New Vs Reclaimed shot test results

[bubbapug1]

I hope this thread helps settle a long standing prejudice against reclaimed shot.

I was at Phillips the other day and bought some new #8 shot and some reclaimed shot. An old shooter (I'm 57, he was at least 80) told me he never could tell the difference between used and new shot when shooting skeet.

I decided to do a test with reloads of each. Common wisdom is the flattened shot found in reclaim causes pellets to leave the pattern. In my test, and I only did two shells of each shot, that just didn't ring true.

Both tests were 1.125 ounces of shot with red dot at around 1240 fps and clay buster Winchester AA replacement wads.

Distance was 25 yards

Choke was full

All pellets from the #8 hit the paper, some were out of the pattern (5)

All pellets from the reclaim hit the paper, and some were out of the pattern, but not as far out as the new shot.

There were more pellets in the reclaim as I suspect there was some 8.5 and 9.00 in the mix.

New shot is $39.00 for 25 pounds

Reclaim is $30.00 for 25 pounds.

I can't see the advantage of the new shot unless you are adverse to #9 for trap as it does have less clay busting energy farther out.

Both patterns looked similar and measured the same. The height is slightly elongated because the berm I shot at was slightly sloped. Shot at Burro north 1 this past weekend.


NEW #8 MAGNUM SHOT



RECLAIMED Shot

[Cheep]

I have been wondering about this myself. I use reclaimed for trap and new for hunting, but I guess I won't worry about it anymore. Thanks for the test, I'm too lazy.

[JagerDog]

I'd think you'd have to step out the distance to get a good read. At skeet distances, I don't think it matters.

The biggest issue I've heard with reclaim is the possibility of things other than lead shot (steel, rocks, etc.) which may score your barrel.