Steel Shot - Does it damage modern shotgun barrels?
- Thread starter xull1x
- Start date
Frankiboy666
CGN frequent flyer
It always been my understanding that the wad only is in contact with the barrel until it exit the barrel so i really dont think so plus i never seen any damage to mine and i've shot plenty of steel shot. The only logical way to do damage i think is by using the wrong choke i guess...
1963beretta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vaughan, Ontario
Simple answer....no
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Agreed!
The answer is YES. It can pending what you shoot for ammo. I have had and seen damaged barrels from steel shot and not just chokes and forcing cones
Not all steel wads protect the barrel like one thinks. Some will allow the pellets to penetrate right through the wad side travelling down or the slit is too wide so you have steel on steel going down the barrel and doesn't matter if the barrel is vintage or modern damage occurs
Have also seen steel shot rust up and go out like a slug after being wet and do damage
Larger pellet more so than smaller
Early ones were real bad so much so we used mylar wraps over the wads when reloading to try to stop the scoring
Cheers
These as an example sure didnot do the job and protect the barrel
Randy agrees LOL. Fix the link
https://ww w.chuckhawks.com/steel_shot_barrel_damage.htm
Not all steel wads protect the barrel like one thinks. Some will allow the pellets to penetrate right through the wad side travelling down or the slit is too wide so you have steel on steel going down the barrel and doesn't matter if the barrel is vintage or modern damage occurs
Have also seen steel shot rust up and go out like a slug after being wet and do damage
Larger pellet more so than smaller
Early ones were real bad so much so we used mylar wraps over the wads when reloading to try to stop the scoring
Cheers
These as an example sure didnot do the job and protect the barrel
Randy agrees LOL. Fix the link
https://ww w.chuckhawks.com/steel_shot_barrel_damage.htm
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Yotarunner
CGN Regular
- Location
- Eastern Alberta
the wad is in contact with the bore the whole time so there is no issue with steel harming the bore. the issue is when it the shot goes through the choke. steel shot cant squeeze through a lot of older extra full chokes like lead can so thats where issues and damage can occur. some modern shotguns have removable chokes that designate steel or lead shot. for example my browning chokes specify not to use steel in the full choke as its too tight.
Some of the early steel shot ammo was known to score or scratch the bores because of poor inferior wads, this was not a problem with the offerings by the major manufacturers such as Federal, Remington, Winchester, however some cheaper promo ammunition had this problem, you buy cheap you get cheap. This problem was quickly resolved as the poor ammo faded from the market but the problem lived on to this day among reloaders who were using a wide variety of wads, many not designed for steel shot and not providing the extra protection steel shot requires. Of course, magazine articles and reviews of the day were regurgitated and repeated and copied and still surface today as gospel. As more became known about the use of steel shot many manufacturers such as Browning turned to harder steel in their barrels as well as thicker steel and larger bore sizes to help ease the additional stress created by the uncompressable steel shot. Most European proof houses introduced an additional proof for steel shot approved barrels.
Bottom line: modern steel shot ammunition from major manufacturers will not score or scratch good steel barrels but the additional strain that it puts on the barrels can swell or bulge thin barrels not designed for steel and of course the area at greatest risk is the choke constriction, fixed or removeable. This is why shotgun manufacturers normally recommend only the more open chokes should be used with steel.
Bottom line: modern steel shot ammunition from major manufacturers will not score or scratch good steel barrels but the additional strain that it puts on the barrels can swell or bulge thin barrels not designed for steel and of course the area at greatest risk is the choke constriction, fixed or removeable. This is why shotgun manufacturers normally recommend only the more open chokes should be used with steel.
Based on what?? not shooting various makes?? That first pic of the wads I posted that did/ does damage from too great a petal gap thus many times steel on steel going down the barrel is from one of the most modern makes steel ammo out there IMO and if you shoot/ reload steel you know what it is out of and the damage potential it has
A hint Remington hyper
Been reloading steel lots of it since a year after it became mandatory in 12 and 10ga and never used anything but correct steel resigned wads but damaged/ scored barrels also
They put this on the box for a reason and they are not talking choke tubes here
Cheers
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Steel shot has been out for many years and the progress made is leaps and bounds.
In the early stages the genuine concerns where out there and the manufacturers came to the table with answers.
What specific questions are you looking to be answered?
Dont like steel shot, try bismuth or tungsten or buy a new shotgun designed for the use of non-toxic (steel shot) the answer is easy to find.
Interesting wad pics 3macs..I too started loading steel before it became mandatory, but that lasted a couple of years and bought factory ammo with better results.
Rob
I still reload my steel all RSI reloads. Factory costs me more money plus I have like 22 bags of shot and 12 pounds of steel powder and a few 1000 wads to use up.
They also stock just about nothing here for factory steel rounds if looking for the higher end stuff
Cheers
Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
LOL WHAT nothing about don't use it if you have a remington or something like that
Hahaha
LOL spank must be tired like I am. He is usually right on the ball with that one
TIRED of shoveling and blowing snow down here
Starting to think best just to leave the blower running in the yard since a few hours I will need it again
January in eastern canada has been NUTS
Oh well back out side I go for another few hours
Did I say I hate winter now
Cheers
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Falconflyer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
LOL spank must be tired like I am. He is usually right on the ball with that one
TIRED of shoveling and blowing snow down here
Starting to think best just to leave the blower running in the yard since a few hours I will need it again
January in eastern canada has been NUTS
Oh well back out side I go for another few hours
Did I say I hate winter now
Cheers
Then I guess I shouldn't mention where I am right now......
Then I guess I shouldn't mention where I am right now......
I can guess and yes you win if NL but the cape is no treat either
Cheers
I shoot only factory steel shells. I have some barrels that have marks. I wouldnt call it scoring but they never come out. One is a cylinder bore and the other is a factory mod. BB is the largest ive shot thru them
I have ruined 2 chokes. One a modified steel rated choke. 3" #3 shot ruined it. It was a turkish supplied mobil knockoff the other is a cheap turkish supplied cyl choke.
Buy quality chokes and Appartently the issue dissappears as my higher end chokes show no sign of wear.
The mod barrel that shows streaks is a beretta a303 so doubtful if it was a steel rated barrel but ill continue to use it
Like everything theres a risk. Better equipment reduces alot of that risk
I have ruined 2 chokes. One a modified steel rated choke. 3" #3 shot ruined it. It was a turkish supplied mobil knockoff the other is a cheap turkish supplied cyl choke.
Buy quality chokes and Appartently the issue dissappears as my higher end chokes show no sign of wear.
The mod barrel that shows streaks is a beretta a303 so doubtful if it was a steel rated barrel but ill continue to use it
Like everything theres a risk. Better equipment reduces alot of that risk
