Picked up a SKB 12ga made in the 70's with IC and Mod fixed chokes. Is it ok to run occasional steel loads through it?

Steel shot will scratch those chokes and I've heard of barrels separating in O/U's and SxS's from continued use. Some of my choke tubes look pretty rough after lots of steel shot use so I'd believe that.

No problem with Bismuth or the tungsten polymer shots supposedly.

quote:

Posted 10 November 2006 06:05
Picked up a SKB 12ga made in the 70's with IC and Mod fixed chokes. Is it ok to run occasional steel loads through it?

No, it is not.

I have never used steel shot and wouldn't in a fine gun, mostly because of these rumors that have been out since steel has. But if I think about it, shot is inside a plastic shot cup; how can it scratch the inside of the barrel?

My old buddy, Jay Menefee, owner of http://www.polywad-shotgun-shells.com/about-polywad/and I got talking about this subject some years back. At the time I owned and operated, www.gsspatterning.com, which is no longer in business.

Jay was the first shotshell manufacturer to load factory Hevi-shot before Remington got hold of it, which is harder than steel. Jay convinced me that as long as the chokes were open and the shot was small, their should be no damage to your barrel.

I tried it and it does, indeed, work. I'd stay with #6 or smaller and about 10 thou of constriction or less.