Extra Full chokes
- Thread starter Rugerman
- Start date
Wow - just wow. Don't do it.
If you try and push steel shot through an extra full choke on your Ruger Red Label, it will cause a bulge in the barrel just before the choke. This bulge will separate the ribs from the barrels, completely ruining the barrel set.
On top of that, you would not get the pattern you are after with an extra full choke tube, even if the gun survived. Steel shot behaves just like lead shot - if you use too much constriction (choke) you get a "blown pattern". The pattern looses it's density and pellets start flying all over the place. Steel shot requires much less choke than lead to achieve the same patterns as lead. Go too tight and you will have poor patterns.
I don't actually expect you to believe me on any of this, but you can prove it to yourself with a few minutes spent at a patterning board or some large pieces of paper. Take an open choke tube like IC (improved cylinder), a few lead shot shells and a few steel shot shells. Pace out about 30 yards, and see the difference for yourself.
Sharptail
Modified or improved modified chokes will generally give full choke equivalent patterns with steel shot. Anything tighter will give worse patterns and may be damaged by steel shot. Consult the choke tube manufacturer for steel shot compatibility.
You don't say which choke this is. I'm presuming after market. I would'nt go out and buy an extra full for steel without doing some thorough research. The tightest patterning chokes for steel I have found a are wad wizzard supreme. I have one in my 870 and SP10. The patterns have to be seen to be believed.
I shot steel through my 870 factory full steel choke for a few years and it patterned pretty good. The shot string always looked long on the water though.
I have buddies that have been shooting steel through their fixed full choke guns since it became mandatory (1862?) and they have good success.
I have personally never experienced these barrel explosions that get bandered around the web. Just the opposite. It obviously happens because every body talks about it.
I shot steel through my 870 factory full steel choke for a few years and it patterned pretty good. The shot string always looked long on the water though.
I have buddies that have been shooting steel through their fixed full choke guns since it became mandatory (1862?) and they have good success.
I have personally never experienced these barrel explosions that get bandered around the web. Just the opposite. It obviously happens because every body talks about it.
Most extra full chokes if not all are made for turkey hunting and most if not all of them say for lead shot only.
Why not buy a choke for waterfowl hunting that has been tried and tested by manufactures for Steel?
IE: Carlsons, Hunters Specialties, Kicks etc etc.
Why not buy a choke for waterfowl hunting that has been tried and tested by manufactures for Steel?
IE: Carlsons, Hunters Specialties, Kicks etc etc.
carl gustav
CGN Regular
- Location
- Thunder Bay
This is an informative thread. Just speculating about some of the conflict here, maybe the full and (perish the thought) extra full chokes for steel shot would pattern out as IC and Mod with lead shot. More informed correction welcomed.
hmmm. Now I m all screwed up..called my instructor at AHEIA and he said the general rule of thumb is not to use steel because it does not compress at the second "choke" point and then may damage the barrel. But why does the choke say ok for steel??? I dont get (Full Choke - not the extra full)
Briley rates their factory replacement chokes for steel only up to Improved Modified.
http://www.briley.com/2009/chokefaq.html
As you can see from this table, Improved Modified can be considered to be equivalent to Extra Full when used with steel.
http://www.briley.com/2009/lead.html
There is nothing to be gained from using an Extra Full choke with steel and you run the risk of damaging the choke and barrel. Don't do it!
http://www.briley.com/2009/chokefaq.html
As you can see from this table, Improved Modified can be considered to be equivalent to Extra Full when used with steel.
http://www.briley.com/2009/lead.html
There is nothing to be gained from using an Extra Full choke with steel and you run the risk of damaging the choke and barrel. Don't do it!
tactical870
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Buckhorn, Ontario
I've been shooting a 3.5 supermag for years with a heavy shot shot extra full choke marked for steel shot. That being said it usually patterns better at longer ranges shooting a modified......
I am not sure I understand this comment. Your instructor said the "rule of thumb is not to use steel". What else would/could you use on waterfowl? The Red Label SS is meant for waterfowl and steel shot. I use lead for trap and practice, steel in the field. I am just looking for optimum results.
I agree with Carl Gustav that perhaps chokes for steel will cause lead to pattern differently ie., IC and Mod.
I really don't know the answer which is what brought me to this forum. I am hoping someone knows. Having asked the same question on another forum a gunsmith thought the extra full choke was a good idea for long shots. There seems to be a wide set of opinions on this.
Just as a point of information, I went to the Ruger site and here is part of their specifications sheet on the Red Label:
"** Factory steel-shot compatible chokes including Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder and two Skeet come with your Red Label and can be easily changed with the included choke tube wrench."
Obviously steel shot can be safely shot through this shotgun which should include the extra full since it does not specify lead only and their factory chokes are steel compatible. That still does not answer my original question: Is there an advantage to using the X-full?
"** Factory steel-shot compatible chokes including Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder and two Skeet come with your Red Label and can be easily changed with the included choke tube wrench."
Obviously steel shot can be safely shot through this shotgun which should include the extra full since it does not specify lead only and their factory chokes are steel compatible. That still does not answer my original question: Is there an advantage to using the X-full?
