Older guns with open chokes shouldn't be a problem, within safe pressure limits.
The "within safe pressure limits" goes to the crux of it, I think, with our older guns and their older metallurgy. With steel needing high starting velocities (note the 1375fps that Salopian mentions) to have any downrange effectiveness whatsoever, I'm skeptical that there will be such a thing as true lower pressure loads (CIP, i.e. 8,500 psi) where steel is employed.
I know we can readily do it with lead shot and the more progressive burning powders, but then again, the more sensible of us vintage gunners aren't hand-loading lead at 1300fps and up when it isn't needed to kill cleanly.
At those higher muzzle velocities of 1300-1400fps, I'll need some solid proof that they are being attained with pressures well below the 8,500 psi mark. And even then, I'll probably be holding out for a more affordable non-tox pellet with more lethality than steel. The last part of that is easy.....the rub is in the affordable part.
Robert
