Why cant you shoot
 

Steel through a lead only gun?My nephew asked me and I said "because the manual says not to"......I have no idea the real reason behind it.

Thanks

RE: Why cant you shoot
 

What kind of gun is it? Is it a fixed or interchangeable choke?

RE: Why cant you shoot
 

unlike lead, steel shot does not conform to the shape of the barrel as it's being ejected. therefore it tends to expand the barrels of guns that aren't designed to shoot steel. lead is a much softer metal that is more flexible when it's shot

RE: Why cant you shoot
 

2 reasons
1 Some of the older barrels are softer than the steel shot we shoot

If you shoot steel thru them a slight ring/bulge will form where the choke starts
As the steel shot expands the choke


2 Some older shotguns were proofed to lower pressures than modern steel loads
Not that the loat produces that muck more pressure , but when the steel shot hits the choke ( normaly full)
There is a pressure spike
If you beat a low end or abused gun with the extra pressures
Things can happen
And they might not be fun

I know of a JC Higgiens ( sp ) shotgun that the bolt lock up broke out of the receiver from shooting steel loads

John

RE: Why cant you shoot
 

Good toknow. Its a very low end shotgun that was given to him because the price was right. It wasnt my choice Id have given him a proper 870 and been correctly baptised by Remmington. :D

But it gets him in the woods so I can't argue with that. Just wondered thanks.

RE: Why cant you shoot
 

AMEN BROTHER!!