[ThePunisher'sArmory]

i got a winchester 1400 MKII recently for a very good price (free) from my step dad. I dont have a manual for it and was wanting to use it for wingshooting. Does anyone here kkow if i can use steel shot in it. The engraving on the barrel reads Winchester 1400-12 ga 2 3/4" chamber , winchester proof steel WINCHOKE. I know im rather limited on shells but want to use it for dove and some duck hunting. Will just be using high speed steel for both hunting situation, no heavy shot.

[p89cajun]

http://media.winchesterguns.com/pdf/om/model1400_om_s.pdf

I keep a digital copy of the manuals for each of my guns.

[chas08]

Does anyone here kkow if i can use steel shot in it.
Yes steel is OK, but I wouldn't shoot it through the full Winchoke. I/C and MOD. should be no problem.

[MCgunner]

In my 1400, the mod choke chokes the tightest with steel 3s. I shoot winchester Expert High Speed number 3 shot, the 1550 fps stuff. it patterns well and hammers ducks to beyond 40 yards, all I need over decoys.

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

MCgunner sounds good i just got a pure gold mod ported choke tube for it off the cabelas web sight. Picked it up today cant wait to shoot it in about 5 days. Early season teal,Quick little birds. Ill be using this tube with Estate high speed steel BB 2 3/4, Remington high speed steel #2 2 3/4", and Winchester Expert HV steel #2 and #4 2 3/4". Well see how they do.

[rbernie]

I know im rather limited on shells but want to use it for dove and some duck hunting. Will just be using high speed steel for both hunting situation, no heavy shot.Why would you use steel shot for dove?

[MCgunner]

BB will limit patterns on teal, not optimum, shot's a little large for the bird. 2s, 3s, even 4s work on teal if they'll pattern from the gun. 4s don't pattern that well from my Winchester for some odd reason, but 3s are pretty decent. All really depends on what the gun likes. If I find I can't get 3s, I'll go to twos.

For doves, I shoot 7.5 lead bulk pack dove loads from wallyworld. I find the gun will fail to fully eject on occasion with 7/8 ounce light loads, two or three rounds per box. 1 ounce or 1 1/8 ounce heavy dove loads function fine in the gun as does the heavy steel loads. You'll find the recoil greatly attenuated by the action, one of the softest shooting 12s around.

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

I have to use steel in Illinois, yet another stupid rule from this state.

[MCgunner]

Well, I think it's quite stupid for waterfowl, but gubment always seems to think they have all the answers. :rolleyes:

Have you shot it, yet? What did ya think? I shot mine Sunday afternoon on doves, but mostly used my 20 this weekend. Just had to break out the old Winchester, though, at least one afternoon.

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

Well heres the kicker i tested it with several round/choke combos at 30yrds and found some good combos. The very next day i was putting up concrete at work with a reach truck, sort of a forklift, and got my hand pinned between the bay and the truck. Right hand to be exact, my trigger hand:mad:. Needless to say i have not been able to hunt yet. I did this the day before opening day here in my zone of Illinois. I get to find out if its broke tomorrow after i get more x-rays..........SUCK

[MCgunner]

Dang, ouch! Take care of it and heal right. I've broken a lot of stuff, but not a hand. That sux big time. I could shoot my bow, that's what would really suck. LOL

I guess I could loan ya my .410 contender pistol and you should shoot weak hand. :D

[RUT]

>>I have to use steel in Illinois, yet another stupid rule from this state.<<


Even when you're not shooting over water? :confused:

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

To all that have asked ALL migratory birds including dove can only be harvested with Non-toxic shot, steel being the cheapest. If you are caught hunting any of the forementioned with lead or even have lead shot in your posession while hunting IDNR will take all gear in your posession, pull your Foid card (another stupid Illinois thing), pull your hunting licence and in turn require you to take a hunter safety course but without a foid you cant own a gun, and lastly hit you with a fine of $500-$1000. great state for hunting but the most restrictive in the union. Once again cant wait to move.:banghead:

[chevyforlife21]

damn dude that sucks

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

Sure does i just wish i could afford to shoot hevi-shot. Its much better than steel but there is something i dont like about $31 per 10 rounds. i use hevi-shot for turkey in my mossy 500 20gauge.

[MCgunner]

but without a foid you cant own a gun,

I suppose the bill of rights doesn't matter anymore. :rolleyes:

[RSVP2RIP]

To all that have asked ALL migratory birds including dove can only be harvested with Non-toxic shot, steel being the cheapest.

I believe you are mistaken. I live in Illinois as well, and that rule only aplies to certain state hunting areas (Des Plains and Green River come to mind). If you read the regulations there is a section that explains that lead shot is still OK for doves but they stongly urge you to use steel. Read the regs and you will find that if you want to use lead on private land it's okie dokie. Also if you are caught shooting lead and not steel where it is required, they do not pull you FOID. They MAY fine the crap out of you and MAY take your stuff, and MAY take your license, but about the only reasons you can get the card pulled are for the questions you must answer when you apply for it (domestic, drugs, mentally hadicap, insane, felony...etc.). If you are found guilty of a misdemeanor they cannot pull your FOID card unless it is misdemeanor domestic assult. They cannot even pull it if you get a DUI/alcohol. There is a lot of misinformation flying around because the law is little understood and written terribly.

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

RSVP Ill have to look that up but im taking no chances and i guess i was misinformed about the foid deal. However i did just look in the Illinois digest of hunting and trapping regulations and the section on lead poisoning in mournig doves "suggests" that you use nontoxic so guess it is only on state ran hunting sites. These are mainly where i hunt. As for water fowl it is required statewide. Me personally dont mind using nontoxic steel as i dont want exposure to lead through things i eat.

[MCgunner]

I've been shooting game with, casting, and loading lead for 45 years and I ain't dead, yet, though some may argue my cognitive abilities might be a bit impaired, though I tend to blame that on age. Thankfully, Texas hasn't gotten stupid with the lead stuff, yet. I think they only require waterfowl hunting with steel due to the feds.

[rbernie]

Me personally dont mind using nontoxic steel as i dont want exposure to lead through things i eat.FYI - there is no established link between unsafe lead levels in people and the use of lead hunting projectiles. The only survey done (and it was a survey, and not a study, since it failed to establish baseline lead levels) was conducted in ND. It showed slightly elevated lead levels in folk who consumed venison but those levels were still below the CDC threshold for concern.

I believe that we should not bow to junk science quite so readily as the IL hunting pamphlet might suggest.

[chas08]

I believe that we should not bow to junk science quite so readily as the IL hunting pamphlet might suggest.
!!!...AMEN...!!!

[RSVP2RIP]

Politicians write the hunting laws...


Punisher, I went to Green River Wildlife Area on the 2nd and shot the best I did all my life. I was using my Win 1500 XTR and with a ported Trulock SKTII tube I limited out in 38 shots with four birds hit that didn't stop flying. I was using Federal Speedshok 1 1/8 ounce steel #6. I'll definetly be buying more. At $9 a box though it is not that cheap but using my normal Fiocchi Crusher, I would have to have shot twice as much, so I guess I'm money ahead!