"Beater" Shotgun

[scout3006]

I have an old Cooey 12 gauge single shot, 3 inch chamber with 30 inch barrel and fixed full choke. I want to use this as a last-ditch backup gun for waterfowling (and for banging around on the ATV.) My question: is this gun okay for use with steel shot? (Like I need another excuse to buy a new gun!)

Also, is the full choke a little on the tight side? I want to use this with some lead loads for upland occasionally too.

 

[Grouse Man]

If this is a truly 'beater' shotgun, put on your bubba-alls and grab a hacksaw. Have a look-see into the choke area, and mark abouts where there's just a little bit of choke starting, and then go up 1/4 of the way to the end of the barrel. Then cut the barrel off real square like. Or get a brake cylinder hone and do a home honing job to open up that Full choke to about IC. It'll be double-duty fine for upland with lead, and geese with steel. Magic, eh?

 

[Pure Energy]

Or just leave it and send some steel shot through it. It should open the choke up for ya after a while.

 

[Workin Man]

I've seen a few gunsmiths online listing in the $60 range to open the choke to mod or IC. Either should work better than full choke for most small game as well as steel. 3" chamber and full choke would probably make a pretty good turkey gun though, if you have a turkey season where you are.