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[WEST1157]

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[maxx03]

It is safe to shoot steel out of a Model 1200. But repeated use of steel shot will eventually ruin the barrel.
If you don't mind effecting the collector value of the shotgun, shoot away.

[ysr_racer]

Most, and I repeat MOST of the time you shouldn't shoot steel shot thru anything tighter than a Mod choke.

As always, check with the firearm and choke manufacturer first.

[WEST1157]

Most, and I repeat MOST of the time you shouldn't shoot steel shot thru anything tighter than a Mod choke.

As always, check with the firearm and choke manufacturer first.

Ok imp or mod got it thanks

[ysr_racer]

Generally, and I repeat GENERALLY if your firearm can handle steel shot, you can USUALLY shoot steel shot thru CYL, Skeet, IC, Lt Mod, and Mod chokes, if the chokes are marked for steel.

[WEST1157]

Generally, and I repeat GENERALLY if your firearm can handle steel shot, you can USUALLY shoot steel shot thru CYL, Skeet, IC, Lt Mod, and Mod chokes, if the chokes are marked for steel.

Well you have just taken all the fun out of that, mine are not marked steel any where I can see. If a magnet sticks then is it steel?

[Huntsprig]

ysr_racer got it right, but let me try to clarify it some more.

Winchester was the first to have changeable chokes. (59's & winchokes)
The winchokes came out in the early 1970's.

The question is are the early winchokes safe for steel?
I don't know.

Steel shot laws started to come into effect in the mid 1980's so if the early ones were not steel safe I am sure at some point in the early to mid 1980's they were changed to be steel safe.

First you need to find out when your gun was made.
Look here:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=296

About all I can tell you is:
If it is a 1970's or early 1980's gun it may or may not not be steel safe.
If it is a mid 1980's gun or later it is steel safe.

Years ago I sent a email to Remington about shooting steel out of a 1952 11-48 20 ga. that I have and they sent me a reply, you could try sending one to Winchester and see what they say.

You could also get new chokes.
As you can see by these charts Browning Invector (not Invector+) interchange with Winchokes.

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/Miscellaneous/Carlsons2014ChokeTubeInterchangeGuide.pdf

http://www.colonialarms.com/PDFfiles/Interchange.pdf

You could buy some steel safe Invector chokes for your gun.

I hope that helped and didn't just confuse you.

[WEST1157]

ysr_racer got it right, but let me try to clarify it some more.

Winchester was the first to have changeable chokes. (59's & winchokes)
The winchokes came out in the early 1970's.

The question is are the early winchokes safe for steel?
I don't know.

Steel shot laws started to come into effect in the mid 1980's so if the early ones were not steel safe I am sure at some point in the early to mid 1980's they were changed to be steel safe.

First you need to find out when your gun was made.
Look here:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=296

About all I can tell you is:
If it is a 1970's or early 1980's gun it may or may not not be steel safe.
If it is a mid 1980's gun or later it is steel safe.

Years ago I sent a email to Remington about shooting steel out of a 1952 11-48 20 ga. that I have and they sent me a reply, you could try sending one to Winchester and see what they say.

You could also get new chokes.
As you can see by these charts Browning Invector (not Invector+) interchange with Winchokes.

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/Miscellaneous/Carlsons2014ChokeTubeInterchangeGuide.pdf

http://www.colonialarms.com/PDFfiles/Interchange.pdf

You could buy some steel safe Invector chokes for your gun.

I hope that helped and didn't just confuse you.

This link was great {THANK YOU} it's a 1988 but I bought from a friend about 10 years ago with only 1 choke tube and I bought the others from a web site a few months later, I did put a magnet to them it stuck to them so I hope there steel..............Thanks again for taking the time to put the links together for me

[ysr_racer]

It's not if the choke is made out of steel, it's if it's marked OK for steel.

[wweigle]

I believe your gun with the Winchoke interchangeable choke tube system will be fine with steel shot. Just do not shoot steel through anything tighter than the modified choke tube. The modified tube in theory will give you a full choke pattern with steel shot, so if you prefer a modified pattern, use an improved cylinder tube. Lots of info available on the web where people have gone back to using their old pre steel shot guns with modified chokes, and are shooting steel shot through them with no apparent problems. Steel shot shells have made significant advances sense there introduction in the 80's. Modern shells are not as hard on the barrels as they once were due to the advances in wad designs. Like stated above, a new choke tube might be worth buying for peace of mind, as you will know for sure it is modern steel, and rated for steel shot. How old is your gun? Did the 120 fall between the model 12 and the 1200, or was it 1300.

[WEST1157]

I believe your gun with the Winchoke interchangeable choke tube system will be fine with steel shot. Just do not shoot steel through anything tighter than the modified choke tube. The modified tube in theory will give you a full choke pattern with steel shot, so if you prefer a modified pattern, use an improved cylinder tube. Lots of info available on the web where people have gone back to using their old pre steel shot guns with modified chokes, and are shooting steel shot through them with no apparent problems. Steel shot shells have made significant advances sense there introduction in the 80's. Modern shells are not as hard on the barrels as they once were due to the advances in wad designs. Like stated above, a new choke tube might be worth buying for peace of mind, as you will know for sure it is modern steel, and rated for steel shot. How old is your gun? Did the 120 fall between the model 12 and the 1200, or was it 1300.

1988 year, I was told that the 120 and 1200 are the same and that 120 was made for only Sears & Roebucks.

[wweigle]

If your gun was produced in 1988, and has the Winchoke system, Steel is fine through your gun, and the choke tubes that came with it. Remember Steel will be the requirement for ALL hunting in the near future here in California, not just waterfowl. I think this is going to be a common subject.