[troyboy94]

Today I bought a new Remington 11-87 realtree camo synthetic, capable of shooting 3.5's. The store employee told me I could shoot lead, and steel shot out of the barrels an chokes. I figured he was just trying to sell it to me. Is it true you can shoot both types of shot out of the newer barrels, and chokes?

[t george]

congrats on the new gun! someone will be along shortly to give you some good info!

[MCgunner]

Yes, it will be compatible with lead or steel. Remember, the modified lead choke is likely going to be your tightest choke for steel shot. Best to pattern test whatever loads you intend to use, but in general, one choke more open for steel than lead. If you want a modified pattern with steel, go to the I/C lead choke.

You have a really nice waterfowl gun there, turkey, too. A gas gun attenuates recoil a lot which will help with those 3.5" T shot steel loads. Keep it clean, especially the gas piston/cylinder/port and it'll give you many years of service in the field.

[chas08]

MC's advice is for the most part right on target. Steel does pattern tighter than lead, so shooting a looser choke is usually the norm with steel. However the new full choke tubes that come with new Remington firearms today are steel compatible. I questioned Remington on this through their website when I bought a steel shot barrel for my 1100. It came with a full tube installed. And if I recall correctly, they recomended, no shot larger than # 2 steel through their full choke, and all sizes of shot through modified and improved cylinder. With a lot of aftermarket chokes and older chokes this may not apply. Most choke tubes are marked lead and steel or lead only. Use caution if your unsure.

[ArmedBear]

Some Full Rem-chokes are Lead-Only.

I have two of the things, and one is Steel/Lead and the other is Lead Only. I don't know why.

It will say so on the side of the choke tube.

That said, I don't think you'd ever want to use it with steel, since Modified will shoot a steel pattern much like a Full choke with lead. I'd guess that steel would run out of energy closer in than you'd want to shoot with the equivalent of a Turkey choke anyway.:)

[Virginian]

Yes you can shoot anything made out of that gun. Remington does make a FULL steel choke tube, and it says Lead/Steel right on it. It's made of maraging steel, very tough stuff. I have gotten the tightest patterns with steel and tungsten loads, as well as large lead pellets, with an Improved Modified constriction, or something very close to it. The only way to know what works best for you is to pattern it. Of course you may not need real tight pattern.

[sohcgt2]

FWIW My chokes are marked for pattern and shot type (Mod lead/IC steel) and some are marked with only lead pattern information which I take to mean they should not be used with steel shot.

[lebowski]

I have a benelli and the F and IM chokes say "no steel shot" on them. The other chokes say "steel shot ok" or something to that effect.

The remchokes I have for my 870 all say steel shot is ok. Take a look on the chokes and see if it says anything.