doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com RST 'Nice' shotshells?

Good point, what am I worrying about.

right - a model 12 will take anything except steel to my understanding

as i said- i have a few purpose built waterfowlers that have handled Kent TM with no issue

and LGF - the loads i use are all published loads - from the Lyman book, the Bismuth book from Ballistic products or the hodgdon website for 12 ga

for 10 ga i use loads developed and tested, among others - ones Sherman Bell published in DGJ - 10 ga loads have been collected on the Parker collector's pages in the reloading forum

RST 12ga Bismuth 2 1/2 1oz #5 was running 7100psi, according to Julie, when I inquired a few weeks ago. That still feels a little hot for my Damascus barrels. I bought a box or two just to have on hand. I'm scared to pattern one at $3 per trigger pull!

A guy I used to hunt ducks with insists on using a Mod 12 in 16 gauge. He used to shoot only bismuth, but switched to steel a few years ago. No problems. Key is to match the load to the choke.

I've been shooting steel at ducks, out of guns not recommended for it, for at least 20 years with no problems. But, I've never used one with more than .020" choke. The one I've been using the last 8-10 years is choked .018" and .018".

SRH

It's a 28 inch barrel with a modified choke. But I've always disliked steel and its performance. I don't think I would run steel even if I had a steel rated shotgun.

I was looking for a Model 21 or NID in 12 gauge but couldn't find either so I bought the Model 12. Good thing because I can still use my takedown case.

You're not alone in not liking steel shot. These mallards didn't either.



SRH

Its not the steel Stan, you're a lot better shot than I am.

I have heard, and read, that the early steel loads were pretty poor in performance. I can't really compare them to today's steel loads, as I didn't start using steel when the ban on lead for ducks happened. I intentionally shot ducks with illegal lead loads until I started hunting in Arkansas about 1996. I was hearing so many reports on crippling ducks with the early steel that I decided I was taking the moral high road even if I was a lawbreaker. I won't argue for criminality, I'm just being honest. But, when I went to Arkansas the first time I didn't want to subject my hosts to any embarrassment if I was charged by a warden, so I bought steel. I was shocked at the lethality it had. It was really good, and continues to be, IMO.

Would I like to pull down a few "tall ones" with my 32" SuperFox and some of these? Heck yeah. But, since we have to live with steel I just satisfy myself with it, and with keeping my shots inside it's range of capability. I'm not that good a shot, treblig .........I just pick 'em carefully.





SRH

That's your Super Fox, Sweet!!!!

Competition says otherwise. Every time I competed I got my doors blown off, I quit.