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Steel Shot Damaging Old Shotguns?

riverguide323
I was told to be careful shooting steel shot through older shotguns, because it damages the barrel. How does it hurt? How many rounds do you have to fire before damaging?
What should you look for when examining older shotguns for purchase.
thanks
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • nord
    Steel is much harder than lead and won't deform. In some cases it's as hard or harder than barrel steel. If so, it won't take a long time for the choke to be shot out.

    A choke gauge is best, but a slight bulge will appear toward the muzzle of a damaged gun.

    And... No, it won't explode!

    Nord
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  • chuck
    rule of thumb, DON'T shoot steal in OLD shot guns.
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  • He Dog
    To be on the safe side, don't shoot steel shot in any shotgun not rated for steel shot.

    My heros have always killed cowboys.
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  • riverguide323
    Thanks for the previous responses.
    Are all shotguns currently being made safe for steel shot?
    thanks again
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  • shoey
    To the extent of my knowledge, all barrels are safe for steel....however, not all chokes are....my new Baiakal has steel rated barrels but lead only chokes...

    shoey
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  • rusty1
    ???? WHY WOULD STEEL SHOT DAMAGE THE GUN IF THE SHOT IS IN THE WAD OR CUP????

    rusty1
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  • bobski
    to answer the last posters question...as the lead pellets travel down the bore they are being compressed or worn smooth as they travel towards the muzzle. when they hit the restriction, they deform even more. those pellets are called flyers; for, they normally peel off and fly wild once free of the wad and in the air stream. now...take the same situation with steel shot that is twice as strong and less likely to deform. as it goes down the bore, any pellets pushing thru the wad will scratch the bore and when it hits the restriction, it has nowhere to go. it maintains its shape instead of crushing inward as it hits the restriction, thus a steel pellet slowly wears out the choke over time....much like a file going across metal....until its a cyl bore. hope it helps.
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  • cowdoc
    dont shoot it in an old model 12 win with full choke, as i found outthe hard way when we first started to have to use it for ducks ....split the end of the bbl open back couple inches at the choke end [:(]
    doc
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  • bobski
    riverguide....guns being made for steel shot presently are called guns with chrome lined bores. lead is slowly on the way out due to the epa and lead reserves dwindling, forcing mining to take place in the rain forests etc....(most lead comes from peru.) soon, the only guns with lead going down them will be for target clays and collectors of old guns...and that may change soon too. the gun builders (including me) have read the writing on the wall and have begun designing thier guns for steel shot, with chrome lined bores. euro was the first to get on board due to their own strict rules over there. now its our turn. soon all guns will be steel shot and our present day modern smokeless fired lead guns will be nothing but wall hangers much like gramps old topper single shot and the bp sbs's of the 1800's. imagine...a m-12 or remington 3200 just a wall hanger! its coming.
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