doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com steel shot - choke question

I have a stevens 311 12 gauge - 28" barrels, so I am assuming it is choked modified and full. It certainly patterns that way.
Anyhow, I am thinking about using it to hunt waterfowl. With specific regards to steel shot, is there an advantage to having choke tubes installed versus simply having the chokes opened up to IC/modified?

I don't know anything about the cost/benefit of modifying your Stevens, but I believe a modified choke is the tightest constriction recommended in general. I do not know if steel is compatible w/ your gun.

It would be a more useful gun all around if you opened the chokes to IC and MOD, and IMHO, OK for steel that way, and cheaper than choke tubes. Why a 311 though? Upgrade a little to something nicer to carry...Geo

Reconsidered what I'd said there about upgrading to a nicer gun. Probably none of my business. Also, I'm a fan of the Stevens 311. If you get it wet, no problem; if you scratch it up, no problem; if you drop it over-board, you're not out much. Pretty perfect Duck Gun come to think of it.

Also if I ruin it shooting steel out of it, I am only out about $300.
What about skeet/light modified versus improved cylinder/modified?

I have the same gun!! Grew up shooting it at rabbits and quail. Mine is also choked M/F. I'd either open it up or shoot Tung/Iron

My experience with steel is that it will pattern tightly no matter what choke you use; and that more open chokes work better. Certainly, the more open you go with the choke, the "safer" your barrels will be shooting steel. Some 311s might be old enough to have questionable steel...Geo

My stevens is relatively new - post 1969 because it has a serial number. I think I'll go with the more open choke - skeet/light modified. This choke is still a good upland combo with lead and would be safer with steel.

I had a Stevens 511 (I think) that was like the 311, but had no raised rib. I used this as a waterfowler when steel was new and did not notice any damage for the light amount of shooting I did. I sold it when advised it was not appropriate w/steel and bought a Rem.870. The 511 was choked M/F. I was going to experiment with steel shot in an older double I have now, that has very nice barrels, but I do not want to risk breaking the stock on this old sidelock gun and have been unable to find someone to load BB size shot at around 1100fps so that I may do a test. My thinking on this subject is that newer guns like Remington 870s or Merkel 147s, that are suitable with steel (w/open chokes) are only slightly tougher than their steel barreled ancestors, thus the current steel loads with far more substantial shot cups should not harm many older guns. I don't know this, it is just a theory. The easy solution is to buy an old 870 or 1300 and hammer away. I have learned over years of study on this forum that while doubleguns conjure a stalwart image they also contain some fragility that makes them only entirely suitable for those who can afford to repair or replace them. The 311 Stevens while not as pretty as some maybe more adaptable to hard use by a regular guy than most better guns with two barrels. There is indeed a reason, other than rarity, that SXSs are more a well-heeled mans gun. I being wounded in comparison have come to this reality, but maintain my affection for two barrel guns.

Steve, my buddy uses a 311 M/F and for the gunning hereabouts, usually 30-35 yards over tollers, it is tight. I don't know how steel works but probably tighter. Some day I'll get the nerve to quietly open cylinder/cylinder in one of my less-elegant shooters and maybe become a legend, the comeback kid of the century after 65-plus years of scratchy shooting! A legend of this board did that and has trophies to prove it.