16 gauge buckshot

As long as the gun is otherwise safe to shoot, go ahead. Buckshot is soft lead with lots of empty space to compress in the choke, and pressure no higher than any other full power load.

probably too conservative - BUT - I won't shoot anything except light loads out of an older SXS.
my concern is the solder joint the quality (and type) of joint is unknown.
I have seen several old guns where the barrels had come apart.

I'll shoot Federal #1 buck (rarely) out of my Lefever Nitro Special 16 gauge SxS...not because I'm afraid it'll split (Grandpas turkey load was magnum #5's) but because that old bird punches me in the schnoz like a boxer every time I shoot anything more than low brass field loads.

Have it looked at by someone familiar with older shotguns if you're concerned it'll start to break apart with full-house loads.

Stay safe.

Riomouse911 said:

I'll shoot Federal #1 buck (rarely) out of my Lever Nitro Special 16 gauge SxS...not because I'm afraid it'll split (Grandpas turkey load was magnum #5's) but because that old bird punches me in the schnoz like a boxer every time I shoot anything more than low brass field loads.

Have it looked at by someone familiar with older shotguns if you're concerned it'll start to break apart with full-house loads.

Stay safe.

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I love the nitro special! I’d be tickled pink with a 16ga, I’ve got great granddads old 20ga.
I’ve put some buckshot through it but the only thing I use it for is to shoot squirrel or rabbit once or twice per year on a dry sunny day then clean it and put it back into the back of the safe.