Older Stevens 311

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black alder

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Can the older Stevens 311 handle steel shot. I realize that if choked full, then you should not use steel. However if one barrel is choked modified would it be OK to use steel in the modified choke barrel. thanks
 
SxS's and U/O's have two barrels joined together by soldered ribs. Shooting steel shot out of a full choked barrel can and will "ring" the barrel - cause a slight bulge just before the choke. On a single barreled gun, this has little consequence but on a double it will separate the barrels from the ribs, ruining the gun.

Sharptail
 
So if your gun is choked Full/Mod you can load the "Mod" barrel with steel and it's safe it will not "ring" the barrel as you called it? It will just "ring" the full if steel is used in that barrel? I'm getting a 311 myself and was wondering if I can put steel down the barrel choked Mod.
 
Sorry, I should have explained further. With a modified choke the possibility of "ringing" the barrels still exists. How great that possibility is depends on just how tight the "modified" choke really is (311's were choked pretty tightly), the size, quantity and velocity of the shot load you are shooting (smaller shot and less of it at lower velocities is better), and the strength / thickness of the barrel steel (311's have relatively thick barrels of mild steel).

If it were mine, I wouldn't risk the gun for the sake of steel shot. Either open up the choke(s) ($), shoot tungsten polymer shot instead ($) or get another gun for waterfowl (the only reason steel shot is necessary). Shooting tungsten polymer loads will give you a superior waterfowl gun if you only hunt ducks or geese occasionally, it gets too expensive if you are an ardent waterfowler.

Sharptail
 
Sharptail said:
Sorry, I should have explained further. With a modified choke the possibility of "ringing" the barrels still exists. How great that possibility is depends on just how tight the "modified" choke really is (311's were choked pretty tightly), the size, quantity and velocity of the shot load you are shooting (smaller shot and less of it at lower velocities is better), and the strength / thickness of the barrel steel (311's have relatively thick barrels of mild steel).

If it were mine, I wouldn't risk the gun for the sake of steel shot. Either open up the choke(s) ($), shoot tungsten polymer shot instead ($) or get another gun for waterfowl (the only reason steel shot is necessary). Shooting tungsten polymer loads will give you a superior waterfowl gun if you only hunt ducks or geese occasionally, it gets too expensive if you are an ardent waterfowler.

Sharptail
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Okay that helps no steel shot gonna go down the 311 unless I get the chokes opened. Though I'm actually looking at the Stoeger Uplander or the Stoeger condor combo for a duck gun....still waiting for someone to reply in that thread about a problem I've read about it when shooting light loads.
 
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