Excessive Shotgun Wear?

[Titan6]

I was into a dispute today at work. I was outvoted so I said I let it go but the consensus was that shooting slugs out of shotgun was "hard" on the shotgun and would cause premature wear in the barrel and action. The gun in question was a Remington 870.

For me I was not buying it. Possibly shooting rifled slugs out of a rifled barrel may cause some wear on the rifling if you shot it lot; but just shooting slugs I don't think would cause the gun to require maintenance earlier than usual. Am I wrong? Any thoughts?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Lead slugs wear out a steel barrel? No more so than lead shot...

lpl

 

[Geneseo1911]

It would have no affect on the barrel, to be sure, but I believe the question is more along the lines of wear n' tear to the action. I wouldn't be surprised that a slug or other heavy load would cause the action to loosen up faster, but I also suspect the difference in wear caused by heavy vs. light loads would take MANY rounds to make a noticeable difference. I would also suspect that the shooter would wear out long before any quality shotgun in any case. These guns are designed to go through tens and hundreds of thousands of rounds. I would say that you are right realistically, if perhaps not 100% technically.

How many slugs are these people shooting, anyway?

Edit: A gentleman at the gun club I frequent who is retired and shoots trap almost every night (oh wait, that's all of them ) claims to have worn a groove in the barrel of his Krieghoff due to shooting exclusively AA's. When he tried to chamber a Gold Medal (which have slightly higher brass), it would catch and refuse to go in. He also claims to have removed the offending ring with a brake cylinder hone. Not that this has anything to do with your question, but even enough target loads will cause wear (although I'm a but suspicious about the details of his story... it was more likely a carbon ring or something)

 

[janobles14]

slugs will not really wear out a bore any more than shot will. however, slugs will warp chokes (mainly screw-in types) over time.

 

[chas08]

Not an issue in one lifetime. Slugs are harder on "YOU" than the gun. Look at all the used police issues out there with beat up wood and little metal finish left, that are still "Butter Smooth". Lead is softer than steel and wood is softer than both.

 

[Steve C]

Slugs fired through a cylinder bore or saboted slugs shot through a rifled choke will not wear out a barrel but slugs shot excessively through a fixed modified choke will open it up after a while and you should never shoot slugs through a full choke.

 

[Virginian]

I have rarely seen such a collection of old wives tales.
Lead slugs will not hurt any choke.
Slugs, or buckshot, aren't any more viscious or manly than most other loads, and can't hold a candle to heavy duck loads. You are pressure limited with shotgun loads, and maximum pressure and payload is tougher on everything.
No Kreighoff got "worn" from AAs. He got carbon build up just like you do shooting 38s in a 357. Its a shame money doesn't always buy brains.

 

[Titan6]

I have always thought that heavy duck and goose loads were worse than slugs. I have heard that depending upon the type of shotgun shooting a slug through full choke can cause it to blow out but I have never actually seen such a thing. I have also heard that rifled slugs can foul up a rifled barrel but also have not seen that either. I just wish there was some where.

 

[Pete409]

Slugs will not "warp" a screw in choke any more than birdshot will.

Slugs are perfectly safe to shoot through Full chokes.

Slugs are soft lead and the "fins" on the side of them deform very easily. Besides, the diameter of a slug measured at the widest point is still smaller than the diameter of a full choke.

Shoot all the slugs you want through your shotgun.

 

[Snarlingiron]

It's really kind of one of those could Batman beat Superman type questions, isn't it?

Fact is neither you or any of your friends is likely to shoot enough slugs or anything else in your lifetimes to really find out.

 

[JWF III]

Slugs, or buckshot, aren't any more viscious or manly than most other loads, and can't hold a candle to heavy duck loads.

I have to disagree with you there. Unless you're talking about the old (now illegal) lead loads. 1 1/4 ounces of steel will never kick like 2 ounces of lead. Recoil in a shotgun is more dependent on the load weight than the velocity. The only time velocity really comes into play is in equal load weights. I can shoot many 12 ga 3 1/2" steel loads (1 9/16 oz.) in one day. Now take the same shell size, and put in 2 1/4 oz of turkey lead, and I'll be stopping after a few shots.

Now if you're referring to the old, lead, magnum duck loads, well I'm just (slightly) too young to remember those. I didn't start hunting waterfowl until the mid 90s. So I'll refrain from comparing those.

Wyman

 

[Virginian]

Quote:
"Now if you're referring to the old, lead, magnum duck loads, well I'm just (slightly) too young to remember those. I didn't start hunting waterfowl until the mid 90s. So I'll refrain from comparing those."

I'll trade you your age for my memories. I killed my first duck in 1960. Those are indeed what I was referring to. Those Winchester Super XX buffered 1-7/8 ounce goose loads were a wake up call to remember in a light pump.

 

[chas08]

I killed my first duck in 1960.

You got me beat by six years. My first duck was in '66 at the ripe old age of ten. I didn't shoot my first 3" magnum till I was twelve and I can still remember it like it was yesterday, 1 7/8 oz of # 4 lead out of a Winchester Model 12 Heavy Duck, that belonged to a family friend that was hunting with us. It was brutal to say the least. I doubt that anyone ever wore that gun out.

 

[Rshooter]

If I recall right the Remington 870 Police guns are supposed to have heavier springs for repeated use of heavier loads. That said I have never personally seen a police trade-in gun that was worn out internally. Spiff it up on the outside and you have one nice gun for a good price.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Please, nobody tell the older WMs here that they are worn out.

Number One was made " Around 1951" according to Remington. The barrel codes to November 1950. After 10-15K shells through it, including at least 500 slugs,a couple thousand buck loads and plenty of old "Short Magnum" goose loads, it still locks up tight as a bank vault.

Number Two is a reworked cruiser gun. Maybe 10K rounds, most during a short but intense 3 gun career and some venison acquisition. Plenty of slugs there also.

Both are so reliable they function as part of my homeowner's insurance plan.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

Some slugs like those Brennekes make for LE and Military will be lined as to provide no lead to wear against the barrel.

Ive fired a bunch of various slugs and when gunsmith got through, the barrel bore was virgin fresh as the rest of the guns were.

I dont buy the barrel/action wear at all.

Rifled with sabots maybe, but not smoothbores.