Ming Hwang. This is somewhat more expensive than current prices for Hevi-Shot or for what bismuth used to sell for. It’s significantly more than what lead shot costs, even at its current jacked-up price. But, hey, any time you add tungsten to a pellet you’re talking expensive.
Hwang also points out that because Nice Shot is slightly harder than lead, its pellets are less vulnerable to setback and extrusion deformation than are lead pellets. This translates into patterning performance that is superior to both lead and bismuth. Reloaders beginning to discover this are starting to load lighter-than-customary shot charges to save money, reduce recoil and still put as many pellets on target with Nice Shot as any lead load would.
For information on the pellets or for reloading orders, contact ecoTungsten, 408-838-5158; www.ecotungsten.com.

E Shot
While I’m on the subject of reloading and new nontoxic pellets, shotgunners also should check with Reloading Specialties, in Pine Island, Minnesota. The company has introduced a tungsten-alloy pellet called E Shot. I can report only claims here, because I have not yet had time to work with or test E Shot. E Shot is said to have a density of about 12 (like Hevi-Shot) but is said to be significantly softer than steel, with the basically round pellets featuring a small protruding belt around the middle like Environ-Metal’s new Hevi-Shot Classic Doubles pellets. At press time E Shot was available only in size T, but there were plans to come out with it in No. 41/2s.
For more information, contact Reloading Specialties, 507-356-8500; www.re loadingspecialties.com.

RST Nice Shot
This year RST, in Friendsville, Pennsylvania, is offering a variety of specialty 10-, 12-, 16-, 20- and 28-gauge Nice Shot loads intended especially for the older-gun enthusiast. The 10-gauge shell will be 2-7/8", with 1-1/4 oz of No. 5 shot; the 12- and 16-gauge shells will be 2-1/2" with 1 oz of No. 5s, 6s or 7-1/2s; the 20-gauge shells will be 21/2" and 23/4", both with 7/8 oz of No. 5s, 6s or 7-1/2s; and the 28-gauge shells will be 23/4" with 3/4 oz of No. 6s or 7-1/2s. At press time the retail price was about $75 for 25 shells—12 through 28 gauge—which was the going price for many competitors’ tungsten-composite loads. The 10-gauge shells were 10 for $40.
For more information, contact RST, 570-553-1651; www.rstshells.com.

Nice Shot, Inc.
Another source of loaded Nice Shot ammunition is Nice Shot, Inc, in Albion, Pennsylvania. Company President Daniel G. Tercho is the inventor of Nice Shot, and his company carries 23/4" 12-gauge loads in No. 2s, 4s, 5s, 6s and 71/2s.
For more information, visit Nice Shot, Inc.’s Website: www.niceshotinc.com.

Environ-Metal Hevi-Shot
Shooters using classic double guns compatible only with relatively soft pellets need to check out Environ-Metal’s appropriately named Hevi-Shot Classic Doubles nontoxic ammunition. Aimed at filling the void left by bismuth, Classic Doubles pellets are soft, tungsten-composite shot of about 9.75 density. The pellets are basically spherical in shape but with a distinctive band. For 2008 Environ-Metal, in Sweet Home, Oregon, intends to have Classic Doubles shells available in 12,16, 20 and 28 gauge as well as .410 bore. Classic Doubles will not be available for shorter chamber lengths, though they are offered with moderate shot-charge weights and velocities of 1,110 fps and 1,150 fps. Depending upon gauge, pellet sizes include No. 4s, 5s and 6s, with prices ranging from $24 to $33 per box of 10. At press time the pellets were not being sold for reloading.
The entire Environ-Metal Hevi-Shot line contains the greatest diversity of tungsten-composite loads available worldwide. In a nutshell, they aren’t just waterfowl loads anymore. All Environ-Metal tungsten-composite loads are preceded by the words “Hevi-Shot” and followed by the word that designates the loads’ primary intended use. No longer do the various Hevi-Shot products contain pellets of the same density. For example, the Hevi-Shot Duck and new Hevi-Shot Pheasant loads contain pellets with densities of about 10, as opposed to the Hevi-Shot Goose loads and the pellets sold for reloading, which have densities of about 12. Then there’s what I call Hevi-Shot turkey, officially marketed as Hevi-13. These loads contain pellets with densities of about 13 and small shot sizes intended primarily for turkey hunters.
Hevi-Steel is a line of 12- and now 20-gauge loads containing tungsten-steel-composite pellets of intermediate density —and at an intermediate price point—between traditional steel-shot loads and the much denser and more expensive tungsten-composite pellets currently on the market.
Space does not allow a listing of all the gauges, load weights and shot sizes available in the very extensive Hevi-Shot lineup.
For more information, contact Environ-Metal, 541-367-3522; www.Hevishot .com.

Steel-Shot Loads
Some of the following manufacturers offer new or expanded products with softer alloys, but for 2008 there also have been significant developments in traditional steel-shot loads. Here’s the deal: Lead shot has more than tripled in price since 2005. Some say lead-shot prices have plateaued; others are not so sure. Whatever the case, every serious shotshell manufacturer is looking for a pellet to replace lead, even in its target-load line. It has nothing to do with toxicity. Rather it is price-point concerns, and right now it’s approaching being less expensive to manufacture a target load containing traditional steel shot than it is to make one with lead. So for the future, hold on. We haven’t seen anything yet.

B&P
New for this year, B&P has introduced Professional Steel 12-gauge target loads —the F2 Legend and F2 Mach lines—containing 7/8 and 1 oz of steel in sizes No. 7 and 8-1/2. The velocities of these loads vary from 1,345 to 1,360 fps, and the shells are priced from $78.69 to $88.22 per case of 250. That’s right in the neighborhood of most US manufacturers’ top-of-the-line 12-gauge lead target loads. And it’s cheaper than the current price of US lead 28-gauge and .410 target loads. (And keep in mind that at press time B&P USA also was offering free shipping via FedEx for all business ground and home delivery of select loads.)
B&P claims that in tests using the new Pro Steel line versus the company’s traditional 1,200-fps lead target loads, shooters could not tell any difference in target-breaking ability.
For more information, contact B&P USA at Kaltron-Pettibone, 800-683-0464, www.bandpusa.com.

Federal Cartridge
Although neither Federal nor its subsidiary Estate really offers nontoxic target loads, one load that comes close is Estate’s 23/4" 20-gauge, 3/4-oz steel load in No. 6s. Other than that, all Federal and Estate steel-shot offerings are essentially hunting loads.
Federal always has had an extensive line of steel loads designed principally for waterfowling. It offers its Premium Ultra-Shok Heavy High Velocity and just High Velocity steel loads in 10, 12, 16 and 20 gauges, and Estate offers a more value-priced line of steel hunting loads in 10, 12 and 20 gauges. This year Federal has introduced Wing-Shok Pheasants Forever Upland Steel High Velocity loads, which are 3" shells in 12 and 20 gauge with velocities of 1,400 and 1,350 fps. Shot-size choices are No. 3s and 5s in both shells.
The most innovative nontoxic steel load from Federal is its relatively new Black Cloud line primarily for waterfowlers. Black Cloud features a mixture of Federal’s Flitestopper steel pellets, which each look like a little planet Saturn with a sharp belt around the equator and flattened north and south poles. In Black Cloud shells, Flitestopper pellets are loaded in the bottom of the shot column and traditional round steel pellets rest in the top. All of the pellets are contained in Federal’s Flitecontrol wad. These specialty steel loads are available in 3-1/2" and 3" 12-gauge in BBBs, BBs, No. 2s and—new for ’08—3s and 4s. Because of the less-aerodynamically efficient shape of FS steel pellets, Black Cloud loads do not pattern as well as traditional, high-quality steel loads. Thus they serve best for short- and medium-range shooting.
Shooters interested in softer, higher-density nontoxic pellets should consider Federal’s Premium High Density line. Actually introduced in 2006, Premium High Density pellets are tungsten-iron, have a density of 10 gm/cc (steel shot is about 7.9), and have a thick band around their equators. Softer than steel but not as soft as other soft nontoxics previously mentioned, High Density is available in 31/2" 10- and 12-gauge and 3" 12- and 20-gauge loads.
If you want even more density, check out Federal’s Heavyweight loads. Currently available in 3-1/2" and 3" 12-gauge only with velocities of 1,450 fps, Heavyweight pellets boast a density of 15 gm/cc, making them the densest nontoxic pellets available in the world. Pellet sizes are No. 2, 4 and 6.
For more information, contact Federal Cartridge Co., 763-323-3878; www.federal premium.com.

Fiocchi
Adding to the company’s already extensive line of steel-shot target loads, Fiocchi this year has introduced the 12S116, 23/4" 12-gauge load containing 11/6 oz of No. 6 or 7 shot at 1,325 fps. With this addition, Fiocchi now has everything from high-velocity 12-gauge steel No. 7s at 1,440 fps to low-recoil 12- and 20-gauge steel No. 6s and 7s at 1,200 and 1,225 fps. Then there are 1-oz 12-gauge steel target loads of No. 6s or 7s at 1,400 fps as well as 3/4-oz 20-gauge steel No. 6s or 7s at a whopping 1,470 fps.
Also this year Fiocchi introduced its Speed Steel line, with a 3" 12-gauge 11/8-oz load of BBB, BB and No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 shot traveling at 1,475 fps. And its new Golden Waterfowl line consists of 3" 12-gauge 1-1/4-oz loads of BBB, BB and No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 steel shot traveling at 1,400 fps.
Fiocchi also offers an extensive line of 12- and 20-gauge traditional steel waterfowl loads, plus two steel loads in its Golden Pheasant line.
For more information, contact Fiocchi of America, 417-725-4118; www.fiocchi usa.com.

Kent Cartridge
I always have admired the way the two Bobs—Sheridan and Cove—made a big move several years ago in buying the defunct ACTIV shotshell plant in West Virginia. They started loading and marketing Kent lead loads, soon followed with Tungsten Matrix nontoxic loads, and then added Fasteel loads. Very smart and very perceptive marketing there.
Kent’s Tungsten Matrix pellets consist of a plastic base infiltrated with tungsten powder that results in soft nontoxic pellets suitable for any shotgun and choke system that can handle lead. There is a wide array of loads in the Tungsten Matrix line.
If your gun can handle steel shot, Kent offers a broad variety of Fasteel loads (with velocities ranging from 1,300 to 1,625 fps!) in 12 through 20 gauge.
If you don’t like the prices of either of these two nontoxics, check out Kent’s new All Purpose Precision Steel loads in 3" 12 and 20 gauge. These value-priced loads vary in velocity from 1,300 to 1,490 fps in BBs, No. 2s and No. 4s.
Kent also has an essentially new line of Velocity Steel Shot Target loads introduced late last year containing biodegradable fiber and card wads with photode-gradable plastic shotcups. Velocity loads come in 2-3/4" 12 and 20 gauge with No. 7 shot.
This year Kent also has expanded its Tungsten Matrix line to include pheasant and game loads in 23/4" 12, 16 and 20 gauge in sizes No. 5 and 6. There is also a high-performance 3" 12-gauge 15/8-oz turkey load with No. 5 pellets.
Kent also imports various Gamebore loads manufactured in the UK. Among them is Gamebore’s new Silver Steel high-velocity waterfowl and pheasant/ upland bird loads containing its Bio-Wad system in 2-3/4" and 3" 12 gauge with shot sizes No. 4, 5, 6 or 7 depending upon the load.
For more details, contact Kent, 888-311-5368; www.kentgamebore.com

Polywad
Always an innovator, Jay Menefee at Polywad, in Macon, Georgia, has introduced several nontoxic loads for ’08. The new GreenLite line of steel-shot loads feature bio- and photo-degradable components in a patent-pending design. These 12-gauge loads will leave no visible or lasting debris and will be available in light-shot-charge weights at modest velocities, resulting in low recoil. No further details were available at press time. I do know, however, that Polywad plans to offer 20- and 28-gauge GreenLite loads this year.
Hunters looking for open-patterning steel loads will like Polywad’s new Squounds line. These loads feature pellets that are neither round nor square, thus the name “Squound.” By fall these loads should be available in 12- and 20-gauge 3" shells in BB, No. 3 and No. 6 shot.
For more information, contact Polywad, 800-998-0669; www.polywad-shot gun-shells.com.

Remington
Hunters will be glad to hear that Remington has expanded its Wingmaster HD line of tungsten-composite pellets with a density of 12. These extremely uniform and spherical pellets have been available in a wide variety of waterfowl-type loads from 31/2" 10-gauge through 3" 20-gauge (excluding 16-gauge) in shot sizes BB and No. 2, 4 and 6. One gap filled this year is a 3-1/2" 10-gauge loaded with 13/4 oz of No. 4s; Remington also has added 23/4" 20-gauge loads in sizes No. 4 and 6.
For many years Remington has offered its Sportsman High Speed steel line, which includes a 1-oz 12-gauge and a 3/4-oz 20-gauge load of No. 6 and No. 7 shot traveling at 1,365 fps and 1,425 fps. My trainees and I also have fired tens of thousands of rounds of these loads at clay targets, and they do every bit as good a job as Winchester’s similar Xpert steel. They’ll have to do for now, because the company has announced no new loads for 2008. Neither has Remington announced any additions to its Nitro-Steel Magnum line of high-quality zinc-plated steel shot.
At press time there were programs where Sportsman loads suitable for target shooting were selling for less than $6 a box—lower than any currently available high-quality lead 12-gauge target loads. For more information, contact Remington, 800-243-9700; www.remington.com.

Winchester
For several years Winchester has offered its Xpert line of steel upland game and target loads in 1-oz 12 and 3/4-oz 20 gauge in sizes No. 6 and 7 traveling at 1,300 fps. For 2008 Winchester is expanding its Xpert line to include slightly faster 12- and 20-gauge loads at 1,325 fps. And you’re going to see Winchester promoting its Xpert steel target loads more aggressively.
Although there are no new shells this year from Winchester, don’t forget that the company offers an extensive line of Super X steel waterfowl and upland bird loads plus its Supreme line of steel waterfowl loads.
For more information, visit www.win chester.com.

So there you go. The world is growing its line of nontoxic shotshells and, judging from the fact that there are hardly any new lead offerings this year, it’s not doing much to expand its lead loads, especially in the US. In truth, lines of existing lead shotshells are shrinking. This is a reality to which the shotgunning world will have to adapt.