SHOT PELLETS LEAD SHOT STEEL SHOT Eley Tungsten-Poly BISMUTH-TIN SHOT TUNGSTEN IRON SHOT TIN SHOT CUBIC LEAD ZINC SHOT TUNGSTEN-MATRIX SHOT WHOLE PELLETS SURFACE TEXTURES

SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF SELECTED SHOT PELLETS

by Mary-Jacque Mann of the US FWS Forensics Laboratory Ashland, Oregon

SHOT PELLETS IN THIS GUIDE

Most of the shot shells presented within this ID Guide were purchased in the United States at sporting good stores or through catalogues.  Shells that were not easily obtained in the U.S. were donated to the Forensic Laboratory ammunition reference collection.  We gratefully acknowledge shot shell donations from the Metropolitan Laboratory Forensic Science Services in London, England, and StreamSystems Inc. of Concord, California.

Disclaimer: The brand name shells used to exemplify shot types in this presentation were, unless otherwise noted, randomly selected for graphic purposes. Their presence is not intended to infer product endorsement or non-endorsement.

Lead Shot	Steel Shot	Eley Tungsten-Poly Shot
Bismuth-Tin Shot	Tungsten-Iron Shot	Tin Shot    White    Black
Cubic Lead	Zinc Shot	Tungsten-Matrix Shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ID Guide also includes two comparison pages that show different shot types on one page:  whole pellet images,  surface texture images.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Unless a specified shot formulation is approved as nontoxic by the U.S.FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE, it may not be used for hunting waterfowl within the United States.

For information on the approval process for nontoxic shot, contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management Office in Arlington, VA  (703-358-1714).

For information regarding hunting regulations in specific areas of the U.S., contact the nearest office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, or a State wildlife law enforcement office.

For information regarding migratory bird hunting regulations in Canada, contact the Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada.

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