Agreed on this, although the lead days for waterfowl were before my time. Seems a lot of guys blame steel shot, instead of their shooting capabilities!
-Nick
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Steel (as in the actual metal) hasnt changed consistency in the years since it was first introduced. The shells themselves may have changed in construction (new wads, different shaped pellets etc), but this is reflected in price ie "premium ammo". Plain jane steel shot is the same as it was twenty years ago. Ive got boxes from that era and performance isnt noticeably different with them then it is with the cheaply made steel today.
But as mentioned, there been advancements in the way the shell components themselves are designed. These have leveled the playing field considerably, but you pay the price for it.
Check out the price of lead shot these days. Its nuts. A box of lead shot was more expensive than the steel I shoot for waterfowl.
You can kill ducks dead in the air with 2 3/4 steel shells all day long if you can get birds in range, and center them in your pattern. The biggest misconception with waterfowl hunting these days is that bigger is better, when its just not. These hot shot newbies just don't know any better....yet......A miss is a miss, no matter what size shell or shot your shooting ;)
S.
I shoot almost all 2 3/4" shells. I like the price better, lol.