Steel Shot in Parkers

[Ed Blake]

Where we live in Virginia there is an abundance of relics from both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. After a heavy rain a few years back a number of mini balls came to the surface of my vegetable garden. They have a heavy coating of white oxidation which I have been told prevents the leaching of the lead into the soil. To me this supports other observations that trap ranges mined of spent shot have no evidence of lead contamination in the soil. The determining factor in the use of lead is its general toxicity, notwithstanding the evidence that lead shot is not a soil contaminant. IMO

[John Davis]

I certainly don't know the answer to the steel shot in vintage guns question, but it does seem to be very much like the Damascus barrel query. For many years it was taken as gospel that modern shells should never pass through a Damascus barreled gun. (Just read the warning label on a box of shells.) And consequently Damascus guns were relegated to the status of "wall hanger." Then along comes Sherman Bell and the world changed. Although there are those who still shrink from shooting their "wall hangers", many now believe that using a little common sense and being mindful of your PSI means you can once again enjoy these oldest of Parkers in the field and on the course. Is it possible that the same may hold true for steel shot? Again, I don't know the answer but I do know that everything changes and I'm willing to keep an open mind.