Steel Shot vs old Barrell

[mjgentile]

 I inherited a 1954  Beretta Pietro Beretta Gardone V.T.  12 gauge side-by-side. 32 inch barrel extra full. I can cover the barrel with a dime. Emailed Beretta an asked them if I can shot steel shot with this shotgun an they said no. My question is what makes it so that I can or can not shot steel shot.

[full choke]

I think the steel in the barrel is too soft? The steel shot is too hard and would therefor deform the barrel. Someone else who knows more will chime in on the technicalities, I am sure.

My question- and I am assuming here that you would be shooting at waterfowl- is why would you want to take such a pretty gun into the marsh?

[Heredoggydoggy]

Steel shot doesn't compress like lead shot.  You might get away with it for a couple of shots, but then you would begin to notice a bulge in the barrels just ahead of the chokes.  The rule of thumb is that a Modified Choke will give you a Full Choke pattern with steel shot.  I would not risk damaging such a nice old gun by shooting steel shot in it.  Buy a modern steel cheapie with interchangeable choke tubes for hunting with steel shot... 

[Stilly bay]

it could be anything from the barrel steel not being hard enough to the barrel diameter just being a little too small a constriction to handle hard steel shot.

Another thing to keep in mind is that ALL modern steel shot loads create a great deal more pressure than guns of that era were proofed to handle.

So if you can find a Low pressure steel shot load I still wouldn't try it in that gun unless I had the chokes reamed out to Improved cylinder and even then I wouldn't try it in a shot size larger than #4... and it would still be total crap shoot that could go from nothing, to bulging the barrels and ruining the gun, to ruining your face.

[mjgentile]

 no choke tube barrel size it what it is, super tight. Yes if I could I was going to go WaterFowl if I could. Dad had it in back of closet for ever gun has not been fired since 1955. Never gone Waterfowl hunting will be taking my boy out first weekend on Nov. Only have one other shotgun Mossberg 500.  Just was looking forward to shooting the Beretta, which I have never fired. Just like a lot of people funds are tight, but it looks like a need to scrape a few pennies together an look for a used gun for my boy.
Looks like the Beretta won't be fired anytime soon.
Thanks all for your input

[Ellensburg]

If you need a gun that shoots steel, I'll gladly trade you one for that puppy

[mjgentile]

Sorry guys Beretta is not for sale or trade. My dad gave that gun an it means a lot to me. Even if I never get to shoot it, it will remain in the family.
Thanks for asking

[Oldguy]

Not a good choice for a waterfowl gun with that extra tight choke even if it would digest steel shot. A duck over decoys would be hamburger by the time it hit the water. Get a decent pump shotgun and enjoy the flexibility of screw in chokes. That is a neat keepsake to hand down to the generations to come in your family.

[boneaddict]

What a precious thing to inherit

[Heredoggydoggy]

Don't forget--that gun is over 50 years old.  Cherish it, and buy your son a beater.  It would probably handle Bismuth Shot, but I still wouldn't risk it.  Very few guns are that pretty any more...

[CP]

This is what you need for it:

http://www.niceshotinc.com/

[mjgentile]

Thanks for your input guys.
Well I end up finding a 870 20 gauge for my son at a pawn shop near me. Needs a good cleaning other than that looks fine.
Beretta is going back in safe an one day will go to my son

Looking forward to my first waterfowl hunt this weekend, hopefully I can post some pics of are outing

[Stilly bay]

This is what you need for it:

http://www.niceshotinc.com/

or tungsten matrix. that would be the duck gun to end all duck guns with either load.

[PA BEN]

Don't do it.

[madcow41]

they make steel shot specifically for vintage guns. bought some at white elephant the other day. may be worth a shot.

[jeepster]

If I had the cash, I'd buy that gun from you just so you won't shoot steel out of it.


Hevi-shot makes some loads called classic doubles that are non toxic and safe to shoot through an old gun but are an arm and a leg. I think I paid like 35$ for 10 or something like that..... But it's better than muffing up an old gun and making a decision you'd regret

That isn't a duck gun. That is a beautiful piece of art that belongs in an upland field chuckar quail and pheasant hunting that gets put in a case whenever it leaves the mantel or your display case. Get yourself a pump, but for the love of guns don't ruin that gun.

My duck and goose gun is a one piece full synthetic stock/receiver with the only bit of exposed metal being the barrel just because if I drop it in the mud or salt marsh it won't get hurt.... If I did that with my side by side, I'd go home instantly to strip it down and make sure there wasn't a single spec of mud on it...

To answer the question of why an old gun shouldn't shoot steel is a very broad and complex question to ask, but here are the basic points on why it is a very bad idea

1) steel shot does not compress like lead shot
2) old barrels might be made with softer steel, and while 1 or 2 shots won't hurt the gun (depending on choke) eventually the shot will wear the barrel down
3) steel shot can't be shot through anything less than a modified choke on a gun that isn't rated for steel because of 1 and 2
4) you have to be bloody insane and or desperate to shoot something if you want to destroy the value of something like that
5) in the off chance it does fail, it is simply not worth the risk of possibly killing yourself if the gun blows up on you

[jeepster]

they make steel shot specifically for vintage guns. bought some at white elephant the other day. may be worth a shot.

There is no such thing as steel shot for old guns, only bismuth or other non toxics

If you need a simple answer why not to shoot steel through an old gun, the easiest and most simple answer is this: IT WASNT DESINGED FOR IT

Pretend you are a kid again, and your dad said to not do something, and you ask him why, and he doesn't give an answer... Why doesn't matter, it's the fact he said not to do it.


Perhaps we should make a sticky about this thread?

I think we all know this isn't the first or last time this question will be asked

[Stilly bay]

3) steel shot can't be shot through anything less than a modified choke on a gun that isn't rated for steel because of 1 and 2

Probably should change that to steel shot cannot be shot through ANY gun that isn't rated for steel no matter the constriction of the choke- Because of some of the reasons you stated and because many guns built in the era before steel (pre 80's) are just not made to handle the pressures found in all steel shot loads.