A Question About Shells

[darn2ten]

No problem with your densities.   18 divided by 11 is about 1 2/3, so you're certainly right, not quite 2.  But LF is saying something else

Nothing to do with weight...the weight difference between lead. Hevi Shot or TSS is so little it's negligible between individual pellets of equal size.

Deputy's scale shows just what you would expect for Heavyweight 15 g/cc compared to hardened lead shot 10.9 g/cc.

   This is a wide spectrum of shot media from lead to tss. If you we're talking 10.9g/cc for lead and 12g/cc for hevi shot, then I do say the weight difference is negligible. When you step up to the 15 HW and especially the 18 tss your in another league and there is definitely a difference.

[mightyjoeyoung]

TSS for example, is nearly twice the weight of a lead pellet.   

That's just not true....

Pure lead has a given, set density.  Again, that's PURE lead. Any additives to make it harder is going to lower the density of and additionally the mass of a lead alloy pellet, unless the additive is heavier than lead to begin with.  11.34 gm/cc is for pure lead, not for alloyed lead.  So let's say that pb alloy pellet is actually 10.5 gm/cc to adjust for variations in alloy mixes.  That puts hevi shot @ bw 12 and 19% denser, Fed HWs at 30% denser and TSS at 60% denser for the same size pellet.  The smaller, heavier and more round a pellet is, the further it will fly with less air turbulence disturbance and with higher retained energy.  That's fact.  How hevi patterns so well can only be attributed to the ability of a harder shot to resist deformation and a denser, smaller peer to resist air resistance and turbulence.

[L.F. Cox]

The loading scale showed 3 tenths of a grain weight difference.....that's less than a single grain of gun powder.

[Deputy 14]

That's a gram measurement. Not grains.

[BandedSpur]

The loading scale showed 3 tenths of a grain weight difference.....that's less than a single grain of gun powder.

Actually it shows 3 hundreths difference which is 33% heavier for the HW pellet compared to lead. Since HW is 36% denser than lead, the weight difference is what one would expect. A #7 TSS pellet would weigh 64% more than the lead pellet or around .15 gm. Identical sized pellets of the various shot materials unequivocally do not weigh the same. Admittedly there is little difference between the weight of HS and lead. But there is a significant difference between steel and lead or lead and HW or TSS.

[L.F. Cox]

That's a gram measurement. Not grains.

The RCBS loading scales I own weigh in grains.

[Deputy 14]

This one does both. Very handy to have when you need to weigh things other than reloading stuff. (Not drugs) lol.

[mightyjoeyoung]

Riiiiiight!!!  NOT drugs!!!!   

[Deputy 14]

Riiiiiight!!!  NOT drugs!!!!   

Haha. If I were a drug dealer I would definitely use an RCBS. Thing is nuts.