Dozens of non-toxic lead shot substitutes suitable for waterfowl hunting have been researched and explored for decades. In this time only steel shot has proven non-toxic, ballistically acceptable, and economically feasible. Despite the fact that when taken as a whole available research to compare steel vs. lead's ability to bag ducks tends to indicate no significant differences, the belief that steel shot will cripple a greater percentage of waterfowl, besides damaging shotguns, still receives strong support. These beliefs stem from ignorance of facts concerning gun-barrel-damage tests and history, and of the ballistic characteristics and potential of steel shot loads. Ballistically, steel shot can be loaded to perform as well to 70 yards in bagging waterfowl as popular lead shot loads. Steel shot maintains a better form factor than lead shot, and compensations can be made for its lighter weight to enable it to deliver values of retained energy equal to popular lead shot sizes. Improved factory loads and steel shot hand loads are forthcoming in the fall of 1978.
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