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Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

I know the question sounds a little weird but, hey I'm a little weird......I have a factory cyl barrel for a short chambered 16 ga A5 and steel shot would work fine at the ranges I'll shoot it.

Given the price of Bizmuth shot these days I thought I might try loading a short 16 ga shell with steel. However I need a wad that will keep the steel shot from scoring up the barrel. Does anyone know if a (steel shot) wad has ever been made for the 16?

BTW, it's ok to make fun of me with your response!

Jeff

Jeff - search BPI - I think they have one - if my memory of recent homework serves me...

For some reason I think it's just a shot cup with no crush zone - I may be thinking of the bismuth wads I've picked up though...

please post up if you find something

Guest

Jeff Ballistic Products lists a Multi-Metal 16 gauge wad that they say will work with Biamuth, Steel, Hevi-Shot and lead. Their catalog number is 2221680.

I haven't used these wads so I can't recommend them one way or the other.

Member Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Posts: 398 Location: S Fl

It's the BP Multi Metal wad. It's a solid cup, no petals, no crush zone. Looks like a little plastic test tube. They're .668 OD.

Pete

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

Sure enough....should have looked before posting.

http://shop2.mailordercentral.com/bpicart/prodinfo.asp?number=2221680

Though the lack of slits on the cup will sure protect the bore, I wonder if it affects pattern? It just seems to me that the shot may not exit the cup promptly and evenly.....but I may try them and see what kind of patterns I get out of my cyl bore!

Jeff

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Go ahead and slit the wad and use the mylar or other plastic 'sheet' inserts in the multi-metal wad---gives protection and 'petals' if you desire.
Most of the infortation I have suggests that harder shot (steel, tungsten-steel, hevi-shot) is not particularly harmful to barrels up to modified choking.
I gave up ferrous materials some time ago and am sold on T/M and bismuth (shells are the least expensive part of a hunt!) BUT I have used the 'hard' shot in A-5's, model 12's and numerous other shotguns without chrome barrels and had no problems---an acquaintance of mine DID manage to peen the choke enough to get a slight bulge in an old 11-48 but it was choked full.
There will doubtlessly be other opinions, but I have never managed to get steel or any of the steel alloys to give me the performance I get from other non-toxic payloads and, believing the game deserves a 'quick kill', I use shot that mimics lead in performance.

The BP Multi-Metal wad definitely needs to be slit -- otherwise you'll be sending a slug-like projectile downrange. Experiment with various numbers of slits and depths of slits until you find what combination works best with your specific gun. For my M37 with modified barrel I find I get the best patterns with four equadistant slits to about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the shot cup. For steel shot, I always use a mylar insert for extra barrel protection; don't know if it truly helps or not, but then again I haven't damaged the barrels of any of my guns.