3 in. Steel BB out of full choke?

[Young Gun]

Is it bad for the choke to shoot steel out of a full choke. I was pattering the 12 gauge today and with 3 in. BB and at 30 yards with mod. I could only put around 15 BB's in a 15 in. circle. With Full choke I can put 30+ in the circle.

[Rost]

Shooting steel through a full choke is typically not recommended unless the it's a full steel choke. If you continue to use the full choke, your barrel will probably not explode as some people tend to think. However, odds are that you may bulge it.

Check out other options such as an aftermarket waterfowl choke. I have a buddy that spent $29 on a HS "Undertaker" and loves how it patterns.

[mechanictim]

A 15" pattern at 30 yards is pretty small to make a good judgement of a pattern. Try a 30" cicle and look for which choke gives you the most even pellet distrubition over the whole circle. With a real tight pattern you have little room for error on your lead.

If your choke tube is a factory one from the gun maker you should have no problem with the steel shot. There are some after market tubes that are a little more tightly constricted that may bulge with steel, these have a warning on them and the packaging about steel shot use. Steel shot was mandated in the mid/late 70's and most major shotgun makers didn't start offering interchangeable choke tubes till the late 80's. The lawyers for the gun makers made sure that any shot sold off the shelf would be safe in their guns.

[tearin' lips]

There's nothing wrong with shooting steel through a full choke, as long as it is a steel choke. I shoot a Browning gold hunter with the invector plus choke system and I always shoot full choke for waterfowl. What you described is my all out fav for hunting geese( 3in. BB through a full choke).

Positives. I don't like wounding birds, a full choke knocks them down. The biggest thing is knowing what distance you can effectively shoot at. I still don't take cracks at anything over 40 yards. You have to be on your game too, because of the smaller pattern.

Negatives, smaller pattern. Can't really think of too many negatives associated with that.

Just my two cents worth.

[Young Gun]

It's a Remington factory choke tube. So it should'nt hurt it to shoot steel? 29 days until Youth Waterfowl

[WalleyeWeasel]

How about an old Rem. Mod. 48 auto only shoots 2 3/4 has factory full choke ?? have used it for awhile but that barrel bulging/exploding ( with steel )is always in the back of my mind.......have had the gun forever, love it, cant miss a grouse.......

[mechanictim]

Young Gun;

Your choke tube will handle steel just fine, if it patterns well go ahead and use it. One thing that has some people a little confused is that some tubes are marked as "FullSteel," this has no bearing on the safety of the tubes not marked as such. The "FullSteel" refers to the pattern that the choke is supposed to throw. Lead and steel usually pattern quite differently.

WalleyeWeasel;

Your older remington will probably be OK with smaller shot sizes. If you are shooting 4's or smaller and the barrel is in good shape should be ok. You can take the barrel to a good gunsmith and have the choke opened up or have the barrel reamed and threaded for rem chokes if it is thick enough if you want to shoot some bigger steel.

[WalleyeWeasel]

Thanks for the info.

[Nova]

Young gun, if it is a factory full choke DO NOT SHOOT STEEL THROUGH IT! you will bulge your barrel or worse. Factory full chokes are made for LEAD ONLY. There are aftermarket full steel chokes that you need to buy if you want to shoot steel through a full choke. I just bought the Carlson full choke for steel and the patternt through my gun was much better. The only factory chokes made for steel are modified and IC.

[870Express]

Young Gun, what kind of Remmington do you have? My factory full choke for my 870 says its meant for steel right on it. But what happens if i keep shooting steel through my modified thats not meant for steel? Will this ruin the choke? barrel? both?

[tearin' lips]

My Browning Invector Plus choke system is factory and it is meant for steel. Plus it patterns great. I realize that every gun manufacturer is different. My buddy's 870 doesn't have a full choke that is meant for steel, so he bought a pattern master and he loves it. Basically go for whatever suits your fancy, if you are not sure about it, buy an aftermarket choke.

Have Fun and Be Safe!!!

[Young Gun]

It's a Remington 870 Express. I took out the choke and it doesn't say steel on it, just full choke.

[tealitup]

Then it is most likely lead.

[tearin' lips]

Yep, I wouldn't shoot steel out of it if I was you.

[Nova]

Quote:

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Young Gun, what kind of Remmington do you have? My factory full choke for my 870 says its meant for steel right on it. But what happens if i keep shooting steel through my modified thats not meant for steel? Will this ruin the choke? barrel? both?

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I think you are fine with a modified or IC. It's the tightness of the full choke that bulges the barrel. I have shot thousands of rounds out of my factory modified choke and I have never had an issue or heard of anybody that has.