This spring, Winchester announced a new line of steel promotional loads. Barrel Damage Despite improvements in steel shot loads, the hard pellets can still damage a gun as they wedge through the choke. Most guns made in the last 10 years, however, are totally steel shot-compatible. Unless the gun is a true collector's piece, adding chokes will not detract from its resale value. Reloadability For several years, ammo makers recommended against reloading steel as too dangerous.
Steel is trickier to work with than lead.
The pellets don't flow as well through shot bushings, and the stiffer wads can be harder to work with, too. To reload steel safely, you have to be willing to do more hand weighing and measuring. You'll also need good data to guide you. If you want to shoot a modern gun at birds inside 45 yards, save money and buy good high-velocity steel. The few truly gifted and practiced long-range waterfowl shooters in the world can indeed make use of the alternate nontoxics' superior energy retention at long range.