Steel shot continued
Originally posted by golferboy426
That's crap. Thousand of tests have been done by a noted reloading and shotgun expert Tom Roster. You will not have any damage. Even in a full choke as long as you use BB or smaller you will have no problem.This is a controvertial subject and many will chime in says it's risky and will damage the barrel but the testing does not support that conclusion
It is not crap! I have personally seen a beautiful old Belgian Browning Light Twelve Full choke (1962 vintage) with the last 3-inches of the muzzle split open from shooting less than one box of steel shot loaded shells (heavy duck loads) through it. One top of that, why is it that none of the major shotgun manufacturers recommend shooting steel shot in there older models
You are free to shoot whatever you like in your shotguns, but you are not going to get a free pass on giving out unqualified advice.
I would say the operator of that fine Belgium Browning is at fault. Never shoot steel out of a barrel with a choke tighter than a Modified. The shot just simply had no where to crush going down the barrel and split it out. Modified in steel shot= Full choke in lead shot.
That's crap. Thousand of tests have been done by a noted reloading and shotgun expert Tom Roster. You will not have any damage. Even in a full choke as long as you use BB or smaller you will have no problem.This is a controvertial subject and many will chime in says it's risky and will damage the barrel but the testing does not support that conclusion
It is not crap! I have personally seen a beautiful old Belgian Browning Light Twelve Full choke (1962 vintage) with the last 3-inches of the muzzle split open from shooting less than one box of steel shot loaded shells (heavy duck loads) through it. One top of that, why is it that none of the major shotgun manufacturers recommend shooting steel shot in there older models
You are free to shoot whatever you like in your shotguns, but you are not going to get a free pass on giving out unqualified advice.
I would say the operator of that fine Belgium Browning is at fault. Never shoot steel out of a barrel with a choke tighter than a Modified. The shot just simply had no where to crush going down the barrel and split it out. Modified in steel shot= Full choke in lead shot.
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With civility; and respect to the other posts: Around 15 years ago I happened across a dealer selling 16ga Federal #2's steel (15/16 oz) for $5 a box at a gun show. Wow sez I, how much you got?? He sez four cases, "I can't sell it 'cause everyone says you can't shoot steel in older guns" "And who makes a "modern" 16 Gauge?" "What was I thinking when I bought this stuff??" I sez "I shoot a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge, the ultimate repeating shotgun; no doubt the pinacle of the shotgun makers art (which it still is) and I'll buy and shoot all you've got!!"
All the shells are gone, no harm, many fowl. (Sorry guys, I had to say that.) I know, statistically I'm speaking a sample size of one, but I've been shooting steel from various 12 and 16 gauge Model 12's pratically since they changed the law. Many other of my duck shooting friends do likewise. I've never seen a blown barrel for that reason (steel) alone. One caveat, keep the shells dry. With a little salt water the pellets rust together and you get pretty close to a steel "slug". Not optimal. I'm not calling myself an "expert" at anything; but I do shoot (more than most) and hunt, and have never had or have known of ANY trouble from shooting steel.0 -
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
I would say the operator of that fine Belgium Browning is at fault. Never shoot steel out of a barrel with a choke tighter than a Modified. The shot just simply had no where to crush going down the barrel and split it out. Modified in steel shot= Full choke in lead shot.
You are correct... the operator was at fault because he was totally unaware of the fact that steel shot loaded shells should never be shot in an original Belgian Browning shotgun... regardless of the choke constriction. He mistakenly took bad advice from someone else. http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=1280 -
quote:Originally posted by riley p
With civility; and respect to the other posts: Around 15 years ago I happened across a dealer selling 16ga Federal #2's steel (15/16 oz) for $5 a box at a gun show. Wow sez I, how much you got?? He sez four cases, "I can't sell it 'cause everyone says you can't shoot steel in older guns" "And who makes a "modern" 16 Gauge?" "What was I thinking when I bought this stuff??" I sez "I shoot a Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge, the ultimate repeating shotgun; no doubt the pinacle of the shotgun makers art (which it still is) and I'll buy and shoot all you've got!!"
All the shells are gone, no harm, many fowl. (Sorry guys, I had to say that.) I know, statistically I'm speaking a sample size of one, but I've been shooting steel from various 12 and 16 gauge Model 12's pratically since they changed the law. Many other of my duck shooting friends do likewise. I've never seen a blown barrel for that reason (steel) alone. One caveat, keep the shells dry. With a little salt water the pellets rust together and you get pretty close to a steel "slug". Not optimal. I'm not calling myself an "expert" at anything; but I do shoot (more than most) and hunt, and have never had or have known of ANY trouble from shooting steel.
When I made mention of damaged Winchester Model 12s, I was specifically referring to the pre-1933 Nickel Steel barreled guns. Those made in 1932 and later (with the Proof Steel barrels) are much less likely to be damaged, especially with any choke other than Full.0 -
I cannot find any alternative non-toxic shot. Dick's does not have them.
I know i can get it online.0 -
Something else to bear in mind is that doubles tend to have thinner barrels as a means of saving weight.
Will steel shot split your barrels? Maybe. Will it stretch the chokes? Strong possibility.
Of all the people who claim to have shot steel in older guns with no damage, I have yet to hear/see one claim to have mic'd the chokes prior to using steel as a comparison to before and after.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Stevens311
I cannot find any alternative non-toxic shot. Dick's does not have them.
I know i can get it online.
I highly recommend the HEVI-Shot Classic Doubles.0 -
I know it has been tossed around quite a bit. I used to shoot a savage or stevens 620 full choke with steel... Old man bought a mossberg 500 in 1983 with a fixed full, and shot steel no problems.
As an ignorant young man I shot steel through an extra full turkey choke.... no bad result but you can see the choke is damaged.. Luckily I caught on fast.
Most pump guns in my era are good enought to shoot steel without issue.
Can you get away with it yes. Not neccesarily a good idea either.0 -
At a certain point. Every gun will fail from usage if heavy enough.
The expression "shot to xhit".0 -
I got a Spanish over/under with cyl/cyl 24" barrels cheap from my favorite local dealer. He said he bought it on line from Winchester. They had been testing their then-new steel shot loads through a variety of guns, and this one, which had notably thin barrels, had failed. They cut them off behind the bulge and put the gun up for sale.
So if the story my dealer told is true, then at least some thin-walled doubles are at risk from steel shot loads.0
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