Tom Roster’s 2016 Nontoxic Shot Lethality Table©
Oklahoma
Hunting
| Proven Nontoxic Shot Loads For Waterfowl, Doves & Upland Game Birds1 Load Velocity: 1,225 – 1,700 FPS | Observed Hunters’ Typical Shooting Range During Activity (Yards) | Most Effective Nontoxic Shot Size(s) For Birds Listed Under ACTIVITY At The Distances Listed In The Second Column | Minimal Load Weight (Ounces) | Minimal Pellet Hits Needed on Lethal Areas for Clean Kills | Minimum Pattern Count Needed at Any Distance for Clean Kills (# of Pellets in 30″ Circle) | Most Effective Choke(s) at Distance (Given in Lead Shot Choke Designations) | NOTE: The pellets in the steel shot loads listed in this table were traditional, highly spherical ball-shaped pellets of ~ 7.86 g/cc density and 90-95 DPH hardness. The HEVI-Shot pellets were of 12.0 g/cc density and are harder than traditional steel pellets. |
| ACTIVITY | |||||||
| Large Geese At Long Range Giant, Western, Atlantic and Interior Canadas | 50-65 | Steel BBB to T | 1-1/4 | 1-2 | 50-55 | Improved Modified | |
| 50-70 | HEVI-Shot 2 to B | 1-1/2 | 1-2 | 50-55 | Improved Modified, Full | ||
| Large Geese Over Decoys | 35-50 | Steel BB to BBB | 1-1/4 | 1-2 | 50-55 | Improved Cylinder, Modified | |
| 35-50 | HEVI-Shot 2 to B | 1-1/2 | 1-2 | 50-55 | Improved Cylinder, Modified | ||
| Medium/Small Geese Long Range Snow, White-fronted, Lesser Canadas | 50-65 | Steel BB to BBB | 1-1/4 | 1-2 | 60-65 | Improved Modified | |
| 50-65 | HEVI-Shot 2 | 1-1/2 | 1-2 | 60-65 | Improved Modified, Full | ||
| Medium/Small Geese Over Decoys | 35-50 | Steel 2 to BB | 1-1/8 | 1-2 | 60-65 | Light Modified, Modified | |
| 35-50 | HEVI-Shot 4 to 2 | 1-1/4 | 1-2 | 60-65 | Improved Cylinder, Modified | ||
| Large Ducks At Long Range Mallard, Black, Pintail, Goldeneye, Gadwall | 45-65 | Steel 2 to 1 | 1-1/8 | 1-2 | 85-90 | Improved Modified, Full | |
| 45-65 | HEVI-Shot 4 | 1-1/4 | 1-2 | 85-90 | Improved Modified, Full | ||
| Large Ducks Over Decoys | 20-45 | Steel 6 to 2 | ¾ – 1 | 1-2 | 85-90 | I.C. (20-35 Yds), Mod. (35-45 Yds) | |
| 20-45 | HEVI-Shot 6 to 4 | 1-1/8 | 1-2 | 85-90 | I.C. (20-35 Yds), Mod. (35-45 Yds) | ||
| Medium Ducks Over Decoys Wigeon, Scaup, Shoveler | 20-45 | Steel 6 to 3 | 1 | 1-2 | 115-120 | I.C. (20-35 Yds), Mod. (35-45 Yds) | |
| 20-45 | HEVI-Shot 6 to 4 | 1-1/8 | 1-2 | 115-120 | I.C. (20-35 Yds), Mod. (35-45 Yds) | ||
| Small Ducks Over Decoys Teal, Ruddy, Bufflehead | 20-45 | Steel 6 to 4 | 1 | 1-2 | 135-145 | Mod. (20-35 Yds), Full (35-45 Yds) | |
| 20-45 | HEVI-Shot 6 | 1-1/8 | 1-2 | 135-145 | Mod. (20-35 Yds), Full (35-45 Yds) | ||
| Ring-Necked Pheasants | 20-50 | Steel 3 to 2 | 1 | 2-3 | 90-95 | I.C. (20-30 Yds), Mod. (30-50 Yds) | |
| 20-50 | HEVI-Shot 6 to 4 | 1-1/8 | 2-3 | 90-95 | I.C. (20-30 Yds), Mod. (30-50 Yds) | ||
| Turkeys (Head and Neck Shots) | 20-40 | Steel 4 | 1-1/4 | 3-4 | 210-230 | Full or Extra Full | |
| Mourning Doves | 20-45 | Steel 8 to 7 | 5/8 – 3/4 | 1-2 | 200-210 | IC-8’s/LM-7’s (20-30 Yds); Mod>30 Yd | |
| 20-45 | HEVI-Shot 7 1/2 | 3/4 | 1-2 | 200-210 | I.C. (20-30 Yds); Light Mod (30-45 Yd) | ||
| Northern Bobwhite Quail | 20-30 | Steel 7 | 5/8 – 3/4 | 1-2 | 200-210 | Improved Cylinder, Light Modified | |
| Swatter Load For Wounded Birds | 20-30 | Steel 7 to 6 | 1 | 1 | 175 | Improved Modified, Full | |