Joe, Worth Matthewson wrote in BIG DECEMBER CANVASBACKS that his waterfowl gun of choice for many years was a L.C. Smith, in which he shot nothing but steel loads. He was(is?) one of the most prolific duck hunters along the Pacific Northwest coast, so it was used a lot. He wrote that it was only after many years' use when he took it to a gunsmith and had the chokes measured that he found he had been shooting the steel through two extra full tubes. According to him, no damage to barrels or chokes.

But then, maybe Elsie barrels are tougher than Mod. 12's.

May God bless America and those who defend her.