newb question.. will I wreck my gun or just harm it??

mudbug

mudbug

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
18   0   0
Location
Meadow Lake
I apologise first off because I am on dial up and don't have 6 hours to do a search.
I have an opportunity to go goose hunting and I haven't for 20 years and still have the same old gun that I'm guessing shouldn't take steel shot. The gun is a C.I.L. 772 double barrel, It says ZABALA HNOS S.R.C. - FIBAR made in spain. It is a 2 3/4 with modified and full choke.
Will I bust my gun by shooting a couple boxes of steel shot through it or will I mildly harm it or none of the above. This will most likely be my only goose hunt of the year. If I get caught with the goose bug I will buy a shotgun made for steel shot but for now will I bust my gun? If not what shot would you recommend.
I realize this may be a goofy question but I'm asking because I don't know so please don't chew me a new one!
 
Maybe if you stay under a #2 size shot it might not impact the full choke as much but you should be fine to shoot steel through your mod choked barrel. Buy a lower powered steel shot?

I can't answer correctly, only give my opinion.
 
Older guns with fixed chokes are seldom suitable for use with all sizes of steel shot. Some manufacturers will recommend nothing smaller then a #2, not because of damage, but because of poor pattern performance with larger sizes.

I generally recommend people keep these guns for use with lead shot only. Some of the modern alternatives to steel may be safe, but they can be so expensive you may be able to justify a low cost modern shotgun as a better solution.

If you want to go goose hunting, use it as an excuse to buy a new pump action shotgun or borrow one from a friend.
 
Thanks for the info so far. I have asked to borrow shotguns from 4 friends and all have said no problem but none of thier guns are for steel shot either however, they have been running steel shot through thiers for the few times they have went out for geese. Thats what led me to ask this question in the first place. If it seems o.k. for thier guns would it be o.k. for mine. I feel bad using thier shotguns if you shouldn't be using steel even though they have in the past.
I guess I'll keep calling the redneck friend chain till I find someone with a gun for steel shot or I suppose I could just use one of these guys as they have no problem with it. :confused: moral dilema feel bad using someone elses gun if I know I'm hurting it.
 
As expensive as they may be, a box or two of Kent Cartridge's Tungsten Matrix shells will out perform steel and won't hurt your spanish double.

Any Kent dealer can order them in for you, if they don't have any on the shelf. If they have to be special ordered though, you'd best get the ball rolling or you'll be too late for the hunt by the time they show up.

I agree with those who feel that non-toxic lead substitutes are too expensive to regularily hunt migratory birds, but they're more cost-effective than going out and buying a new gun just for a hunt or two.

If you get into hunting ducks and geese in a big way, then go buy yourself a suitable gun.
 
I agree with Straightshooter, buy some soft non-tox if you are only going to go on one trip. Yes it may cost you, but like it has been said, it is cheaper than a new gun or having your rib soldered back on.

You MAY be okay using size #2 on decoyed geese, but I would stay away from BB's in that full choke.
 
Thanks guys. We are going out Friday and it's wednesday already... I will look for the non toxic stuff and see if we have any and if not ....I guess I'll be shootin my cousins old pump with the boxes of steel shot shell he gave me!!!
My wife asked how my search for an answer was going... she thought it ws good info till she read that I should go and get a new gun. She said HELL NO. I guess I should be greatful she has already let me buy 2 rifles this year and I'm leaving on the 13th and won't be home till the 30th for our annual archery moose hunt with the boys....Woo Hoo.
I will see if I like the goose hunting then next year try to slide in a shotgun.....this post I will not let her read:D
 
Dave_Shotgun said:
Is it ok to shoot steel shot shells through a smooth bore Grizzly shotgun?
Click to expand...

Yes, but you should obtain and pattern tighter chokes for it. The 'modified' choke tube that ships with the Grizzly will produce good patterns at short ranges. However, you'd be "sprayin' and prayin'" at the distances that are typical for waterfowl.

Not that you might not bring the odd one down, but the risk of injuring birds would be high.
 
Personally I wouldn't put steel thru your Zabala. There's lots of old beaters out there to do that with. It is a fair quality Spanish boxlock and by the way it's Eibar, the premier gunmaking city in Spain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom