New media should NOT have any shape that is not spherical. Otherwise surface damage, cutting etc. will cause sites which may lead to high stress and fatigue failure. Refer to AMS 2431 for information on media types and requirements.
Harder shot is more prone to breakage at higher intensity but it may be necessary to achieve the designers depth of compression. Harder shot probably will be more deleterious to the machine, depending upon intensity and also machine construction (i.e. urethane wall liners etc.) Cut wire is a cleaner product (less dust) and more uniform in size distribution. It does not fracture but does eventually erode to smaller size which the screen separator will remove.
