It is my understanding that the recommendation not to shoot steel shot through a full choke, is for the older guns with a fixed full choke barrel. Everyone I hunt with has bought a new gun in the past three years, The mossberg, browning, and bennelli's will all shoot steel shot through the full chokes straight from the factory, my browning gold does hold a lot tighter pattern with the full choke, shooting 3 1/2" mag BBB. I have noticed that my gun does not perform as well useing the remington ammo, so I shoot PMC, or Winchester. You may need to try a few brands of ammo, untill you find the one your gun likes the best.