Thread: Nickel Plated Lead Shot - where to buy?!

The claim for this is better penetration and less pellet deformation. Lead shot is more "efficient" as the slight deformation of the pellets produces an irregular profile that is better at causing tissue damage than a true sphere. As to better patterns due to it staying more round. Fire enough steel at a pattern board and you'll see a random variation in pellet distribution, same for lead.
Apart from the price I doubt you'll notice any difference between that and uncoated lead in the field.