Older Shotguns and Steel Shot

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

JohnM

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
1,640
Location
Down there by the river
What's the general feeling of using steel shot in better grade guns from way before the no lead shot days.
Like Browning's, Winchester's, Ithaca's, Barretta's, etc.
I won't shoot any of my old guns anymore, except for some upland bird hunting on the place with lead shot.
 
Don't know about Mossberg, maybe one of their SXS or O/U.
I have NEVER shot anything but lead through any shotgun I've ever owned.
I pretty much quit bird shooting where the lead ban was enforced.
Have to ask a few friends who still go after a lot of ducks and geese what they're using in case I get the urge again.
 
For what ever this is worth, When we had to go to steel I begged my dad to stop shooting his 1957 a-5 30 inch full choke Browning. His hard head put steel though it anyway. It DID NOT split the barrel end!!!! I guess belgium steel was good.
Anyway, don't shoot steel out of any pre 1980's gun if you want it to be around for your kids to display. (I proudly display Dad's A-5!). IMO.
 
Couple of boxes of that crap and you could buy the Mossberg factory
Click to expand...

Doesn't say much about the quality of the Mossberg factory, does it?

But then, Mossberg isn't exactly known for quality guns in the SxS, semi or O/U arenas........even their pumps are iffy.........
 
My current 500 has been shooting ducks for 20 years. I just wanted the camo finish. It's far more rust resistant than a Remington Express. I had a Revelation M310 that was fine, had bought a 500 barrel, accu-choke for it and used it for 10 years after the steel shot law passed. Sorta wish I'd kept it, but it was redundant.

My 500 has been dunked in salt water, mudded, been through heck and back. It always cleans up nice, no rust to date. I got nothin' but praise for it as a duck gun. Sure, i'd rather have a BPS, I guess, not sure why. The Mossy does the job. Back before tungsten got so expensive, it was also my goose gun. I've got a 10 gauge for that, now. It reaches out there on those blue bird days with steel T shot.

See, you don't buy 1500 dollar guns to toss in the salt and mud. I trip over something or the mud sucks my waders down and I trip at least twice a season and the gun goes where it goes when I'm falling, LOL. I don't often go on those private land hunts where you're driven up to a blind. It's wade/walk in the muck and salt grass up to a mile and hide in the Spartina grass. There are a few spots where I can use a kayak. I ruined a nice Spanish made double inside 10 years doing this. Oh, it still shoots fine, just ain't so pretty anymore. I wouldn't wanna do that to a Cynergy or something. YMMV
 
Mossberg seems to be the appliance of guns: you get a cheap gun that works if you beat the tar out of it and works even longer if you take care of it. Definitely can't say that about my Browning Gold Fusion, which I love to death and will gladly put into a reliability contest with any shotgun on Earth. My Browning will shoot forever, but only because I take great care of it. I would never say a Browning is as rugged as a Mossberg.
 
I was under the impression that it was ok to fire steel shot in older shotguns if they had a more open choke.

Is this correct?
 
For some reason this thread has started tilting towards whether Mossbergs are any good or not.
I'm getting to be a pretty old fart, so a lot of shotguns have passed through my hands. Even a few Mossbergs, had one of those bolt action models when I was in high school. Kind of worthless even back then, thing would jam anytime you needed a quick next shot :)
Back to steel shot, there's no way I'd ever use it in a gun not designed for it.
 
I was under the impression that it was ok to fire steel shot in older shotguns if they had a more open choke.

Is this correct?
Click to expand...

That is not correct. Barrels made before the 1980's aren't able to handle steel shot with any size choke in them. You might mushroom the barrel, or more likely gouge the bore since the barrel would be relatively soft in comparison to the steel shot.
 
I bought my first Browning about '66, an auto 5 12 gauge.
It had a name but I don't remember it any more.
I was thinking there was a 20 that had some special name.
Also I was thinking the double autos were made in 12,16, and 20s, but I've been looking on the internet this morning and can't find any but 12.
Probably faulty memory, I have a lot of that anymore :D
 
Shooting Steel out of older non-chrome lined barrels can cause the barrels to deform and ripple. If the old shotgun is a double (SxS or O/U) these ripples can cause the ribs to loosen and the barrels to come apart. Having barrels resoldered is not inexpensive, and there is no guarenty your barrels will be regulatred properly after it is done.

Old Pumps and Semis tend to hold up better because there are no soldered ribs to separate, but other things can deform or break and cause issues.

And if the barrel is very tightly choked, you could always burst or split the barrel....
 
I was under the impression that it was ok to fire steel shot in older shotguns if they had a more open choke.

Is this correct?

That is not correct. Barrels made before the 1980's aren't able to handle steel shot with any size choke in them. You might mushroom the barrel, or more likely gouge the bore since the barrel would be relatively soft in comparison to the steel shot.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna disagree and say it depends...

Many older guns should not be used with steel shot regardless of choke, but it would be OK in many others. None before 1980 or the late 70's were specifically tested and approved for steel shot, but that does not mean it won't work in them. If in doubt you can get a gunsmith's evaluation.

The biggest problem was the thinner steel used in many older guns barrels. When the steel shot hits the choked part of the barrel the barrel may expand instead of compressing the shot. After a time the end of the barrel may split. The steel shot can't scratch the barrels because it is inside a plastic shot cup until after it leaves the barrel.

I wouldn't use it in any gun with a fixed full choke or full choke tube. Nor would I use it in an older gun with any value to it. Either real or sentimental. But if I had a shooter grade 870, Mossberg pump or any other inexpensive gun with a modified or IC barrel and nothing else I'd use it.
 
An excellent article in the latest Shooting Sportsman Magazine by Loading authority Tom Roster tells of steel shot "bulging" and "ringing" older soft steel barrels. I personally won't shoot the abomination in ANY of my better older American Classics. In my Remmie 870 made in '94, it's no problem.
 
None before 1980 or the late 70's were specifically tested and approved for steel shot, but that does not mean it won't work in them. If in doubt you can get a gunsmith's evaluation.
Click to expand...

There is a good reason why all the manufactures say not to use steel shot in the pre 1980 barrels. Browning made replacement barrels, and still is, for there A-5's that were able to handle steel shot. The barrel metal is softer than the steel shot and the material is thinner, both of which make it easier to ruin the bore and/or deform/destroy the barrel.

I've seen first hand several gouged bores or rippled & bulged barrels because someone thought their gun could handle steel shot even when the manufacturer of the gun had stamped on the barrel NO STEEL SHOT. You can gouge the barrel because, as you said, the barrel expands when the shot reaches the choke. Since the steel shot is already deforming the barrel, what do you think is happening to the plastic thats stuck between the steel shot & the barrel? Its getting pushed somewhere and I do believe it ain't getting any thicker under all that pressure.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Effect of steel shot on older barrels discussion on diff. forum?
Replies
7
Views
2K
V1ROT8
V
Z
  • Locked
steel shot?
Replies
3
Views
317
oneounceload
O
D
  • Locked
Steel shot for chuckar
Replies
5
Views
1K
Double Maduro
D
A
  • Locked
Steel shot in my Ithaca 37?
Replies
4
Views
813
Gary A
G
SASS#23149
  • Locked
?? about steel shot
Replies
8
Views
571
mete
M
Back
Top