Not a dumb question at all, Randy. I think you'll be fine as you & should have no concern for the bbl being damaged. If you do harbor concern, then I suggest you use one of the extended chokes that has all the constriction external of the bbl.
In the FWIW dept. I have an older Remington 870 Wingmaster w/30" factory 'Full' choke ribbed bbl. that has digested well over two flats of factory Remington & federal STEEL loads. All have been 1& 1/8oz. 2&3/4" rounds and the shot size has been almost all #4 steel, though I had some few boxes of 2& 3/4" 3's that went through it several seasons back. It shows zero damage and no bulges in the choke area.
I have seen both Browning supers and German doubles damaged with the tell-tale choke bulges & even loose ribs for sale at shows, but have no factual data what loads or shot sizes were involved to create the damage. I would suspect large shot sizes, early steel loads with inferior wads or handloads using the wrong components like steel BB's [as in like for kids BB guns!]Who knows? But it can happen, the bulging or rib loosening , or both.
I do not fear shooting the factory 2&/3/4" STEEL 1 & 1/8 loads in an 870, but don't know if the steel is the same as that used in the 37's. Might call Remington and see what they have to say. That old Wingmaster of mine has .041 constriction as I recall, but its been a few years since I measured it.
Perhaps something of use to the questions fronted.
