In a projection material for mechanical plating, a steel particle is used as a core, and the surrounding surface thereof is coated with a zinc alloy in which the content of Al is more than 5% by mass but equal to or less than 16% by mass, the content of Mg is equal to or more than 5.5% by mass but equal to or less than 15% by mass and the remaining portion is Zn and an impurity, and the content of Fe is equal to or more than 3% by mass but equal to or less than 80% by mass. In this way, the corrosion resistance of a zinc-based coating itself formed in mechanical plating is remarkably enhanced without dependence on protective coating formation treatment such as chromate treatment.