doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Steel in a 311

Really tired of paying for hevi-shot doubles and I'm almost out of bismuth. I have a '50's Stevens 311 that has been bobbed a few inches and now is choked .003/.006. I'm very tempted to shoot 2 3/4" steel out of this gun. I can buy Remington loads that are 1 1/4 oz. at 1275 fps. Not too different from the old high brass lead. The fellow that gave me the gun gave me his shells too and the gun has been shooting 1 1/4 oz. and 1 1/2 oz. loads all it's life. I was given this gun so have no money in it so I'm tempted to risk it. Yes, I could buy expensive non-tox but I don't want to. And yes, I have a Wingmaster that is a perfectly good duck gun. Sometimes, I just want to shoot a double. What do you all think?

I don't think it's much of a risk at all, with .003" and .006" chokes. The risk of bulging is very slight with that little constriction.

SRH

Based on experience IMO, you should not have any trouble shooting steel in a 311, especially with those open chokes. Just don't go over about 1450 fps.
I myself would shoot 1 1/8 oz loads. Don't forget 1 1/8 oz of steel will give probably the same amount of pellets as a 1 1/4 oz lead load and the 1 1/8 oz load will probably be 1300 fps or faster. Steel will also pattern a little tighter than lead.

Thanks guys. I just wanted some confirmation that I wasn't being careless. Maybe a trip to the gun club for patterns tomorrow.

Have a good fdriend that has some very nice SxSs, his duck gun is a 311 12 ga. and he's been shooting steel out of it for over 20+ years and he kills a lot of ducks. His lady friend shoots a 311 in 20ga. with steel and does well too.