doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Stevens model 311 20 ga ?

Hello, Stevens guys and or gals, I have a Stevens model 311 20ga serial # a7376xx with ss in a circle after the ser number. It says on the barrels "proof tested 20 gauge 3"chamber" the chokes are IMP/MOD. I Am wanting to duck and goose hunt with this gun if it is safe to shoot steel out of it.I have tried to find some kind of a factory bismuth or such as that but it's all way to high priced.Give me your honest opinion and Ill go with that. THANKS FOLKS

20 gauge steel loads are marginal for ducks and geese. Hell, 12 gauge loads in steel are marginal for geese. Do yourself a favor and pony up for a few boxes of the good stuff.
BTW, I doubt you could hurt a 311 with those chokes with a few steel loads.

Best,
Ted

Sudden: The trouble with "old" steel is that it couldn't penetrate very well and often crippled birds rather than kill them. We're told that the "new" types of steel ammo have eliminated that problem, mostly by significantly boosting velocity and, as a byproduct, pressures.

I agree with Ted that, short-term, you're unlikely to do an open-choked 311 much damage shooting these loads, but if I was going to try waterfowling with a 20-gauge (which in my neighborhood is a handicap employed by only the very best of shots, and a mistake made by the least experienced of hunters), I'd be kinder to my gun, and give myself a bit more of a chance, by shooting bismuth or another of the premium options.

Voice of experience here ... buy 20 rounds of the pricey stuff and go on a hunt. You'll use half of them, get the 20-ga. out of your system, and then switch back to a 12-ga. without having spent more than a few extra bucks. Shoot straight and happy hunting. TT

Guys, I've killed more than 20 ducks and 20 geese this year shooting a 20. 3/4 oz federals in 2's and 4's. A 20 is plenty for decoying birds and first light pass shooting.
If a Stevens 311 can take the chamber pressure of a 2 3/4" steel load (I don't actually know if they can) just open the chokes to Imp Cyl in both barrels and go hunting.
Full choke is too tight to be effective for most shooters.
I know Nitro Specials are considered strong enough, but I remain unsure about the Stevens 311, though my friend Jerry shoots heavy shot out of one with no concern.

Clapper,
You aren't asking the question-that tells me you fall into two triggers "best of" catagory of hunters.
Would you start a new shooter out on geese with a twenty gauge, loaded with hot steel numbers? Maybe not.
From what I've seen, 311s are pretty bulletproof, if ugly, in a primative sort of way. The addition of the "good stuff" bismuth, or, whatever, in a 20 gauge would make for nearly lead loaded comparison in the results.
It is much superior to steel, even newer steel. Last I checked, new steel loads aren't exactly free, either.

Best,
Ted

Bite the bullet and buy a box of Nice Shot, it's pricey! Then go hunting.

Disregard the blather about 12ga. vs. 20 ga.

Have a good time.

Ted, I start pretty much all kids in the duck marsh with a Mossberg 500 youth model, and Remington Express Steel loads in 2.75 #4's. Parent gets the license, I'll pick up the rest.
I am an entirely average shot. Time and tide what all...
We watch the distance, work on ID, and work to get the pellets up front. Geese are shot on the incoming, not the outgoing. I am definately not in the long and tall shot crowd. That's just a bad idea promoted by ammo companies.
A Stevens 311 is crude, but also elegant in a functional way.

My views on waterfowling have changed quite a bit, mostly because few 17 year olds near me can spend $50.00 to shoot their first goose. 15$ Fed stamp, $12.00 shells, 15$ state license, $5 state stamp, etc.
I have found that starting them with 1 shell, and working up to two, really helps their progress. Oh, and ear plugs. Gotta wear those around me.

If I had a 311, and I could confirm it safe for modern OTC steel shot chamber pressures, I'd do as I said, and use wads to change my pattern for the uplands.

WindyHills on UJ has been shooting waterfowl for years, using steel, with a 311/5100 Springfield and that gun could be pre-war. Don't know what the chokes are.
One of my grandsons ignorantly shot about three steel loads out of each barrel of his great grandfather's 1930s SXS Stevens 5000 16 ga., choked IMOD/Full with no damage. I told him not to do it again. Those old Stevens are no doubt strong.

Thanks you all for your input! I am still not sure of the answer to weather it is "safe" to shoot today's steel from this gun or not ,That's OK, I am also a little confused about the use of 20ga over 12ga, Having many of both I tend to use my 20's over 12's including a 16ga or two, far more often, That's just me ,I don't think it's good for everyone, After more than 30 years of upland hunting and waterfowl hunting I tend to like my two pipe guns more than my auto's and my pumps of today, 20ga is just my preference and thought this year I'd take my 311 for a local hunt or two, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INPUT. S.T. p.s. all I can find in bismuth is cases! That's more than I want.

Suddenthunder,
My two sons shot steel through 3" 20gauge Ithaca/SKBs hunting both geese and ducks from age 9 to 14 and never felt undergunned. Both their 20s patterned steel very well, and they routinely killed anything that flew past them within range. You have to pattern a 20 just like you have to pattern a 12 to know what you have to work with. And yes, a Model 311 will handle steel shot.
NCTarheel