Shoot'n Steel

[gth]

The full length wad cups on most of the new steel shot helps prevent a lot of the splits and bulges that happened with the early steel ammo...

How does a full length wad cup help eliminate barrel bulges?

My guess is that is the long wad keeps the shot contained in a mass the same diameter as the bore and then the plastic compresses as the shot goes through the choke as it exits the barrel. Unlike a shorter wad that may let some pellets move forward of the wad and form a tight mass of shot the same diameter as the barrel that is now forced through the choke as it goes through.

Its easier to compress plastic than steel. Mot a problem with lead becuase the lead would deform to pass throught the choke.


I'm just guessing so I could be wrong.

 

[coaken]

I just had my A-5 reamed out to Modified. No more problem and $40 bucks later. Now if I shoot Lead its choked Modified and Steel full.

 

[Jose]

Is shooting steel shot through your full choke safe? only you and your gunsmith can answer that question. You need to see the condition of your gun and the type of shells you are using. I shoot a Beretta a390. Yes I use a full choke because it gives me the best pattern with the load that I use. I reload 2 3/4", 1oz #3 steel, 1400fps. There is only 153 pellets in this load. Yes you only need 2-3 pellets to bring down the bird. Previous years I shot with my IC choke thinking that is all I needed (2-3 pellets to kill). I always had cripples and had to use 3-4 shots to finish the kill. This year I took the time to pattern the same load with different chokes. Full is the best for my gun. We went out on opening day and came back with our limit :mrgreen: It was hit and kill or a clean miss.(no cripples).

The boys are giving you good advice on this topic. We can't see the condition of your gun. If your gun is to old have it checked out by a gunsmith and take the time to pattern your gun.

 

[Dennis Crisp]

Last year we had 3 customers who blew their barrels using steel shot, one required 23 stiches. When we get a shotgun being traded in the first thing we do is run our hand over the choke area to check for bulges. About 1 in 30 gets rejected for this problem. A new barrel or even a new gun is a lot cheaper than the potential
risk to yourself and others. Shoot safe

 

[rxpat762]

Last year we had 3 customers who blew their barrels using steel shot, one required 23 stiches. When we get a shotgun being traded in the first thing we do is run our hand over the choke area to check for bulges. About 1 in 30 gets rejected for this problem. A new barrel or even a new gun is a lot cheaper than the potential
risk to yourself and others. Shoot safe

Couldn't agree more with you Dennis, that is good advice.

Most of the damage is not able to be seen.... the choke restriction will get widened by the use of large steel shot.
If you fire enough large pellet steel shot through your fixed full choke gun it will likely just open the choke up a little

The above is the kind of inexperienced advice that gets people hurt.

 

[Grouse Man]

The steel shot forms a plug IN the choke, and a bulge forms BEFORE the choke where the steel is thinner.

Grouse Man

 

[BIGREDD]

How does a full length wad cup help eliminate barrel bulges?

Are you asking a serius question?
Full wad cups keep the shot from grating down the bore and will allow it to pass more easily through a choke... that was a civil answer don't you think :wink:

 

[Randy Carriere]

All shot(steel or lead) forms a plug in the choke. The lead deforms to a degree( less if it is contained in a shot cup as modern loads are) to pass thru the choke restriction. In the steel load, the pellets don't deform so the shot cup is purposely designed thicker so that it can compensate for the harder shot by having the shot cup compress(do all the deforming). I think that with the large steel shot, the shot cup can't compemsate as well as with small shot sizes. Problems with the very earliest loads, but they've had a lot of time since to work those problems out.

I respect the comment about 3 shotguns this year with split barrels/injury. I wonder though, in years past every gunshop always had a few examples of split barrels and this was before steel shot. They were always caused by those careless individuals sticking their barrel in the mud and then firing a shot. I wonder if those individuals all of the sudden stopped plugging their shotguns with mud and now have to contend with that terrible steel shot, or might it be a conveniant excuse? When a dealer tells me how terrible old shoyguns shoot steel or better, thats it's super dangerous and by the way I can sell you this brand new shotgun for only.... Hummmm :lol:

 

[BIGREDD]

more childish bull:

BIGREDD wrote:
Most of the damage is not able to be seen.... the choke restriction will get widened by the use of large steel shot.
If you fire enough large pellet steel shot through your fixed full choke gun it will likely just open the choke up a little


The above is the kind of inexperienced advice that gets people hurt.

If your going to quote someone in a lame-ass attempt to discredit them you should at least quote them completely so that the context is clear

Where in this post do I tell people to shoot steel through a full choke :?:

What advice here could be construed as dangerous :?:

Dennis also stated that he inspects shotguns by feel as well as visual... just like we do :wink:

Most of the damage is not able to be seen.... the choke restriction will get widened by the use of large steel shot.
The full length wad cups on most of the new steel shot helps prevent a lot of the splits and bulges that happened with the early steel ammo... yes I have seen both
The biggest problem with shooting steel through guns with too much choke restriction is BLOWN PATTERNS.
If you fire enough large pellet steel shot through your fixed full choke gun it will likely just open the choke up a little ... but it will never pattern well

I am tired of your childish bull####... :idea:

 

[44fordy]

Wow!! Thanks for all the advice and tips guys! I'm a newcomer to this site and am suprised at all this fantastic feedback. This is great!

Anyway, I do love my Remington WM, we have a special bond. It patterns nicely and I spank turkeys with it every spring...so I don't think I'm going to use any steel in it whether it can take it or not.
I checked on the price for a barrel, and they go for abot 250 at Lebaron. Sooo...add the taxes and we're around 300... I think what I'm going to do is buy a new one for waterfowl, I've gotten some good feelings about this Stoeger p350 which comes with 5 chokes, takes 3.5 inch mags, synthetic cammo and can probably be used as a paddle! (The package is 399!).

In doing this, I don't have to worry about shooting steel....and it gives me an excuse to go buy a new gun!! :wink:

 

[LeePeterson]

Hi 44fordy! I was also looking at buying a stoeger p350 pump for my first gun. Did you end up buying 1? If so how do you like it?

Thanks!

 

[bhunts]

Has anyone seen evidence? :?

Yes. I shot 3" 12 ga. steel BB loads through a full choke and it cracked the last 2" of the barrell.

 

[44fordy]

Hi 44fordy! I was also looking at buying a stoeger p350 pump for my first gun. Did you end up buying 1? If so how do you like it?

Thanks!

I haven't bought it yet, but definately will eventually. I'll probably put it off till after X-mas for obvious financial reasons. I will keep you posted on it as soon as I get it.
The only thing I noticed when handling it in the store was that the action was a little stiff, but I'm sure this can be overcome by breaking it in. Filling full of oil and beating on it a bit!!
Other than that, I couldn't find any noticable flaws and for the price, it's almost a no-brainer!

Cheers,