Free for All Friday 8-15-2014: Target ammo and steel vs lead
Didn’t get any questions last week. I was starting to think I had answered everyone’s questions and that I wouldn’t be able to do this column any more! Thankfully, that didn’t turn out to be the case. We have two questions this week.
I saw .38 special ammo today at the LGS. Full metal jacket and lead round nose. Both were the same price. Which is better for target shooting at the range? -Mike H.
Under most circumstances, my answer is always “go with the cheapest for the majority of your practice”. In this case, however, price is removed as a factor. If it were me, I’d go with the full metal jacket option. Unjacketed lead rounds are typically dirtier for multiple reasons. One of the main reasons is that they usually seal it with a bit of paraffin and that stuff gets on everything. It’s also going to leave more lead residue all over and lead, as we know, is poisonous. when a round is jacketed, it reduces the amount of lead that gets expelled from the gun when it’s fired. It doesn’t remove it altogether, mind you, so you should keep that in mind…but that’s an article for another day.
Hey Noob! Now that I am shooting trap etc. quick question on shotgun shells. Steel shot or lead? Which is better for trap shooting? Thanks as always!! -Skylar R.
I’m about to contradict myself completely here. I’d go with the lead shot. First off, it’s cheaper. Secondly, I’ve yet to go to a skeet range that doesn’t say “no steel shot allowed”. Steel is a bit more destructive when it comes to the machines and equipment at the range and someone is always going to accidentally shoot the launchers. Don’t believe me? Take a look at them if you can. Lead shot, while still destructive to the equipment, won’t do as much damage. In the end, most ranges will have notices telling you which kind you can use and what the maximum shot size you can have. If they don’t have it prominently posted, ask a rangemaster what they’d prefer you use.
Thanks for the questions!
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