Can steel shot be used?

[kniejadlik]

I would like to hunt geese with my Pedersoli Brown Bess. Can steel shot be used? Are there any substitutes that would work?

 

[M. De Land]

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

 

[Flintlock58]

I use Bismuth or ITX original in my flinters and used it in a Pedersoli 12 ga dbl too.

 

[The Baron]

Bismuth 4's in my .62 Caywood. Hard to find and expensive when you do, but it's a low volume game and a jug will last many hunts.

 

[No Deer]

Bismuth is supposed to be very close to lead ballistics. I think the ITX is also. You can use lead shot in the same size, ie.#4, to pattern your gun and find the best load, then a test load with bismuth to verify. Bismuth is too expensive to be doing load development with.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Pedersoli doesn't chrome line their barrels, and one should really use bismuth.

LD

 

[Scota4570]

Bismuth won't hurt the bore. I have no idea how to get any. Heavy shot is the best performer, you must use a shot cup. Steel shot is junk a low black powder velocities, like shooting blanks.
http://www.niceshotinc.com/

The above is very expensive but should work perfectly. One could easily spend $100 a day in shot alone.

 

[ZUG]

HUM -- maybe someone should tell Pedersoli :hmm: - this is an add from Cabela's:

"CABELA'S DAVID PEDERSOLI BLACK-POWDER DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN - 12 GAUGE

Today’s black-powder shotguns from Cabela’s capture the classic lines and romance of the fowling pieces of yesterday. But our double-barrel black power shotgun features a chrome-lined barrel for use with steel shot. The 12-gauge model uses screw-in choke tubes for greater flexibility and come with one of each of the following: X-Full, modified and improved cylinder chokes. Go from doves to turkey in seconds by changing chokes and charges. Deep, slick bluing, engraved locks and checkered American walnut stock. A Cabela’s exclusive from Davide Pedersoli. Barrel length: 28-1/2". Weight: 7 lbs. Available: 12-ga., 10-ga.

 

[M. De Land]

Well the original poster did say he was using his Brown Bess and I don't know that they are chrome lined but I did know that the shot guns were.

 

[coloradoclyde]

Ok guys!...
Steel shot use is on the horizon.....
You can wine and complain or bury your head in the sand.....
2 years ago I decided to switch from lead to steel. To prepare for the future, and not be caught off guard and helpless when it become a mandate.....

My testing is neither scientific or complete....

Some of my testing has been done with muzzleloaders and some with regular modern shotguns....

So far, The only disadvantages I see are; Reduced range....limiting me to about 30 yards....And cosmetic bore marking....

Would I shot steel through an irreplaceable gun?....NO!.

Do I plan to continue to shoot steel?....YES!...

I can't speak for all guns or shooters.....Only myself. :v

 

[ol vern]

Why not ask Pedersoli?

 

[coloradoclyde]

Why not ask Pedersoli?

And forego pages of guys arguing? :shocked2: :haha:

What fun would that be..... :thumbsup:

 

[MSW]

by way of 'dumb questions' (and yes - there are dumb questions - I've worked in a law office), if I use a cloth or heavy paper shot cup, can I shoot steel shot in a not chrome lined barrel (Mr. Hoyt make a 20 gauge from a T/C Renegade, which got turned into a flint smoothie)

thanks!





(yes, the dumb question... a caller from the county lock- up ... "I shot the bear over bait, (a big no-no) and the season doesn't open for three weeks, and I don't have a bear ticket, just deer, and I was using my .308, which I'm not supposed to have on account of having done time for drugs, and they told me all about my rights, just like on TV, so should I have signed that paper they gave me? you can get me out of here, can't you?")

 

[Mean Gene]

Hahaha! I would have loved to be there to hear that.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

HUM -- maybe someone should tell Pedersoli - this is an add from Cabela's:

"CABELA'S DAVID PEDERSOLI BLACK-POWDER DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN - 12 GAUGE

Mea Culpa You're abosolutely right...., Pedersoli does use chrome lined barrels on their twelve gauge shotguns.

You see I should have been more specific, since the OP was asking solely about the Pedersoli Brown Bess I should have been as specific in my reply....Pedersoli does not use chrome line barrels in The Brown Bess.

I hope this is satisfactory?

LD

 

[Billnpatti]

I think the Pedersoli smooth bore barrels are chrome lined. However, even though I used to have a Pedersoli double barrel shotgun that had chrome lined barrels, and I seldom used steel shot, when I did, I used shot cups when shooting steel shot. You can use the modern plastic ones if the idea of using plastic doesn't bother you or you can make paper ones. The important thing is to protect your bore from the ravages of steel shot by enclosing the shot in something so that it does not come into contact with the bore.

Oops, I just re-read your post and you are asking about a Brown Bess. I think these are .58 caliber and I don't know if there are any shot cups manufactured for that size bore. You may have to make your own shot cups. If you don't know how, just send me a PM and I will tell you how it is done . :thumbsup:

 

[laufer]

only lead and "itx original" in my pedersoli, even though it has chromed brls.
i strongly recommend "itx original" as a substitute, it is as deadly as lead.

 

[M. De Land]

Chrome is so hard and slick it will allow steel shot to ride on it without scratching the bore but along with that changes in choke and forcing cone design work in concert to eliminate non compressible steel shot from rupturing the shot cup.
Shot made of steel will not compress and deform as lead shot will when encountering a choke restriction and as a consequence tends to bulge older and thinner shot gun barrels.
Modern shot gun chamber design uses a much more tapered forcing cone for the same reason.

 

[nkbj]

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 coyote was not acceptable.
And then there was Jerry (special forces) dropping them out of the sky with his .30 carbine.
Yeah, that pretty sewed up my shooting that day.
:surrender:

 

[MSW]

so, if I'm shooting non-lead shot in my not chrome lined (.62 smoothie which started out as a rusted .54 and was bored out) barrel ...

can I go with steel shot in a heavy cloth cup?

can I go with steel shot in a heavy paper cup?

can I go with steel shot in either case if I later have the barrel jug choked?

thanks!