Effect of steel shot on older barrels discussion on diff. forum?

[sjcslk]

There's a discussion on an upland forum about the effect of steel shot on older barrels. Basically, it centered around an older (1946) Ithaca Model 37 and whether or not to spend the money to have the barrel opened from full to IC or Skeet, OR just go buy a new gun that could shoot steel shot when the regulations finally demand it. The postings stated that once you opened up the full barrel to IC or Skeet it no longer mattered, because now you could shoot steel shot out of it without hurting it. In other words, it's only the tighter choke that's effected by the steel shot in older barrels, not the barrel itself. IS THIS TRUE?
thanks,

 

[rcmodel]

Yes.
a Steel shot column is not compressible like lead shot. There is no "give" to it.

Old guns have thinner muzzles then new guns.
Old barrels were not as hard as new barrels with steel shot choke tubes either.

Shooting steel through old guns with tight chokes will hammer out the choke and bulge the muzzle on the outside slightly.
That can pop a vent rib loose, and otherwise just looks bad.

If you open the choke to no choke, or very little choke, there is no reason steel will hurt the barrel,.
Other then a stray shot pellet getting outside the plastic shot cup and scoring the bore.

Another option is to send the barrel to some place like Carlson's and have it threaded for choke tubes.
Then you can use choke tubes rated for steel shot.

See the minimum O.D. measurement at the bottom of this page to see if your barrel is thick enough for steel shot choke tube conversion.
http://www.choketube.com/instal.html

rc

 

[BP44]

Yes and no

Steel shot is very unforgiving on shotguns as it refuses to smash/compact the way that lead does. I would advise agianst steel shot through and "old" scatter gun as I wouldnt want to risk the wear and tear on them. Steel shotshells are pretty viscious when you put them beside an old lead shell.


well RC ya beet me once agian

 

[Onmilo]

Metallurgical composition of older barrels is softer than newer barrel designs.
Even with a shot cup, the hard steel alloy of the shot can score an older barrel leaving unsightly scratches on the inside of the barrel.

The pressure curve of steel shot loads seems to peak much faster than a conventional lead load as well and those older softer barrels can and do split under a constant diet of steel shot.

I had two 870 shotgun barrels let go on me while duck hunting.
One split down the left side of the barrel just in front of the chamber and one tuliped the muzzle.
The left side split barrel had been converted to internal choke tubes and had a steel shot modified choke in place.
The tuliped barrel was a 26" factory improved cylinder barrel.

I have replaced barrels on several older shotguns including a number of original Winchester Model 12 and Model 1200/1300 fixed choke guns that exhibited similar failures.

I now use Mossberg 500 shotguns set up with extended steel shot specific choke tubes when forced to hunt with steel shot loads.
Newer shotguns, especially high end shotguns, are set up with steel shot compatible barrel compositions, chrome or stellite type linings, and compatible for steel shot specific choke tubes so the issue isn't an issue.

If you are forced to use steel, retire the old gun and choke up the cash for a new one.
Best way to go in the long run!

 

[CaptainChaos]

My Two Pence

I recently emailed Ithaca to ask whether it was true that my thirty-year old DSPS barrels were under-bored and whether there were any caveats. Their reply was:

"The DS style barrels that Ithaca used to produce were all made with an undersized bore. The reason for this is because they were designed to fit a slug better for more accuracy. The only thing I would suggest avoiding is steel shot. All other loads should work well."

Regards,

Mark.

 

[rcmodel]

The Deer Slayer slug barrel barrel was under bored.

All the other Model 37 shotgun barrels were not.

rc

 

[Virginian]

Remington says all their barrels since 1950 are okay for steel, no bigger than #2 and no more than modified with a fixed choke. The current steel loads, and especially the wads are a far cry from the early stuff. I don't do steel period, but I think if you stick with Remington guidelines you will generally be okay with any post WWII American guns. When steel first came out I saw lots of scored barrels and bulges with full chokes.

 

[V1ROT8]

Good advice Virginian. Thank you.