coastalfreak Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 Hi y’all, I have some medical issues that unfortunately limit my ability to use lead ammunition for the sake of limiting exposure to heavy metals. Therefore, in preparation for squirrel season, I’ve been looking at using steel field/upland loads in the woods. I am looking for some recommendations for steel loads and what shot size to use for effective, ethical kills. I live in Louisiana so I’ll likely be hunting in areas with medium to high vegetation cover. Therefore, I don’t expect a lot of longer shots being necessary. Additionally, I hear that steel shot has a tendency to ricochet more than lead. How safe are ground shots at squirrels with it? Here in Louisiana we don’t have a lot of rocks on the ground, mainly fine sediments and lots of organic matter and vegetation. Thanks! "It's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes" -Zac Brown Band "A leader is someone who keeps their head when everyone else is losing theirs." -Bryant Wright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wok167 Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 I'd recommend starting one size larger from what you normally use in lead, then shoot a few patterns through your gun..I use 7.5 shot in lead, 6 shot in steel. I have pretty good luck with these sizes inside 30-35 yds. Lot depends on your choke and pattern. I think some folks make the mistake of of trying to overcompensate with more drams or high brass with steel loads. While it does provide more energy, it can also open your pattern and end up being less effective than low brass. Never noticed more ricochet with steel, but I mostly shoot them in swampy areas. One advantage with steel is you can use a strong magnet to search for pellets in the meat. Disadvantage, if you miss a pellet, they are a lot harder on your teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAL Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 I would try #6 in Steel; it tends to shoot tighter than lead with a given choke, so make sure you pattern your gun/choke tube at the distances you generally shoot. I don't think you'll have any issues with ricochets on ground shots on squirrels... generally that's seen when swatting a crippled duck or goose on the water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LBI SurfRat Posted September 27 Report Share Posted September 27 As said above go up one size. Early season I use 6 lead and later in the year where shots may be farther and their hair/coat is thicker I use 5s lead so go with 5 steel now and 4s later in the year. Steel shoots tighter then lead so start with the mod choke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSeggs Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 (edited) 6 steel sucks on squirrels. It'll kill em. But your gonna be biting alot of pellets. I like nearly all pellets to pass thru. I'd go No.2 or 3. Look at bismuth shot too. Denser than steel and non toxic. Edited September 28 by PSeggs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhager23 Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 Ya'll use a shotgun for squirrels? How is that sporting? What is left of them? GoBow, DMacLeod and oax 2 1 "A land without memories is a people without liberty" - Robert E. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSeggs Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 Alot safer in populated areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhager23 Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 3 hours ago, PSeggs said: Alot safer in populated areas. Ah. That makes sense. Pellet gun? Just never hunted squirrel with a shotgun. Either kill them or it's a miss. "A land without memories is a people without liberty" - Robert E. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSeggs Posted September 28 Report Share Posted September 28 4 mins ago, hhager23 said: Ah. That makes sense. Pellet gun? Just never hunted squirrel with a shotgun. Either kill them or it's a miss. Pellets gun would work. But alot of forests in my area are shotgun only. Plus Oct is also fall turkey season. So a mixed bag is nice. I generally don't break out the 22s till all the leaves have fallen and the squirrels are mostly on the ground. Which is usually early Nov. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bigdeal Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 never liked steel shot....even back when it first came out commercially. Used the first Federal rounds waterfowl huntin' in '70-'71....lacked penetration and wounded a lot of birds.....on squirrels, Nope. hhager23 and Kones1 1 1 "The hungry Wolf hunts the best.... Why isn't John Moses Browning on Mt. Rushmore? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhager23 Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 On 9/28/2023 at 6:18 PM, PSeggs said: Pellets gun would work. But alot of forests in my area are shotgun only. Plus Oct is also fall turkey season. So a mixed bag is nice. I generally don't break out the 22s till all the leaves have fallen and the squirrels are mostly on the ground. Which is usually early Nov. This is the first I have ever heard of shotgun only forests. "A land without memories is a people without liberty" - Robert E. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSeggs Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 30 mins ago, hhager23 said: This is the first I have ever heard of shotgun only forests. Common in CT & Mass jkrock and hhager23 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoBow Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 3 hours ago, Mr. Bigdeal said: ... Used the first Federal rounds waterfowl huntin' in '70-'71....lacked penetration and wounded a lot of birds... Yep. Still have two boxes of the stuff in my stash. Paid $5 a box for them way back then... Mr. Bigdeal 1 An 8 oz sinker and a bunker head will only fly so far... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkrock Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 On 9/28/2023 at 9:11 AM, hhager23 said: Ya'll use a shotgun for squirrels? How is that sporting? What is left of them? My idiotic state makes it illegal to hunt squirrels with a 22lr where I live. But I can hunt rabbits with one, or even coyotes with a 300 wtby mag. "mother Theresa was a POS"-fish'nmagician Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhager23 Posted October 2 Report Share Posted October 2 1 hour ago, jkrock said: My idiotic state makes it illegal to hunt squirrels with a 22lr where I live. But I can hunt rabbits with one, or even coyotes with a 300 wtby mag. Just curious - which state? I've never shot a squirrel wth anything but a 22lr. Shot gun only forests etc... very new to me. I just walk through the woods and and pop a few for dinner and brunswick stew. "A land without memories is a people without liberty" - Robert E. Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.JPG.d371fb7105c1ed2771e21178bf303190.JPG)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to register here in order to participate.
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now