I have a friend who shot cases of steel through a Model 12 Heavy Duck back in the 80's without any trouble and it never had the choke opened. Was he just lucky? Probably, but that's a fact, and a true story.

I've seen a lot of duck guns in my travels and only ever seen one that had been really wrecked with steel. It was an ancient Stevens Arms and Tool Company 12 gauge pump, slight bulge behind the choke, and the bore had some pretty deep lines in it from the shot cutting into it.

A friend bulged a field grade LC Smith just ahead of the chamber with a steel shell back in the late 80's though I really don't know as you could fault the steel on that one. When he pulled out the empty, the case wall was partially gone so there was something up with that shell besides it just being steel shot. It kicked him so hard that his lip was bloody.

Those are my personal observations and experiences with old guns and steel shot, I'm not making any judgements or saying what's right / wrong.


Destry

Out there at the crossroads molding the devil's bullets. - Tom Waits