Originally Posted By: derbyacresbobEMI's Hevi-X Tungsten loads are not as dense as lead, they are a tungsten alloy and they cost about $1.50 to $1.60 per shell. The Hevi-Goose and Hevi-Shot Dead coyote loads are denser than lead "12g/cc" and cost about $4.80 to $5.50 per shell.
Steel shot is the worst shot type ever made and loses it's speed way faster than the shot types that are denser.
Look below at the yardage where the shot gets 3.70" of penetration and the fps that the shot starts out with. These below numbers are from KPY Shotshell Ballistics.
1600 fps steel BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 18.4 yards.
1450 fps Bismuth BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 33.5 yards. "similar to Hevi-X Tungsten"
1300 fps lead BB shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 46.1 yards.
1350 fps Hevi-Goose B shot gets 3.70" of gel penetration at 54.2 yards.
Lead BB shot loads or Lead Number 4 buckshot loads will work much better on coyotes than any steel shot, bismuth or Hevi-X Tungsten loads will.
Thank you for the input. I will definitely stick with my BB loads for the time being. If I were to handload, would that be cheaper than buying factory heavier than lead loads?