Winchester 1400 Steel Shot From a Fixed Full Barrel

tman74

tman74

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#3 Steel 1300 FPS 2.75". Has anyone done it or still do it? I had a gunsmith tell me I'll be ok, just wanted to hear some first hand experience. Gun is 12 gauge.
 
I had a friend who shot hundreds of rounds of steel through a Model 1200, 2 3/4” chambered full choke with no ill effects. He used 2’s and 3’s. His rationale was the gun was worthless to him if he could not hunt Waterfowl with it so he took a chance.
 
I have been posting this for many years now...

SHOTGUN BARREL ALTERATIONS FOR STEEL SHOT

Forcing Cone Alteration:

Factory shotgun barrels usually have a fairly short and abrupt forcing cone. The forcing cone is the tapered area just ahead of the chamber where the shell is contained. Altering the forcing cone, so it is one and one half or two inches in length, reduces recoil and improves the pattern density. Trap shooters and skeet shooters have been doing this for many years. It is a good benefit to the steel shot user as well.

Choke Alteration:
Choke designation from the tightest to the most open are:
Extra Full, Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Skeet II, Improved Cylinder, Skeet I, and Cylinder Bore.

Steel shot does not require the constriction that lead shot needs, to produce good patterns. In fact too much constriction, causes poor, erratic patterns, and in some cases, permanently damages the barrel. I have seen barrels bulged at the choke, I have seen barrels where the choke split right open, from using steel shot.

For steel shot, with thin barrels, chokes should be altered to at least Skeet II. Often, over & under, and side-by-side shotguns, are best altered to Skeet I and Skeet II chokes. Heavier barrels can be left at Modified choke but may see an improvement in the pattern if opened slightly.
 
cosmic said:
Th gun may survive, but you may end up with poor patterns. The tight choke tends to splay the pattern.
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The patterns out of that full choke 1200 were so tight, if he centered a bird within 30 yards it was a mess. He shot the Kent 1 1/16 oz. loads.
 
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The only gun I have ever seen split from shooting steel shot was a Winchester 1200 in a very cold day. Same barrel as the 1400, minus the gas port. But I would not worry about it if the alternative was not using the gun. If it splits at the muzzle, cut it down.
 
Smithing for 40 plus yrs I have seen them all bulge or burst . A5’s model 12’s 870’s moss 500’s and even the famous Cooley single shot they are the most vulnerable with there swaged choke . If your going to use a old full choke gun st least cut 3/4”-1” off the end of the muzzle
 
I have a model 1200 12ga with a full choke. I found a used model 1300 barrel with screw in chokes for a good price... dropped right onto the receiver. I use that for steel and only shoot lead from my original full choked barrel.
 
CaribouHunter said:
I have a model 1200 12ga with a full choke. I found a used model 1300 barrel with screw in chokes for a good price... dropped right onto the receiver. I use that for steel and only shoot lead from my original full choked barrel.
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That's ideal.
I've been looking for a win choke(s) barrel for the 1400 for a while.
 
I have seen a full chiked mossberg 500 with a lot of steel thru it, there was a noticeable bulge about an inch from the muzzle. Pretty easy to have it opened up a bit.
 
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