[roscoe]

My Dad has an old Browning over/under from the 20s and he is afraid to use it with the modern lead equivalents (family legend has it that this gun was with my grandfather when he went duck hunting with Ernest Hemmingway on the Missouri River. Hemmingway wore leiderhosen, but that's another story). He fears that the shot is hard enough to damage the barrel. Is there any real danger of this?

[Kingcreek]

yes, hevi-shot could damage the bore. it is harder than steel, even modern steel. That is why they are now using an extra wrap of plastic around the shot cup.
Bismuth should be safe for use but personally, I have had some inconsistant pattern spreads and some really crappy ones with the stuff.

[Dave McCracken]

Yes, leave that old campaigner alone and use lead. Buy your Dad a new pumpgun for waterfowl.

I'd not put Hevishot through anything older than I, and plenty of younger shotguns also.

Leiderhosen? Really?...

[45crittergitter]

Hevi-shot must be used only in barrels rated for steel shot. It's even harder than the steel (soft iron) shot. Same goes for tungsten shot. Usually, you must also use chokes no tighter than modified. Bismuth is the only non-toxic alternative to lead that I am aware of that is safe in lead-only barrels.

[roscoe]

Thanks, folks. I guess that old Browning will be relegated to the occasional trap outing.

[Bowlcut]

Id buy a nice case for it and sit it in there with a Hemmingway book or something. And just admire its history...
and get an 870 or something for any other duties

[Gearhead Jim]

The Tungsten-Matrix loads (Kent cartridge or Estate cartridge, I think) are non-toxic, almost as heavy as lead, and said to be safe for any barrel that will take modern ammunition. Have not tried them.

[Mannlicher]

Older guns can, and should be, used. Just because you are not able to use steel is no reason to make it a wall hanger. That O/U would be great for dove, or quail, squirrel, or rabbits.

With older pumps and semi autos, just replace the old barrel with a new one. I have done that with all my old Browning A-5s, in 20, 16, and 12. I really like the Hastings WadLock II barrels.

[Gearhead Jim]

Regarding my post above about non-toxic shot that is safe for older guns, I believe the proper term is tungsten-polymer.

[Kingcreek]

I used some Federal tungston-poly loads for pheasant on state land (non-tox only). It was great stuff in my old scattergun but I haven't seen the federal offered for the past year or two.
my wife has used the Kent stuff in her 20g and it performed very well also.
tungston-poly not to be confused with tungston-iron.