I have personally seen one total,Model 12, "Heavy Duck" barrel ruined by steel shot. This was years ago before it was "common knowledge" that full choked guns were not well suited for steel shot. You do what you want. If you end up with a barrel with issues you have been warned. I have seen over a dozen guns total that steel shot has ruined over the years and all but one owner was not warned before the problem. The one who had been warned ruined a 870 barrel so it was not the end of the World. He just cut it off and used it for quail. How does a Heavy Duck quail gun sound?