Steel load for grouse????

[Neighbor_guy]

Well, this week after recieving some unfortunate news/repies from the DNR, looks like I will be looking for a steel grouse load... See link...

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/ub...ion#Post2007181

I came across some steel 5's put out by fedral in an upland loading, but I am not sure what to think of this load, seams a bit large and a bit hot. Does anyone here have any ideas on steel shot for grouse? Normaly I shoot lead 7 1/2's, but what would a suitable steel shot size be? Is it 5's or 6's? Who puts out a good one?

I plan to take the 7.5's out to Onamia one day this weekend while checking a couple of spots, but Late Sept/Oct. is when I go north, so I need to find an alternative to lead soon.

HELP, I AM GRASPING AT AIR HERE!!!

[charliepete]

Lead shot is legal in the BWCA, but if you insist on using steel I'd go with 1 oz of 6's. It will be similar in killing power and shot count to 1 1/8 oz of 7.5's.

[Neighbor_guy]

It's not so much the BWCA that I am concerned about, I venture in from time to time in Oct, but not too often. I spend a lot of time in Superior National and Burntside though, and everyone I spoke to at the DNR and the ranger station in Ely have all agreed without hesitation, Steel or no-tox in Superior.

Thanks for the heads up on the 6's. I will keep looking around. Gander was a bust, nothing smaller than 4's... Off to the C store tomarrow I tink....

[johnsd16]

You can get winchester AAs in #7 steel. You can find it lots of places just look in the target load section, not in the waterfowl area. Gander in Forest Lake almost always has it. Lots of sporting clays ranges are switching to steel only now, Wild Wings being one.

I use win AA 7.5 lead for woodcock/grouse, see no reason why the steel version wouldn't bring them down.

[kobear]

Wow, a little confusing.

I experimented with steel shot for grouse and had some miserable results with 6's. Had a bird fly out of cover and past me. First time I've pulled feathers off a grouse and not dropped it. Hit it twice pulling feathers both times with an interesting pattering noise like when you hit a late season goose with BB's.

It made it over a 1/4 mile of open field and disappeared into the woods.

I'm sticking to lead on State and National Forest lands for now.