Steel shot
- Thread starter Amelio
- Start date
madtrapper143
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Steep Rock Lake NWO
Thousands of steel rounds over the past 20 years through fixed chokes and screw in chokes absolutely no damage.
Darryl
Darryl
Yes. I have seen a few barrels with damaged muzzles.
Choke designation from the tightest to the most open are:
Extra Full, Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Skeet II, Improved Cylinder, Skeet I, and Cylinder Bore.
Steel shot does not require the constriction that lead shot needs, to produce good patterns. In fact too much constriction, causes poor, erratic patterns, and in some cases, permanently damages the barrel. I have seen barrels bulged at the choke, I have seen barrels where the choke split right open, from using steel shot.
For steel shot, with thin barrels, chokes should be altered to at least Skeet II. Often, over & under, and side-by-side shotguns, are best altered to Skeet I and Skeet II chokes. Heavier barrels can be left at Modified choke but may see an improvement in the pattern if opened slightly.
Whether the wad keeps the steel from touching the barrel or not is unimportant. It is still trying to squeeze a mass through a hole it doesn't want to go through. Lead will mash into each other and deform to make that squeeze...Steel will not because it is to hard and then something has to give...hence the burst barrels or chokes bulging. The larger the shot size such as 2's, BB's or BBB's the greater the chance of something bad happening.
Jim
gunsaholic
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
I or my dad have shot number 2 steel shot through a Feg double barrel from the 70's, a Stevens 311 double barrel, a Winchester model 12, a Browning Superposed from 1973 and a Italian made Century Arms over/under . None of the guns had full choke. They were either modified or improved cylinder. Not one gun had any damage. I know of several others who are shooting steel through older guns with fixed chokes that have been opened up. So far no reports of ruined barrels. Guess we have all been lucky.
Steel shot in a Modified or more open choke such as Cylinder or Skeet1 is generally considered safe. The problem is in firing it our of Improved Modified, Full or Extra Full chokes or tighter. They constrict the shot column to much and the bigger the shot the worse the constriction it seems.
This is a general accepted rule, so steel shot may or may not damage your barrel if it is not rated Steel Proof. Some feel rules are meant to be broken and.....well it's their property and fingers at risk so.......
Jim
Of the handfull of guns I have witnessed that where damaged allegedly due to steel shot the majority of damage was due to a blockage in the barrel.
Even Wingmasters from the mid 70's shoot fine today.
Rob
I've had 2 steel rated chokes damaged. They came with a cheap pos tristar ou 12 ga. A 2-3/4" #3 blew the body out of a mod choke causing it to be stuck in the gun. The other was a full choke with #7.5 steel shot while dove hunting. The choke cracked completely thru into 2 peices. It too was difficult to remove.
It can happen and it does happen. Use quality chokes and open fixed chokes
I've seen a couple bulged barrels just before the choke. It didn't effect the function. It did look horrible
It can happen and it does happen. Use quality chokes and open fixed chokes
I've seen a couple bulged barrels just before the choke. It didn't effect the function. It did look horrible
