Originally Posted by Stanton Hillis
Originally Posted by Fusil
Just realized it uses Nickel Plated Lead Shot. Should I have any concerns using that in a vintage gun?

Absolutely not.


Originally Posted by FlyChamps
Nickle plated shot is still soft so it isn't a problem in old guns. In fact, based on what I've read, most nickel plated shot is not as hard as high-antimony hard lead shot.


I agree, and have never had it hardness tested but the nickel plated shot sold by Precision Reloading is said to be truly plated, not just nickel washed. Again, I can't verify it but my field experience with it is all I have to go on. I've used a specialty dove load in my .410s for the two seasons past now, using the PR nickel plated 8s, and they seem to kill doves better than any other commercial load I've ever tried. My old stand-by was the WW 3/4 oz. load, but with my handloads of .73 oz. of the nickeled shot I have less cripples and a higher percentage of really dead birds when they hit the ground. The PR nickeled shot is said to come from Italy and since B & P are an Italian based company I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the shot from both sources comes from the same factory in Italy.


Isn't the point of nickel plating to make the shot slicker when passing through the bird/feathers and less about hardness? Its possible that I'm just a victim of marketing gimmicks but I thought that's what I had read.