lead vs steel shot choke question

[woodchopper]

So just when I think I might be getting a grip on projects I find another one

and as you can figure out its shotguns now.

I have 2 12 gauge barrels from an older shotgun 2 3/4" and 3" barrels that are marked 'Full' and I am certain they are for lead shot. I took a dime and it does not drop in the bores.

So just need to confirm what I need to ream them out to for use with steel shot: Improved Cylinder or something else ??

 

[guntech]

SHOTGUN BARREL ALTERATIONS FOR STEEL SHOT

Forcing Cone Alteration:

Factory shotgun barrels usually have a fairly short and abrupt forcing cone. The forcing cone is the tapered area just ahead of the chamber where the shell is contained. Altering the forcing cone, so it is one and one half or two inches in length, reduces recoil and improves the pattern density. Trap shooters and skeet shooters have been doing this for many years. It is a good benefit to the steel shot user as well.

Choke Alteration:
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.

 

[Longstud]

I would pay heed with the above advice given by a very well respected gunsmith. In modern firearms the chokes are usually marked for lead and steel but in my testing Improved cylinder and light modified patterned the best with most shot sizes but big pellets are much less forgiving than smaller shot size. In my SX3 I shoot a Comp N Choke Light mod with bigger pellets #1 and bigger and use an Improved Modified with the pellets smaller than #1. With steel, LESS is more.

 

[weimajack]

Choke opened to 0.710 is the best for steel shot for duck hunting.

To save semi auto action, it's important to altere forcing cone as previously noted.

 

[Deathrawt]

I read that a mod choke shooting steel shot produces a pattern like you would get shooting lead out of a full choke

 

[struff55]

certain shotguns are even more vulnerable to damage from steel shot the browning shotguns have very soft steel in the bbls even when opened up they are still subject to damage
also win model12's bbl steel is harder but the muzzle is thin
when the older bbl.s
are opened up nothing larger than a no 4 size shot should be used
also even with a forcing cone alteration the odds of damage to the receiver is likely
back in my day did a lot of shotgun work in my shop
at one point i had a fairly large collection of damaged bbl s in the corner altered and not altered
get the alterations done see what happens