Tom Roster's 2016 Nontoxic Shot Lethality Table
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| Proven Nontoxic Loads for Waterfowl, Doves, and Upland Game Birds ¹ Vel. Range Tested: 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 (# of Pellets in 30" Circle) | Most Effective Choke(s) at Distance (Given in Lead Shot Choke Designations) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Geese at Long Range Giant, Western, Atlantic and Interior Canadas | 50-65 50-70 |
Steel BBB to T HEVI-Shot 2 to B |
1-¼ 1-½ |
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 |
1-¼ 1-½ |
1-2 1-2 |
50-55 50-55 |
Improved Cylinder, Modified Improved Cylinder, Modified |
| Medium/Small Geese Long Range Snow, White-fronted, Lesser Canadas | 50-65 50-65 |
Steel BB to BBB HEVI-Shot 2 |
1-¼ 1-½ |
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 1-¼ |
1-2 1-2 |
60-65 60-65 |
Light Modified, Modified Improved Cylinder, Modified |
| Large Ducks at Long Range Mallard, Black, Pintail, Goldeneye, Gadwall | 45-65 45-65 |
Steel 2 to 1 HEVI-Shot 4 |
1-1/8 1-¼ |
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 |
¾-1 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 Wigeon, Scaup, Shoveler | 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 Teal, Rudy, Bufflehead | 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) | 20-40 | Steel 4 HEVI-Shot 6 |
1-¼ | 3-4 | 210-230 | Full or Extra Full |
| Mourning Doves | 20-45 20-45 |
Steel 8 to 7 HEVI-Shot 7½ |
5/8-¾ ¾ |
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 | 5/8-¾ | 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. | ||||||
| This table summarized Tom Roster's analyses to date of the lethality data bases for certain of the 16 U.S. steel vs lead waterfowl and dove shooting tests published between 1968 and 2014 and one steel-only pheasant shooting test (1999) plus lethality data bases owned by ammunition companies for birds taken with nontoxic shotshell loads Roster tested for them and the CONSEP Org. 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; 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. ¹These findings are derived from testing 2¾" 28 gauge; 3" 20 ga.; 2¾", 3" and 3½" 12 ga.; and 3½" 10 ga. steel loads; plus 2¾" 28 ga.; 2¾" and 3" 20 ga.; and 2¾" and 3" 12 ga. HEVI-Shot loads. © Copyright 2016 by Tom Roster. For answers to questions on this table contact: Tom Roster, 1190 Lynnewood, Klamath Falls, OR, USA 97601. tomroster@charter.net |
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