Product Overview

Annealed steel shot is the most widely used lead-free alternative for hunting ammunition, especially for waterfowl and upland game applications.

Compared to hardened steel shot, annealed steel shot is softer, reducing barrel wear while maintaining effective shooting performance.

At SDBALLS, our annealed shot is produced from low-carbon steel wire and processed through controlled annealing to achieve stable hardness, consistent shape, and reliable lot-to-lot quality.

Our production line is specifically designed for hunting steel shot, ensuring optimized control of sphericity, hardness, and surface condition — without interference from industrial grinding media production.

Ideal for OEM shotshell manufacturers and brands requiring safe, compliant, and cost-efficient lead-free solutions.

Key Highlights

• Controlled hardness for reduced barrel wear
• High sphericity for stable shot patterns
• Smooth surface for reliable performance
• Suitable for EU & US hunting markets

Key Features

Controlled Hardness
Designed to meet international hunting market requirements, ensuring safe use in standard shotgun barrels.

High Sphericity
Uniform roundness improves shot pattern density and shooting consistency.

Smooth Surface Finish
Reduces friction and improves feeding performance during cartridge loading.

Stable Quality
Consistent production control ensures reliable performance across different batches.

Technical Specifications

Category	Details
Material	Low carbon steel (AISI 1006–1010 or equivalent)
Hardness Control	Designed to meet C.I.P. requirements for soft hunting shot
Surface Hardness	≤ 110 HV1
Core Hardness	≤ 100 HV1
U.S. Reference	Typical R15T average ≤ 69, no individual above 79
Adjustment	Hardness can be adjusted based on application needs

Shot Size Table

Shot#	mm	inch
9	2.03	0.08
8½	2.16	0.085
8	2.29	0.09
7½	2.41	0.095
7	2.54	0.10
6	2.79	0.11
5	3.05	0.12
4	3.30	0.13
3	3.56	0.14
2	3.81	0.15
1	4.06	0.16
B	4.31	0.17
BB	4.57	0.18
BBB	4.83	0.19
T	5.08	0.20
TT	5.33	0.21
TTT	5.58	0.22

Surface Condition：Annealed (standard matte finish), Optional rust protection available

Quality Focus: Sphericity, Size consistency, Clean surface, Stable hardness control

Applications

• Hunting shotshell ammunition
• Waterfowl hunting loads
• Upland bird and small game loads
• OEM shotgun cartridge manufacturing
• Private-label ammunition production

Why Annealed Steel Shot

Compared to hardened steel shot:

• Lower hardness → safer for barrels
• Reduced recoil impact
• Better suitability for standard hunting firearms
• More widely accepted in EU hunting markets

Annealed steel shot provides a balanced solution between performance, safety, and cost efficiency.

Packaging & Supply

• Bulk drums (500 kg / 1000 kg)
• Jumbo bags (1 ton)
• Small packaging available upon request
• OEM / private label packaging supported

Why Choose SDBALLS

• Dedicated production line exclusively for hunting steel shot (no industrial media mixing)
• Optimized production for high-demand small shot sizes (#7, #8, #9)
• Experience in lead-free hunting shot production
• Focus on low-carbon annealed shot (not blasting media)
• Stable hardness control and production consistency
• Flexible supply for OEM and distributors
• Proven export experience in EU and US markets

This specialized setup ensures both consistent product performance and stable supply capacity for large-volume demand.

Get in Touch

Looking for a dedicated hunting steel shot supplier — not a general media producer?

Send us your shot size, quantity, and target market — we will recommend the best solution and provide a quotation.

👉 Request a Quote 👉 Contact Us