Steel target load questions...

[The Wingnut]

I'm going shooting tomorrow and one of the guns being taken to the range is a WWI era Stevens 520. It's an open choke, and the bore is in good shape.

The only target load for clays that I have as an option right now is steel at about 1300 fps (need to buy something tonight and Big 5 is my only option).

Thoughts? Is this too high pressure for the gun? The Stevens is a Browning design and while I'm not under any delusions that it's tough enough to handle 3 1/2" magnum pressures, I'd like to think it could handle steel as long as it's not high velocity.

[mjsweims]

Unless it has been sleeved the barrel will not take steel shot. I don't know what Big 5 sells, but you have to go with something softer - bismuth, heavy shot classic doubles, etc. If you use steel you will ruin the barrel

[joepamjohn]

The range will have plenty of lead low base target loads to purchase.

[The Wingnut]

Eh, no, they won't. It's Circle S in Petaluma, they don't sell ammo.

I should correct what I wrote, it's actually a cylinder bore - there's no choke. It's a 30" barrel cut and crowned to 20". Regardless, sage advice - if it's not hard chromed, it's a bad idea.

[joepamjohn]

Eh, no, they won't. It's Circle S in Petaluma, they don't sell ammo.

I should correct what I wrote, it's actually a cylinder bore - there's no choke. It's a 30" barrel cut and crowned to 20". Regardless, sage advice - if it's not hard chromed, it's a bad idea.

Well, then you better hit a Walmart on the way then.

[randy]

Unless it has been sleeved the barrel will not take steel shot. I don't know what Big 5 sells, but you have to go with something softer - bismuth, heavy shot classic doubles, etc. If you use steel you will ruin the barrel

This is news to me where did you get this info re: sleaved barrels?

[sargenv]

Personally, I'd see what a gunsmith had to say.. Steel shot is generally shielded as much as possible from barrel contact by thicker wads than we are used to seeing on lead shot loads. The question I have is, so what if the barrel is scratched a bit... it's not exactly a rifle.. However the caveat to steel shot is that they reccommend that you only fire steel in "modern shotguns capable of firing steel".

The pressure won't generally be any higher in the steel load compared to the lead loads as they all generally run in the 8000-11000 psi range.. I'd be more worried about scratching the barrels as opposed to pressures. But then I've been known to not care about cosmetic looks.. Likely it will be ok, but I'd still ask a smith what he or she thought.

[mjsweims]

Sleeved Barrels

This is news to me where did you get this info re: sleaved barrels?

Many older guns are sleeved. The barrel is bored out then a new sleeve of the correct inside and outside inserted then welded in place. This is done by few gunsmiths/makers. It was aften done to guns with Damascus barrels that peolpe wanted to keep shooting. This can also be done to drop down one gauge. This is a permanent modification, but generally allows the use of all types of modern shot. It is also an expensive undertaking.
You can also by a set of gauge conversion tubes which are simply inserted into the barrels on an as wanted basis.
I think that Briley does both of these.

[mjsweims]

Personally, I'd see what a gunsmith had to say.. Steel shot is generally shielded as much as possible from barrel contact by thicker wads than we are used to seeing on lead shot loads. The question I have is, so what if the barrel is scratched a bit... it's not exactly a rifle.. However the caveat to steel shot is that they reccommend that you only fire steel in "modern shotguns capable of firing steel".



The pressure won't generally be any higher in the steel load compared to the lead loads as they all generally run in the 8000-11000 psi range.. I'd be more worried about scratching the barrels as opposed to pressures. But then I've been known to not care about cosmetic looks.. Likely it will be ok, but I'd still ask a smith what he or she thought.

It's not just scratching, it is wearing away at the barrel. The hardness of older barrels is usually insufficient for steel shot. After some time the barrel diameter will be opened up to unsafe wall thickness. I agree that pressures will normally not make a difference, it is the speed of the shot combined with its abrasiveness that will damage the barrel.