I would completely agree with you, i don't load anything heavier than 1/4 oz, I'vehad my loads chronographed (thanks to a freind in the physics department at the University of Alberta) and they are just as hot as anything else that i've loaded, but i never thought much of deformation. I still get good patterns out to 35-40 yards, and in terms of how hard they hit it simply comes down to how fast they are moving.

Does anyone have any experience with the plated lead shot??? I'm also looking into getting some non toxic shot that i can put through my over unders does anyone have any suggestions? The kent Cartidge company makes a "traditional upland load in a 6 that is supposed to do 1400 fps" and it's only 10 bucks a box. I refuse to pay 4 bucks a shot, and i'm not going to put steel through a $3000 hinge action.

The only reason i want non toxic is because once in a while i'll come across some ducks while i'm out upland hunting.

Although i would agree with the previous response, most of the 1 oz shells you see breech the 1200 fps mark, and from a physics point of veiw the faster two object of the same mass are travelling the more energy they will retain. If a magnum load gives you better velocity than that's what i want to be shooting at long range. There is definately something to be said for pellet deformation at that range though. There is one thing i know for sure. A good shot with a bad shell will kill a lot more birds than a bad shot with a good shell.