doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Steel in cylinder bore?

I ended up with some steel shot target loads, and I am trying to find a safe way to shoot them up.
I have an older (1970ish) Ugartechea that my son shoots, and the barrels were bobbed making it true cylinder choke. Would there be any problem running steel target loads through that gun? I haven't paid too much attention, but I thought most of the problem with steel shot was at the choke.
Thanks,
CHAZ

I remember reading article in Sporting Gun about steel shot use in double shotguns. The English advise using steel shot in guns with heavier proof ie for 12br 1&1/4 tons 1&1/4oz or 2&3/4" chamber or equivalent of at least 1200bar. The shell case used should match chamber length. One must realize that at time that was written most loads were heavy waterfowl loads not upland or target style 70mm shells. Naturally brazed barrels are preferred to soft soldered ones. I would not hesitate using those shells in something like loosely or not choked Excel Arms Ugartechea because to me it would be like shooting steel cased non-copper metal jacketed .45ball ammo through Chinese or Filipino 1911.

I shot #7 steel shot for years at a local trap range that required its use. I never damaged any gun barrels with it. I once took one of the shells apart and measured the thickness of the wad petals and found them to be much thicker than the wad petals on shells with lead shot.

Steve

PS FWIW I did blow out a thin-walled choke tube on one gun but that shouldn't be an issue for your gun.

You will have no problem putting those shells theough the gun you mentioned hoof. You dont have a full choke. And for those who argue against putting steel shot in older barrels, you also have a relatively modern gun so that base is covered too.

It is my understanding as well that the choking has more to do with shootijg steel shot than anything.

You might want to pattern it. I had a Berretta with the barrels cut back to 26" that threw wonderful lead patterns but steel patterns you could throw a pheasant through and not hurt him.

welcome back dudley...

it is my understanding, that generally speakin, it is not a good idea to shoot steel in barrels made prior to the late 1980's. the reason being that the steel used to make shotgun barrels back then, was softer than the steel used to make shot. however, with the advent of plastic shot cups, one would hope that the plastic would protect the barrel walls from scoring as the shot column passes down the barrel...

if you decide to shoot steel in this old gun, please do let us know if there is any scoring of the barrel walls, so we will know better.

If I end up giving it a try I will report back on how it looks afterwards. This is a very low end Spanish gun, so it may be a "worse case scenario."
I have been surprised (with lead shot) just how far the cylinder choked barrels will break targets.
Thanks,
CHAZ

Yes, plastic shot cups do their job in making the damage to bores not a realistic concern.

They'll kill ducks at same distance, CHAZ. My son on first duck hunt nearly 50 years ago killed a black duck on first shot from right barrel of 16ga Parker hammer 0 frame cylinder/full. I wouldn't fire because it was stretching it outside decoys but he killed it deader than a nit. Must have thought it too easy because he showed no interest in hunting again. He just retired as chief pilot of major international corporation; maybe I can talk him now into going again.

I guess he felt like he didn't have anything to prove after that shot, KB.