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S&W 1000 shotgun safe for steel waterfowl loads?

WaterFouler
Hello,

My father gave me a nice S&W 1000 30" fixed full choke 12 ga. shotgun. My question is, since this gun predates steel, is it safe to shoot 2.75" steel loads through this gun? I shoot Kent Fasteel 2s and 4s. Any EXPERIENCE you can share would be greatly appreciated. One of my buddies said he had one when steel first came out and bulged his barrell. I'm assuming the loads are much better now but would like to hear from someone who has been shooting steel in this gun, trouble free...

thanks for your replies in advance.

Look for drakes!

Chris G
Bishop CA



"Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters."
Abraham Lincoln
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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • bobski
    no, no, and ....no.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, former navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction. NRA certified instructor.
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  • only winchesters
    Welcome to the forum "Waterfouler". Rule of thumb, if you are going to use a shotgun for "waterfowl", with Steel Shot, make sure it has screw in chokes. Choke tubes are much cheaper than barrels. You could use your gun with Bismuth or Tungsten/Matrix shot shells. Regards Dave
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  • bobski
    and to add to that, make sure the bore is chromed lined or you will scratch it to high heaven, opening it up to corrosion.
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  • WaterFouler
    Okay, I was figuring the steel was bad due to its less that malleable qualities, I was just hoping maybe there was some way it would work out. Unfortunately its not a very usable gun for me if it can't shoot steel...guess I'll have to spend some money on the tungsten matrix if I'm going to take it afield.

    Thanks for your help.

    Chris G
    Bishop CA

    "Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters."
    Abraham Lincoln
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    YOU CAN HAVE THE BARREL FITTED WITH CHOKE TUBES AND THEN UAS THE SPECIAL 'STEEL' TUBES.
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  • timbroman
    Waterfowler - Well you've come to a place where there are differences of opinion on almost everything.

    My first new-bought shotgun - and for a long time my only shotgun other than a 16 ga Winchester Mod 37 - was a very inexpensive ($75.00 brand new) Smith & Wesson Eastfield 12 ga pump gun, 3" chamber and full choke. It was bought specifically to shoot ducks and geese before there were lead shot restrictions of any kind.

    When I began to hunt in experimental steel-shot areas I shot steel shot in it. When my younger brother began hunting, it became his duck gun (while we were still using lead in some places and steel in others) and he shot lots of steel through it. When my son began hunting he used it - shooting nothing but steel for waterfowl because that is the law here everywhere now.

    We have shot that gun for over 30 years (since 1972 I think) with 2-3/4 and 3 inch shells. Steel and lead. The bore is shiny still. There are no bulges anywhere. The bolt linkage is about worn out and the barrel needs some touch-up with flat black paint, but I would have no problem taking it duckhunting with steel shot in the morning.

    Although I hear (and I now have a Jap barrel for my A-5) that steel shot is hard on the barrel you wouldn't know it to look at this gun. It patterns well. The choke may have opened up a bit over the years. I can't imagine what would cause a bulge in a sound, unobstructed barrel using quality commercial shotshells or handloads within those specs.

    If I were the owner of that S&W 1000 I would have no reservations about shooting steel shot with it. But that's just me and what I would do. I'd be more concerned about effective patterning with the full choke than I would be about a bulging barrel.


    "If the zoo is closed, drop by the Senate. You'll get the
    same feeling and you won't have to pay." Bob Dole
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