Waterfowling Season & Steel Shot Update with Nick Horton

Published on March 28, 2021
Duration: 21:14

This video discusses the challenges faced during the recent waterfowl hunting season, including COVID-19 lockdowns, increased public access to hunting grounds, and bird flu outbreaks. It also delves into the performance and potential of various non-toxic shot materials, comparing traditional steel shot with newer alternatives like bismuth, tungsten, zinc, and tin alloys. The conversation highlights the evolution of steel shot technology and explores the future of non-toxic ammunition in hunting.

Quick Summary

The 2020/2021 waterfowling season faced significant challenges due to COVID-19 lockdowns, leading to increased public presence on hunting grounds and some club suspensions. Bird flu also impacted the season. Advancements in steel shot and new non-toxic alternatives like Bioammo's Bioblue are discussed, alongside the evolution of ammunition technology and debunking old myths about steel shot compatibility with various chokes.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Waterfowling Season Challenges
  2. 00:04Review of the Past Waterfowling Season
  3. 00:21COVID-19 Lockdown and Tiered System Impact
  4. 01:04Increased Public Access to Hunting Grounds
  5. 02:00Footfall Increase in Langston Harbour
  6. 02:52Potential for a Good Season: Bird Numbers
  7. 03:14Observations of Pintail and Canada Geese
  8. 04:00Marsh Conditions and Goose Abundance
  9. 05:00Bird Flu Concerns on the Marsh
  10. 06:03Managing Public Perception of Dead Birds
  11. 07:01Pigeon Shooting Disruption
  12. 07:38Steel Shot Update: Barrel Scoring
  13. 07:55Analysis of Barrel Marks: Tooling vs. Steel
  14. 09:00Spanish Guns and Steel Shot Compatibility
  15. 10:36Pristine Bore on Unmodified Spanish Gun
  16. 11:26Steel Shot Will Not Destroy Your Gun
  17. 11:39Bioammo Bioblue: Non-Lead, Non-Steel Alternative
  18. 12:05Historical Non-Toxic Shot Trials (Zinc/Tin)
  19. 13:10Shock Transfer vs. Penetration in Early Non-Tox
  20. 15:16Ballistic Scale: Trauma vs. Penetration
  21. 16:03Recoil and Report of Early Non-Toxic Loads
  22. 16:30Evolution of Steel Powders and Recoil Reduction
  23. 17:10Evolution of Steel Shot Performance
  24. 18:37Moving Past Steel Shot Misconceptions
  25. 19:33Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
  26. 20:32Punt Guns and Lockdown Celebration

Frequently Asked Questions

How did COVID-19 affect the 2020/2021 waterfowling season?

The waterfowling season was significantly impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns and tiered restrictions. This led to a substantial increase in public footfall on coastal marshes, with many clubs suspending shooting due to potential interactions with the public.

What are the latest developments in non-toxic shot alternatives?

Bioammo has released Bioblue, a commercially available non-lead, non-steel alternative. Historically, zinc and tin alloys were tested, showing high shock transfer but low penetration. Modern advancements in steel shot and powders have greatly improved performance.

Can steel shot damage older guns, particularly those with tighter chokes?

While older misconceptions suggested steel shot should only be used in open chokes, modern steel shot and improved gun designs allow for use in tighter chokes. Marks previously attributed to steel shot damage on older Spanish guns are now believed to be tooling marks from choke modifications.

What was the impact of bird flu on the waterfowling season?

Bird flu outbreaks, especially affecting Brent geese, were a concern. This presented challenges in managing public perception, as dead birds found on foreshores could be mistakenly attributed to hunters, necessitating careful communication with landowners and the public.

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