Steel
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 46
Steel
Taking my 12-year old duck hunting for the first time next week. I have a youth twenty gauge that I'm planning on letting him use (piece of garbage). I also have a Browning A5 twelve gauge that he shoots pretty well. The barrel says 'special steel', but I seem to remember that steel isn't good for the older (1970) A5's. Can any of you mud bloods give me your opinion - humble or otherwise?
#2
The problem with steel in the older shotguns was if the gun was choked tight the could be some bulging at the end of the barrel. Not dangerous and you really had to look t see it. I don't know about your Browning, the problem was more prevelant in dbl barrel guns because the barrels were thiner. Contact Browning and ask them, they can give you an answer you shuld be able to depend on.
Last edited by Oldtimr; 12-19-2014 at 01:04 PM.
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lutz, Florida. Turkey woods in the spring.
Posts: 1,143
As Oldtimr said, same is true for your Auto5. Get your self some Nice Shot or some Bismuth shot, both are safe for the older Brownings. With that said, many folks still shoot the smaller size steel shot (4 to 6) in the more opened chokes like mod and imp cyl. I shoot Bismuth out of my Belgium Browning light 12 but it costs me an arm and a leg so I tend to save that gun for the dove field. Get yourself one of the Miroku made barrels for your older Auto 5 and you can shoot all the steel you want. What choke does your Auto 5 have?
#4
Where are you getting Bismuth shot? If I had not bought a few cases when it was still being made, I would be out of luck because I will not use steel in my SXSs. I have been using Bismuth since it hit the market and had an in to buy wholesale. Now that they are out of business I will be sol when I run out.
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lutz, Florida. Turkey woods in the spring.
Posts: 1,143
Correct that...it's called kent Tungsten Matrix. Thanks Oldtimr. The Bismuth I have was purchased from Mack's quite some time ago.
Lol..I had to go open my gun safe to see what it was called.
Lol..I had to go open my gun safe to see what it was called.
Last edited by RPD63; 12-19-2014 at 01:19 PM.
#7
Spike
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 17
Also if you have a gunsmith nearby you could always have him bore it out quick for you if he's got time. I don't know what the price would be cuz I had mine done ages ago but it's another option especially if you plan to do a lot more hunting and don't want to fork over that much for shells. Also if you're with a first timer, you tend to like to make more noise than aiming I know I still do sometimes!
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
Taking my 12-year old duck hunting for the first time next week. I have a youth twenty gauge that I'm planning on letting him use (piece of garbage). I also have a Browning A5 twelve gauge that he shoots pretty well. The barrel says 'special steel', but I seem to remember that steel isn't good for the older (1970) A5's. Can any of you mud bloods give me your opinion - humble or otherwise?
Go online to find Bismuth or Kent Tungsten Matrix. I still have some of the Kent and my dad shoots them in his older Y Model 12 and just hammers ducks and geese with it in Mod choke.
#9
RPD63, I just read today in my Shooting Sportsman magazine that Rio, has purchased the rights to the Bismuth shot name and product and I believe are making it now. The article by Tom Roster said Rio purchased the rights and name from Ely Hawk in England, who bought it from the Bismuth Co. There is a huge shotshell factory being built in Texas by Rio. He didn't say anything about projected costs though. Good news for those of us with double guns.
Last edited by Oldtimr; 12-21-2014 at 10:27 AM.
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lutz, Florida. Turkey woods in the spring.
Posts: 1,143
RPD63, I just read today in my Shooting Sportsman magazine that Rio, has purchased the rights to the Bismuth shot name and product and I believe are making it now. The article by Tom Roster said Rio purchased the rights and mane from Ely Hawk in England, who bought it from the Bismuth Co. There is a huge shotshell factory being built in Texas by Rio. He didn't say anything about projected costs though. Good news for those of us with double guns.