On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:24:58 -0500, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:40:28 GMT, Richard Casady penned the following
well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:08:24 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
wrote:

OK, I hear that lead bullets foul barrels. Is this why they coat some
with copper? Why not coat shotgun shot with copper, its easy and
cheap?

I happen to have a bag of copper plated shot. The idea to increase the
surface hardness so that the shot will be deformed less by the shock
of firing. The rounder shot fly straighter. As for cheap, coated shot
do cost more, but its not a showstopper.

Casady

Nah....... the antimony content in lead shot is what imparts hardness.
The copper is there only as a coating to prevent oxidation.

Of course, that applies only to the *coating* on shotgun pellets
versus the *jacket* found on bullets....

Copper is much harder than any lead alloy and is there to make the
shot harder, which tightens patterns. If it doesn't, than why is it
illegal for skeet? If the old style paper hulls get soaked enough to
corrode the shot, the ammo is already ruined. Modern plastic is, in
many cases, airtight. They weld up the tiny hole at the center of the
crimped mouth. Much target ammo gets shot the week it is loaded.
In any case, nobody in the right mind stores most things under wet
conditions.

Casady