16ga.com ~ View topic

Member Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 120 Location: FL

I was on Winchesters website this morning looking at the new products for 2021 and they are coming out with a 16ga. Super X # 6 steel shotshell.
(Scroll down to the second page.)

https://primedfor21.winchester.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-WIN-New-Products-Sheet.pdf

Joined: 21 Mar 2019 Posts: 523 Location: Texas

Says for clay target and upland. Anyone using steel for clay targets? Not allowed on my clay fields.

Member Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 120 Location: FL

It's mandatory at some ranges now and I'm sure with pressure more will be going that way.

Justchris,

Thanks for the heads up! Coupled with the new stock options for A-5 Sweet 16s that have shown up on Browning's website lately, that's good news for the gauge.
What next--a 3 inch A-5 Sweet with a camo plastic stock and 3 inch 16 gauge shells?

Twenty years ago, I started hunting wild quail on federal lands that required non-toxic shot, but there was no suitable sized steel shot (#6 or#7) available for 16 gauge shooters (only #2 and #4). So, when Lyman's 5th came out with steel 16 gauge recipes, I started reloading it in BPs 1680 wad in cheddite-type hulls, and have used it ever since, with no major complaints. . . . . Other than wondering why a major manufacturer didn't load suitable steel for small upland birds. . . . . .a complaint that I've seen on this site at times (the bismuth #6 loads that became available helped "offset" this issue, but cost more than steel).

So the Winchester offerings will be appreciated.

It is interesting to me that Winchester does not offer 16 gauge "waterfowl" steel shot in 16 gauge anymore, and hasn't for years, but has now made this offering. A little history here, Winchester was the first major shell manufacturer to come out with steel 16 gauge "waterfowl" loads around 1990, soon followed by Remington and Federal. Winchester dropped their 16 gauge offerings not too many years afterward, say around 1995, and to my knowledge have not offered 16 gauge steel loads since. Will they do that again for waterfowl loads? Or stick with the upland bird/clay games steel sizes?

The original steel 16 gauge offerings are an interesting lot. They were offered in size 2 and 4, and loaded in Compression Formed hulls. I shot a bunch of them hunting mallards in flooded timber, and retain about 3/4th of a flat from when I quit duck hunting around 2005. I use the hulls to reload a specific lead load that is easily identifiable. They are pictured below:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ksaYAn]

[/url]WinCFsteel by Michael Widner, on Flickr

Joined: 28 Sep 2014 Posts: 241 Location: Kingsland, Texas

Range I was at made steel mandatory. I have shotguns that aren’t rated for steel.
So I left.

You live close to AUSTIN?

What range please?

Member Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 120 Location: FL

I live 10 min. from a range that requires steel shot. (Backs up to a wildlife area in the city.)
I choose to go to another range 45 - 60 min. away depending on traffic.
(It's a nicer one too.)

Joined: 05 Oct 2017 Posts: 284 Location: Central MN

It’s another loading which is always good. I’d love those in #3 shot.

Joined: 28 Apr 2017 Posts: 61 Location: Central Oklahoma

Joined: 28 Apr 2017 Posts: 61 Location: Central Oklahoma

Browning was bringing out a Steel shot load in 16 gauge but I haven’t found it anywhere.

Joined: 28 Sep 2014 Posts: 241 Location: Kingsland, Texas

Best of the West just outside Austin in Liberty Hill. I asked why because they are out in the middle of nowhere. I was told they were concerned animals were eating the lead. Rolling Eyes

I asked they were also going to ban lead bullets. At one time they hosted quite a few of the 3 gun competitions. I’m not sure if they are still operating that range now with Covid.

Joined: 30 Mar 2020 Posts: 13 Location: SWEDEN