Steel shot for waterfowl is tough to pattern

[Trigger_joy]

Lead patterned perfectly for me, then I switched to steel and it was all over the place. It definitely takes some work to get it dialed in.

 

[WAYNO]

I remember very well when we were required to transition from lead to steel. None of us liked steel at all!
We learned to experiment, and it seems the only answer from the ammo companies was to step up the velocity, increase shell length, and advocate for the 10 gauge. Seemed reasonable, and overall it was an improvement. But what we learned also, is a lesson we learned at the trap ranges. It is easy to blow a pattern apart by over-choking hotter loads.
Now, switching from a full to an improved modified or modified choke may help with some guns with some loads, but it may not help at all with other guns or loads. The gun and ammo companies always advised against using a full choke with steel, and they claimed it was to prevent damage to the choke and/or barrel. I believe the caution was issued also for the reasons above, pattern performance. Steel does not perform well in a full choke. Although I wouldn't do it, some folks claim the fixed-full choke performs well with smaller steel shot. I wont take that chance.
A feller just has to keep experimenting to see just what load his particular choke likes best.
You have not mentioned your firearm or choke. If it has screw-in choke tubes, there are many after-market tubes designed expressly for steel. Some may or may not improve a steel pattern. Again, only experimenting will provide answers.



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[Mandy]

Steel loads caught me off guard when I switched. My patterns shifted enough that I needed to try out different chokes before waterfowl season.

 

[Alan]

I remember very well when we were required to transition from lead to steel. None of us liked steel at all!
We learned to experiment, and it seems the only answer from the ammo companies was to step up the velocity, increase shell length, and advocate for the 10 gauge. Seemed reasonable, and overall it was an improvement. But what we learned also, is a lesson we learned at the trap ranges. It is easy to blow a pattern apart by over-choking hotter loads.
Now, switching from a full to an improved modified or modified choke may help with some guns with some loads, but it may not help at all with other guns or loads. The gun and ammo companies always advised against using a full choke with steel, and they claimed it was to prevent damage to the choke and/or barrel. I believe the caution was issued also for the reasons above, pattern performance. Steel does not perform well in a full choke. Although I wouldn't do it, some folks claim the fixed-full choke performs well with smaller steel shot. I wont take that chance.
A feller just has to keep experimenting to see just what load his particular choke likes best.
You have not mentioned your firearm or choke. If it has screw-in choke tubes, there are many after-market tubes designed expressly for steel. Some may or may not improve a steel pattern. Again, only experimenting will provide answers.



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Steel loads really changed the game. Half the battle is just pattern testing until your gun finally says, “Yep, this one works.”

 

[Daven11]

I remember very well when we were required to transition from lead to steel. None of us liked steel at all!
We learned to experiment, and it seems the only answer from the ammo companies was to step up the velocity, increase shell length, and advocate for the 10 gauge. Seemed reasonable, and overall it was an improvement. But what we learned also, is a lesson we learned at the trap ranges. It is easy to blow a pattern apart by over-choking hotter loads.
Now, switching from a full to an improved modified or modified choke may help with some guns with some loads, but it may not help at all with other guns or loads. The gun and ammo companies always advised against using a full choke with steel, and they claimed it was to prevent damage to the choke and/or barrel. I believe the caution was issued also for the reasons above, pattern performance. Steel does not perform well in a full choke. Although I wouldn't do it, some folks claim the fixed-full choke performs well with smaller steel shot. I wont take that chance.
A feller just has to keep experimenting to see just what load his particular choke likes best.
You have not mentioned your firearm or choke. If it has screw-in choke tubes, there are many after-market tubes designed expressly for steel. Some may or may not improve a steel pattern. Again, only experimenting will provide answers.



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Well said, steel loads are finicky, and dialing in choke/ammo combos really comes down to range time and pattern testing.