Steel shot and SxS choke question

Depends on whether the barrels were originally made for shooting steel. Was the gun made in the steel shot era (approximately since 1985?) Is the barrel marked for steel or does the manufacturer recommend shooting steel.?

If not, consider the age and value of the firearm and if you can find a professional shotgun expert who can physically inspect and measure the bores first. That's the prudent thing to do.


Bob
 
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Keep it smallish say less than BB just to be safe. Also it was mentioned in a few other threads be careful shooting heavy steel loads because alot of the older guns were not designed to handle the recoil stress of today heavier loads, unless the gun has 3 inch chambers in which case it should be fine structurally.
 
I have fired steel out of many single barrel guns and modified choke with no problems, but many fine doubles have very thin barrel walls, and even modified might be too tight to put steel through. IF the gun was built with barrels on the heavy side and is not too valuable to risk it, I would shoot steel in a modified barrel, but certainly no bigger than #2.
 
I have said many times that I would not be afraid to use steel in older pumps, semis or single barrels if the choke was opened up. However when it comes to double barrels I kind of draw the line. As already mentioned, many doubles have thin barrels. And if it is an old classic or nice handling double, then I will stick to the non toxic shot designed for these older doubles. Something about double barrels to me that puts them a step above other types of guns. Now if it is an old double that handles like a fence post and has barrels thicker than my glasses, then maybe I would shoot steel through it if it didn't have full choke barrels.
 
Win/64 said:
If in doubt buy another Shotgun and save the SxS for Lead. It's a lot of fun having more than one Shotgun :).
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I have already a 26" 870 Special Purpose, but was thinking about replacing it with a SxS for goose hunting. The pump is perfect for the task with steel, but I like the SxS better. I just wondered if steel could be fired through fixed IC/Mod chokes on a SXS. Looks like the 870 is still the way to go.

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Bismuth

Moose Masher said:
Load it up with some Bismuth.
Not the cheapest way to go, but easier on barrels than steel.
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Where can a guy find some bismuth ???

Looking for #4, 5, or 6 shot.

Next fall I want to shoot my fav 16 bore LC Smith for ducks.

I won't put steel through her... not that I even see steel in 16.

Thanks for any help...

Lucky
 
I have the same question as you, I don't like anything else then S&S for hunting shotgun. Anything other then S&S and on small scale O&U are let's say lacking in proper breading. I have 1970s good East German S&S, next week I will take it to gunsmith to have chokes opened up to I/C choke. I will see how it goes.
In two weeks I will post my findings, I will try #2 shoot and 4.5mm shoot as well
 
JamesM said:
Modern double with choke tubes go to town.
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Interchangeable chokes in a double are blasphemy. Use them and you may contract a case of dickdropoffitis.

Paul

IC/Mod should be fine but if you're looking at an older gun you should really give thought to bismuth or tungsten matrix. Just be judicious about how often you yank the triggers and the extra cost won't hut you too badly. :D
 
BigUglyMan said:
Interchangeable chokes in a double are blasphemy.
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So is a single trigger and a sling. ;)

BigUglyMan said:
Paul

IC/Mod should be fine but if you're looking at an older gun you should really give thought to bismuth or tungsten matrix. Just be judicious about how often you yank the triggers and the extra cost won't hut you too badly. :D
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........ or I should just buy a decent 3" SxS and have it reamed to IC/IC.


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You could easily hit a double whammy with an older SxS. If made before plastic shotcups, the bores could be on the tight side to begin with. Add in thinner barrels and you could have a real recipe for a structural mangling.
 
To SuperCub,

Sling on S&S is a continental thing. English would lough at it but on the Continent it was and it is a must on S&S.
 
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