All About Antimony
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to cover antimony today. The material is used in a variety of loadings which are employed by shooters of all types. We will cover various traits and features of antimony loadings in addition to things such as use cases and other considerations. Without further ado, lets talk all about antimony.
What is Antimony?
Antimony is a metal compound which is often utilized to increase the hardness of metals and alloys. This is typically done by adding an amount of the compound to an existing alloy such as lead, copper, or tin. The compound is often utilized in the production of automotive parts such as clutch and brake parts to promote longer service lives. Additionally, things such as machine bearings often utilize antimony to increase their hardness and durability. Antimony is also often utilized in ammunition to harden projectiles.
What Ammo Utilizes Antimony?
The most common ammunition one will find antimony labeling attached to will be shotgun shells. Antimony is also utilized in pistol and rifle ammo offerings to harden lead projectiles. While this compound is often used for different types of loadings, antimony is most closely associated with shotgun ammo. Loadings of this type will generally feature distinct branding and labelling on their packaging to denote the inclusion of the compound. These loadings are found optimized for use cases such as hunting and clay shooting and are available from a variety of manufacturers. Shotgun ammunition of this type is found in popular shotgun gauges and chamberings like 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore.
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What Manufacturers Utilize Antimony in Their Shotgun Loadings?
Various companies utilize antimony in their shotgun loadings. Ammo manufacturers such as Remington, Nobel Sport, Winchester, and Fiocchi to name a few. As mentioned earlier, these loadings cover popular shotgun chamberings such as 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and .410 bore and are often loaded for clay shooting and hunting purposes. These types of loadings, like most forms of ammo, are available as individual box quantities and in the form of bulk ammo offerings, often called “flats.”
Amount of Antimony in Relation to Hardness
Some manufacturers, such as Nobel Sport and Winchester, denote the percentage of antimony utilized in their loadings. Other manufacturers may simply denote their loadings as low or high antimony loads. Generally speaking, the higher the percentage and amount of antimony in a loading, the harder pellets will be. For example, a 3% antimony loading’s pellets will not be as hard as the pellets of a 5% antimony loading.
Potential for Tighter Patterns and Better Effect on Target
Due to increased hardness, loadings featuring antimony generally feature less deformation during flight. Outlying projectiles in typical lead loadings tend to deform during flight as bores and other pellets are impacted. This can lead to deviations from flight patterns, opening up one’s potential groupings. Harder, more robust pellets will retain their shape and a tighter flight pattern than their common lead counterparts.
Additionally, harder pellets will simply carry more energy than their softer counterparts. Their increased levels of hardness combined with tight patterns allows for an effective hit on target. By resisting deformation, pellets will retain their shape, velocity, and energy during flight, allowing for optimal effect on target. Due to the increased potential for optimal impacts on target, these loadings are well-suited for hunting and sporting clay use.
Is Antimony Worth Considering for Hunting?
Due to the harder pellets and projectiles of loadings of this type, ammunition featuring antimony is optimal for hunting purposes. As mentioned above, the increased hardness of projectiles allows for pellets to retain their shape, velocity, and energy as they travel downrange. Additionally, these pellets will be traveling in a tighter pattern, allowing for projectiles to impact in a more concentrated area. This optimized impact on target is conducive to hunting as clean, ethical kills are promoted. Pellets will be able to quickly reach their targets and import their energy effectively, allowing one to dispatch things such as upland game.
Of course, as with any form of hunting, one should ensure that they employ appropriate firearms, ammunition, equipment, and practices. By doing so, one will ensure both an optimal and ethical hunt. One should also check with local, state, and federal regulations before engaging in any hunting to ensure that they do not run afoul of any rules or laws.
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Are Loadings with Antimony Expensive?
Generally speaking, loadings featuring various levels of antimony carry heavier price tags than their standard lead counterparts. A part of this increased cost comes from the fact that lead is simply cheaper than antimony is. The cost of materials, especially raw materials, can always weigh on the price of any manufactured good. Of course, different materials and other departures from established norms and practices also tends to increase prices on goods. Additionally, many loadings featuring antimony are optimized for specialized use cases such as hunting or sporting clay shooting. Typically, specialized loadings tend to demand higher prices than their common counterparts, antimony or not. Price differences can ultimately be marginal or more considerable depending on the specific loading and manufacturer.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, antimony is something shooters, especially shotgun shooters, should be aware of. An understanding of antimony and the features, traits, and potential benefits of loadings which utilize it can aid many shooters in a variety of use cases. Everyone from hunters to sporting clay shooters can effectively take advantage of shotgun ammo featuring various levels of antimony. We here at True Shot Ammo carry shotgun ammo offerings which include antimony in addition to our other ammunition offerings. Whether you are after some shotgun ammunition or want to buy bulk ammo of a different type, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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