There are, of course, 437.5 grains to the ounce.

Steel #2: 124 pellets per ounce, strike velocity 1400 fps MV @ 50 yards 596 fps

Lead #4 135 pellets per ounce, strike velocity 1400 fps MV @ 50 yards 677 fps

Lead # 5 171 pellets per ounces, trike velocity 1400 fps MV @ 50 yards 645 fps

TSS #8 251 pellets per ounce, strike velocity 1400 fps MV @ 50 yards 720 fps

TSS #7-1/2 213 pellets per ounce, strike velocity 1400 fps MV @ 50 yards 740 fps

TSS #7 183 pellets per ounce,strike velocity 1400 fps MV @ 50 yards 757 fps

Momentum per Pellet @ 50 yards

Steel #2 3.528 grains, p = 0.30030538162165 lb·ft/s

Lead #4 3.241 grains, p = 0.31332384012397 lb·ft/s

Lead #5 2.558 grains, p = 0.23566882944876 lb·ft/s

TSS #8 1.743 grains, p = 0.17710764989154 lb·ft/s

TSS #7-1/2 2.054 grains, p = 0.21706542692758 lb·ft/s

TSS #7 2.391 grains, p = 0.25845404300125 lb·ft/s

Contrary to common belief, a #2 steel pellet is heavier than the listed lead and TSS pellets: substantially so. A #2 steel pellet weighs over twice as much as a #8 TSS pellet.

However, the large diameter of the #2 steel pellet (.150 in.) must displace more atmosphere in flight, eroding its velocity quickly from 1400 fps to 596 fps at 50 yards. Lead #4 strikes at a higher 677 fps at 50 yards, the smaller lead #4 pellet (.130 in.) having more momentum than #2 steel. As that greater momentum is obtained with a smaller diameter, the force is more focused as it dislodges less tissue.Steel #2 is not remotely as effective on birds at longer ranges as #4 lead is.

Tungsten Super Shot #7 focuses its momentum into a smaller diameter yet (.100 in.), but as you can see TSS #7 has more momentum than #5 lead, and has the highest strike velocity at 757 fps of all the pellets listed at 50 yards.

Grading performance by momentum is not new. As published in Gunshot Wounds Forensic Pathology (April, 2023) by Rijen Shrestha; Tanuj Kanchan; Kewal Krishan.:

“The mechanism of formation of the injury includes the compression of tissue by the projectile and their disruption when these compressive forces exceed the elasticity of the tissue. The disruption of tissue is directly proportional to the mass and velocity of the projectile.” That is precisely what momentum is, p = mv.

The farther downrange you go, the worse steel shot performs. At 50 yards, the 1400 fps #2 steel pellets have already shed over 58% of their initial 3 foot instrumental velocity. At 60 yards, you have a 63% velocity loss, and rapidly diminished bird-dropping capability along with it. You also have more drop and wind drift as well: not good things. At 60 yards, #2 steel launched at 1400 fps has 18.26 inches of 10 mph wind drift.