Older Browning using steel shot?

[Roger Lovesee]

Hello there, I have a 20ga BSS and a Superposed, advised never to use steel shot. I was informed today that by lengthening the forcing cone on each and using modified tubes or larger it would be ok? Any info would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[mcb]

I wouldn't risk it. There are plenty of options for non-toxic shots that are safe for any barrel to risk using steel shot in a valuable gun that might be damage just to save a few dollars.

 

[Roger Lovesee]

Thanks mcb, I was misinformed about the options then, I'm in California and thought my options were limited, being retired I plan to wrinkle some tail feathers this fall and many others, hopefully. The Kmart across town was getting out of weapons years ago, selling 20ga for $1.25 a box, soooo I bought all the #7 1/2's they had, 52 cases! Oh, and all their #8's another 43!
Wife wasn't happy but those boxes are mostly all gone now. I'll see what's out there, might retire the superposed and take a chance with the BSS!

 

[troy fairweather]

ya if i dont say on the barrel or owners manual dont use it

 

[jmr40]

It might be OK, but I wouldn't risk it if it were my gun. There are lots of non toxic shot other than steel that works fine on older guns. The ammo is more expensive, but you can buy a lot of the expensive ammo for what it would cost to modify the gun.

 

[rbernie]

In general - if the barrels are Belgian made (aside from saying 'Made in Belgium' on the side, they will be fixed choke or have a thin-wall choke tube conversion), the conventional wisdom is that the walls are too thin for the stress of steel shot. If somebody promised me otherwise, I would want them to warranty that in writing.

I don't know of many (any?) sources for replacement Superposed barrels, should they get damaged by steel shot.

 

[Roger Lovesee]

Thanks guys, I was hoping lengthening the forcing cone would lower pressures sufficiently to make steel viable, nobody seems to agree.....several decent gun shops said it works? Will keep researching as I hate to buy new at this point in my life, will have to look harder at non-toxic alternatives!

 

[George P]

Thanks guys, I was hoping lengthening the forcing cone would lower pressures sufficiently to make steel viable, nobody seems to agree.....several decent gun shops said it works? Will keep researching as I hate to buy new at this point in my life, will have to look harder at non-toxic alternatives!

It isn't the pressure, it is the inability of steel to compress to fit through the chokes

 

[rbernie]

It isn't the pressure, it is the inability of steel to compress to fit through the chokes

This.

Lead shot columns can slightly compress as they enter the forcing cone and traverse the choke, due to the malleable nature of lead. Steel shot (being much harder) does not readily deform, and so the shot column tends to batter the choke and forcing cone area of the barrel. If these areas of the barrel are not thick enough to handle the stresses, they will deform.

 

[troy fairweather]

all good wisdom guys browning did make a steel shot barrel but are rare.

 

[Roger Lovesee]

Thanks George, being that both my shooters have skeet, skeet barrels, no chokes. Have only shot, dove, quail, huns, chukar, pheasant etc, for years, once I discovered the science of pointing dog hunting. Sold all my big game rifles, and 12 bores only kept my .243 for varmints and such. Same with the win 1200 defenders.....still might give it a go with the BSS, $100 to bore if the barrel looks scratched I'll disengage.
Large bore, light field loads, maybe?
Bore job won't affect resale if somebody has to sell it? The older I get my little .410 Ringneck shoots steel if need be!

 

[loose noose]

Roger, have you checked the value on the Browning BSS especially in 20ga. I've got the Sporter Model in 20ga and have been offered $2000.00 and found out that they are worth close to $2500, if in good shape. This was about a year ago, and I doubt that they went down in value.

 

[Roger Lovesee]

Hey, mine is from '76, no chokes, no selector switch, buddy has one with a schnabel forend and selector, probably more desireable......thanks

 

[Col. Cornelius]

Steel shot fired thru a double barrel choke can expand that area enough to break the solder joint between the barrels, totally ruining the barrel set. Spare BSS barrels are NOT availible.

Steel shot damages the barrels much greater than just "scratching" the bore surface, it actually bulges the barrel due to the hard shot not deflecting as it goes thru the tighter choke.

 

[Roger Lovesee]

Thanks Colonel, still kicking it around, called Browning said no go on the Superposed, no way......He said the BSS has much better steel and with the skeet barrels would be ok......might just sell them both and go with newer sxs,
Thanks again......