Anybody using Spartan shot and how does it compare to Heper shot ?
notenoughguns
IMO it is not anywhere as good as Heper shot. Maybe somewhere between Eagle and Lawrence brand.
Maybe timb99's research on shot hardness has something on it. I've used it and found it acceptable. My perception is it's above average in terms of hardness.
Off the top of my head I believe the Antimony to be 3%. With Chilled at perhaps 1/2% and Heper at 6%, Spartan is roughly mid-range hard.
Mayco states that their Lawrence Magnum and West Coast shot contain 4% Antimony. And a Pycnometer measured density of 10.82 g/CC agrees with this (or actually with closer to 4.2%).
Mayco is apparently currently test run trialing 'Mayco-6' with which to compete with Heper. I believe @timb99 is among those testing it out.
Mayco is apparently currently test run trialing 'Mayco-6' with which to compete with Heper. I believe @timb99 is among those testing it out.
Question.
Would you invest $1,000 in a new shot company that would give you as a shareholder $10 off a competitive retail price(currently about $50) per bag of of 4%+ antimony shot?
Would you invest $1,000 in a new shot company that would give you as a shareholder $10 off a competitive retail price(currently about $50) per bag of of 4%+ antimony shot?
I might. But it would have to be local to avoid shipping charges, and my shot would need to be exempt from sales tax.
I like it , very shiny, consistent sizing but I don’t know about the hardness. I would purchase again. Does anyone know who distributes spartan shot in the north east? CAC doesn’t carry it anymore. Thanks
I can't remember when I tested the Spartan shot, but like all things, the hardness varies from batch to batch. If someone wants to send me an ounce or so of recently purchased Spartan 7-1/2's I'll be happy to smash a few.
PM me if interested.
PM me if interested.
I’ll be honest, I don’t pull out calipers every time I open a bag of shot. I just buy whatever I need size wise and load it. I’ll weigh out the first few loads to make sure the weight is what I’m expecting, but that’s it. The only shot I’ve reloaded that I saw noticeable difference in was Heper. More uniformity in roundness and size.
Having said that, I have preferences of shot manufacturers based on their bags. Lawrence/West Coast are tops (great thick bags with strong stitching). Heper in second (nice fabric bag, pour spout is a little gimmicky in my opinion, okay stitching). Eagle is third (heavy plastic liner stitched in to the light fabric bag). Spartan is last as it is a tarp material cover that frays but does that a plastic bag stitched into it as well. If the cover doesn’t start fraying, it is a large square shape and stacks well.
I bought a bag of STS shot this week that had that plastic tarp consistency. Seems a little tighter of a cover, so I have some hope for it.
Having said that, I have preferences of shot manufacturers based on their bags. Lawrence/West Coast are tops (great thick bags with strong stitching). Heper in second (nice fabric bag, pour spout is a little gimmicky in my opinion, okay stitching). Eagle is third (heavy plastic liner stitched in to the light fabric bag). Spartan is last as it is a tarp material cover that frays but does that a plastic bag stitched into it as well. If the cover doesn’t start fraying, it is a large square shape and stacks well.
I bought a bag of STS shot this week that had that plastic tarp consistency. Seems a little tighter of a cover, so I have some hope for it.
I have to assume you never had the early Heper shot with the pitiful thin plastic liner inside that would break up and pour out sporadically?
I bought a ton of Spartan 2 years ago from CAC. I thought it was better than Lawrance/West Coast at the time....it was truer to size with less variation vs L & WC. Currently I am loading Heper in the shitty plastic liner bags. I can't say if one is better than the other. Both seem better than L & WC. I would say buy whatever you can get cheaper.
I wonder if Heper shot is post drop long term 'controlled heat' tempered to raise it's degree of hardness? And since Arsenic is what forms molten lead into nicely rounded spheres during the drop, I wonder if more Arsenic is used in Turkey than is used in the USA? And I wonder if higher quality control and attention to detail in sieving to sort is all that it takes whereby to be more overall uniform in size?
Unless I'm looking at these all wrong (always a distinct possibility) Antimony costs about 20 times what Arsenic costs per metric ton.
Unless I'm looking at these all wrong (always a distinct possibility) Antimony costs about 20 times what Arsenic costs per metric ton.
The major difference between Heper and Rem STS shot in terms of "hardness" is Rem STS is "hard" to find.
Remington STS 6% antimony shot is apparently back on the market. I just picked up a few bags at the Michigan State shoot.
Remington STS shot was available at the Ohio State shoot from Sportsmen Den out of Shelby, Ohio.
Maybe it is just a coincidence that the new STS shot squeeked in under the criteria to make the hard category. or possibly somebody is paying attention here. Thank you to Tim!
I have no plan, per se. I buy a box of each brand at the ATA Grand and test those after I return home.
I would be happy to test some of that shot. Send me a PM
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