Can steel shot be used?

[nkbj]

Steel shot is going to push out a jug choke. The jug just gives the shot time to conform to a new diameter bore on it's way down stream. Then it hits the choke.

In a straight bore I wouldn't be afraid of using a heavy paper cup. But I'd make sure it was heavy enough in my own mind rather than looking for damage later. Cloth, I wouldn't want to try it myself. I did once upon a time (1976) fiddle with it trying to get a loose cloth sleeve to spit bb's out of a rifled barrel in a useful fashion. Wasn't useful. I don't know that it damaged the barrel but now I wouldn't try it.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I stopped wing shooting migratory fowl thirty years because of steel shot. Staggering a goose with a payload of steel shot and watching it struggle off to feed a

I agree...I would not use steel on a goose....I would use something heavier.

 

[Scota4570]

If you want to experiment with steel use a steel shot, shot cup. Ballistic Products can provide what you need. Please take the time to compare the penetration. You can use old phone books to get a relative idea.

You will find that steel shot does not go fast enough, to penetrate properly, with BP to make an ethical hunting load. I know, I have done it.

Modern steel shot smokeless loads are all about speed. IF you push steel very fast it will work OK at close range. With BP it is just too slow.

Yes, sometimes you get lucky and kill a bird. By that measure a 22 Long rifle is a good deer cartridge.

 

[Twisted_1in66]

I believe Petersoli shot guns are chrome lined and Bismuth should be a good substitute.

The Brown Bess is a musket and even though it's a smoothbore, it is not a shotgun. I would be extremely surprised if the barrel is chrome lined as that is a considerable extra added expense and not necessary for shooting lead.

I would not shoot steel shot with your Brown Bess because the steel shot will eat out the taper (not really a true choke but still a taper) in the end of the barrel.

I used to fit and sell custom shotguns and steel shot at best would blow out the choke quickly. At worst they would cause a ring bulge or even barrel failure - usually a ring bulge. Even the chrome-lined barrels of modern shotguns do NOT come with a full-choke option because the choke can not withstand the pressure and immutability of the steel shot. A modified choke is the tightest they come with.

Bismuth, if you can find it, will work fine for geese especially if you can find some with mixed shot sizes in it to improve patterning. Bismuth is what we used to recommend to folks who still wanted to use their classic shotguns (Parker, Boss, H&H, Winchester 21, Belgium Browning, etc.) to hunt waterfowl. So Bismuth is a good choice.

Be aware though that it patterns differently and the speed is less than lead but faster than steel. Because it weighs about 24% more than steel shot of the same size, it also carries more energy to the target and is less subject to wind than steel. Now if it just didn't cost so darn much...

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan