Tom Roster's Nontoxic Shot Lethality Table ©
Proven Nontoxic Shot Loads for Waterfowl and Upland Game Birds*
Load Velocity: 1,225-1,700 FPS
| Activity | Observed Hunters’ Typical Shooting Range During Activity (Yards) | Most Effective Nontoxic Shot Size(s) For Birds Listed Under "Activity" at the Distances Listed in the Second Column | Minimum Load Weight (Ounces) | Minimum Pellet Hits Needed on Lethal Areas for Clean Kills | Minimum Pattern Count Needed at Any Distance for Clean Kills (Number of Pellets in 30-inch Circle) | Most Effective Choke(s) at Distance (Given in Lead Shot Choke Designations) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large Geese at Long Range |
50-65 50-70 |
Steel BBB to T HEVI-Shot 2 to B |
1-1/4 1-1/2 |
1-2 1-2 |
50-55 50-55 |
Improved Modified Improved Modified, Full |
| Large Geese Over Decoys |
35-50 35-50 |
Steel BB to BBB HEVI-Shot 2 to B |
1-1/4 1-1/2 |
1-2 1-2 |
50-55 50-55 |
Improved Cylinder, Modified Improved Cylinder, Modified
|
|
Medium/Small Geese Long Range |
50-65 50-65
|
Steel BB to BBB HEVI-Shot 2
|
1-1/4 1-1/2
|
1-2 1-2 |
60-65 60-65 |
Improved Modified Improved Modified, Full |
| Medium/Small Geese Over Decoys |
35-50 35-50 |
Steel 2 to BB HEVI-Shot 4 to 2 |
1-1/8 1-1/4 |
1-2 1-2 |
60-65 60-65 |
Light Modified, Modified Improved Cylinder, Modified |
|
Large Ducks at Long Range |
45-65 45-65 |
Steel 2 to 1 HEVI-Shot 4 |
1-1/8 1-1/4 |
1-2 1-2 |
85-90 85-90 |
Improved Modified, Full Improved Modified, Full |
| Large Ducks Over Decoys |
20-45 20-45 |
Steel 6 to 2 HEVI-Shot 6 to 4 |
3/4-1 1-1/8 |
1-2 1-2 |
85-90 85-90 |
I.C. (20-35 yds.), Mod (35-45 yds.) I.C. (20-35 yds.), Mod (35-45 yds.) |
|
Medium Ducks Over Decoys |
20-45 20-45 |
Steel 6 to 3 HEVI-Shot 6 to 4 |
1 1-1/8 |
1-2 1-2 |
115-120 115-120 |
I.C. (20-35 yds.), Mod (35-45 yds.) I.C. (20-35 yds.), Mod (35-45 yds.) |
|
Small Ducks Over Decoys |
20-45 20-45 |
Steel 6 to 4 HEVI-Shot 6 |
1 1-1/8 |
1-2 1-2 |
135-145 135-145 |
Mod. (20-35 yds.), Full (35-45 yds.) Mod. (20-35 yds.), Full (35-45 yds.) |
| Ring-Necked Pheasants |
20-50 20-50 |
Steel 3 to 2 HEVI-Shot 6 to 4 |
1 1-1/8 |
2-3 2-3 |
90-95 90-95 |
I.C. (20-30 yds.), Mod (30-50 yds.) I.C. (20-30 yds.), Mod (30-50 yds.) |
| Turkeys (Head and Neck Shots) | 20-40 |
Steel 4; HEVI-Shot 6 |
1-1/4 | 3-4 | 210-230 | Full or Extra Full |
| Mourning Doves |
20-45 20-45 |
Steel 8 to 7 HEVI-Shot 7-1/2 |
5/8-3/4 3/4 |
1-2 1-2 |
200-210 200-210 |
IC-8’s/LM-7’s (20-30 Yds); Mod>30 Yd I.C. (20-30 Yds); Light Mod (30-45 Yd) |
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | 20-30 | Steel 8 to 7 | 5/8-3/4 | 1-2 | 200-210 | Imp. Cyl., Light Modified |
| Swatter Load for Wounded Birds | 20-30 | Steel 7 to 6 | 1 | 1 | 175 | Improved Modified, Full |
NOTE: The pellets in the steel shot loads listed in this table were traditional, highly spherical ball-shaped pellets of ~ 7.86 g/cc density and 90-95 DPH hardness. The HEVI-Shot pellets were of 12.0 g/cc density and are harder than traditional steel pellets.
NOTE: Steel #BBB (.190”) and HEVI-Shot #2 (.150”) have exhibited the best all-around performance for taking geese; steel #3 (.140”) and HEVI-Shot #4 (.130”) the best all-around performance for taking ducks; and steel #2 and HEVI-Shot #4 (.130”) the best all-around performance for taking ring-necked pheasants; and steel 7’s (.100”) the best all-around performance for taking doves.
* These findings are derived from testing 2-3/4" 28 gauge; 3" 20 GAUGE;2-3/4”, 3” and 3-1/2” 12 gauge; and 3-1/2” 10 gauge steel loads; plus 2-3/4” 28 gauge; 2-3/4” and 3” 20 gauge; and 2-3/4” and 3” 12 gauge HEVI-Shot loads.
© Copyright 2016 by Tom Roster.
For answers to questions on this table contact:
Tom Roster
1190 Lynnewood
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
USA
tomroster@charter.net