I note on my old WW chart, by adding 17.2% velocity (195fps) to a 1135fps to obtain 1330fps gains you with #4 lead shot 55fps @ 60yds (685 vs 630). The 37.3% increase in individual pellet energy at the muzzle has likewise been reduced to 18.4% by 60 yds (3.35 vs 2.83). With any reasonable velocity of 1100 fps or more the problem with shot of #4 & up is virtually always one of pattern, not penertration. Due to maintaining both pressure levels as well as recoil, the heavy shot Magnum loads are nearly always loaded to lower velocities than the "Regular" High Velocity load as Larry so well pointed out. There is no doubt a #4 shot will penertrate out to ranges of 60/70yds or a #2 at 80/100yds & is capable of killing when landing in a vital area. My question is, for every one cleanly killed "How Many" fly on, apparently unhit, carrying a single large pellet in a non-vital area to die a slow unrecovered death.
