Oldie but Goodie?

[DigitalFisherman]

I inherited an old Stephens 12 ga and have a couple questions about it. I have been told that I should only shoot lead shot with it because the barrel would not hold up to steel or tungsten, is that true? Also, if I used it for deer hunting (slug) what can I expect as a realistic range?

[Nova]

there are guys on this site that know alot more about this than me, but being it's and older gun without choke tubes and if it has a full choke barrel you will have issues shooting steel shot. The pattern might be ok, but the barrel will bulge if you use steel a lot. As far as slugs you will just need to pattern it to be sure of the accuracy. Some of the non choke tube barrels are quite good like my 2 older 870 remingtons. Buy several differnt kinds of slugs and shooth them to see what you get. I don't think even the new guns will get a longer range than 100 yards with slugs. Good luck.

[bigbucks]

My Dad & Uncle both had old Stevens shotguns & they both shot slugs well out to 100 yards & beyond. Uncle's wore out & couldn't get parts, my Dad's was stolen out of his house by some low life.

[DigitalFisherman]

Bucks,

I found parts for mine at a place in Sioux Falls, SD called Dan First (if I remember correctly). I needed what I thought would be a pretty obscure part and they had several on the shelf.

[Ufatz]

Depends somewhat on the model. Steel WILL bulge the barrel (barrels?) maybe right away, maybe later. But buy the more expensive and WAY better lead substitute shells i.e.Bismuth, Heavy Shot etc.

Don't shoot at any deer more than fifty yards away with a slug, unless it is from a slug barrel, which has been carefully sighted in, shooting a good slug.

There is a lot of #$%@W#$% about slug accuracy, especially accurace right out the barrel of a run of the mill shotgun, mainly built and choked for ducks/birds.

Have fun.