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10-10-2019, 08:37 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 2,465
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Steel Shot out of an old Shotgun
Forgive me if this is a stupid question. I inherited an old Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge from one of my grandpas bachelor buddies who passed away. Anyways I don’t know if this this a valid concern or not. Are there any complications that can come from shooting steel shot out of an old shotgun like this.? I don’t know the year of it as I have not searched the serial number. I’m guessing is early 70s
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10-10-2019, 08:43 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 2,465
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Edit- just searched serial number. Says date of manufacture is 1940.
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10-10-2019, 08:44 PM
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Gone Hunting
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lougheed,Ab.
Posts: 12,736
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KBF
Forgive me if this is a stupid question. I inherited an old Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge from one of my grandpas bachelor buddies who passed away. Anyways I don’t know if this this a valid concern or not. Are there any complications that can come from shooting steel shot out of an old shotgun like this.? I don’t know the year of it as I have not searched the serial number. I’m guessing is early 70s
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The only concern with steel shot in that gun would be the choke. It is likely a full choke which you should get bored out to at least modified to safely handle the steel shot. The gun should be stamped on the left side of the barrel just ahead of the receiver with the choke it has
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10-10-2019, 08:46 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Magrath, Alberta
Posts: 1,914
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Yep best to keep it for upland only, steel will bugger up the fixed choke in no time...
Jim...
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10-10-2019, 09:00 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 2,465
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Thanks Hal. I just checked. It does say Full. Due to age and in remembrance of the friend that I got it from I will keep it original. May not shoot it anymore either. What a great excuse to pick up another gun.
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10-10-2019, 09:02 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 2,465
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elkhunter1234
Yep best to keep it for upland only, steel will bugger up the fixed choke in no time...
Jim...
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I’m sure you can guess who I got the gun from Jim. It’s likely taken more birds than I could ever imagine. It may not have a lot of life left in it anyway. Sure was surprised at its age
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10-10-2019, 09:21 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,577
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Get the forcing gone relived and the choke opened up to IC/Mod and you are good to go, the Old M12’s and Wingmaster barrels have no problem with steel after being modified . 
Cat
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10-10-2019, 10:52 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,689
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catnthehat
Get the forcing gone relived and the choke opened up to IC/Mod and you are good to go, the Old M12’s and Wingmaster barrels have no problem with steel after being modified .
Cat |
About how much does that cost?
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10-10-2019, 11:49 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,844
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Quote:
Originally Posted by catnthehat
Get the forcing gone relived and the choke opened up to IC/Mod and you are good to go, the Old M12’s and Wingmaster barrels have no problem with steel after being modified .
Cat |
I did this with Grampa's Model 12 in 12 ga. It saw about 10 years of very frequent waterfowling after that. 100's of steel rounds through it. Worked well. Cost me around 100 bucks.......about 20 years ago lol.
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10-11-2019, 01:12 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Near Edmonton
Posts: 15,043
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Those old model 12s are good for literally tens of thousands of rounds. They were used extensively for Skeet and trap back in the day, no average hunter will ever wear one of them out in 10 lifetimes. To my way of thinking, guns we inherit are best if they keep getting used. Getting the barrel bored out properly, both the forcing cone and the choke, will run about $200 today. You can also have the barrel shortened a bit at the same time if it is the old 30-32" tube as many people prefer 26 or 28" barrels these days.
In my mind a small price to pay to keep an excellent shotgun out hunting instead of hanging on the wall. Sorry for your loss.
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10-11-2019, 06:15 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,329
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Another consideration
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10-11-2019, 07:12 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Edmonton
Posts: 1,576
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I recently got a model 12 about the same age, although I can’t shoot steel out of it, it’s been working beautifully on clays. It’s now my favorite shotgun for shooting clays with.
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10-11-2019, 07:28 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Saskatoon
Posts: 1,592
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Model 12 in 16 gauge changed to 2 3/4 inch by 1927
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10-11-2019, 07:40 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: 204
Posts: 5,433
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If it was mine I'd leave it as is.
If it were a 12 gauge, I'd consider getting it opened up, but since it's a 16, I would just use it as is for upland birds.
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10-13-2019, 11:43 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: The best place on earth.
Posts: 1,653
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Sorry to highjack the thread, but figured this is already down the same road I want to go down. Any gun smooths to open up full choke shotguns around Edmonton it in Edmonton? I’m looking to have to choked opened up.
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10-15-2019, 07:21 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: strathcona county
Posts: 203
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Yes also looking to get a few shotguns opened up.... anybody around Edmonton?
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10-19-2019, 03:19 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: WMU 108
Posts: 2,465
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What about bismuth type shot? Is it not recommended for full choke either? Can bismuth shot be used in place of steel for waterfowl here in Alberta?
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10-19-2019, 03:37 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 400
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Yes bismuth can be used in a full choke older barrel that is in good condition and yes it is non toxic so legal for waterfowl. Kent also states that their tungsten matrix shot is safe to use in older barrels, even with full choke barrels. I have used both bismuth and tungsten matrix in my older shotguns with full choke. Downside is ammunition is more expensive than steel shot.
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10-19-2019, 03:52 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,329
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covert gun control
It's all great until Canada bans lead effectively scrapping hundreds of thousands of shotguns in the name of the environment.Then there's the million .22's left starving. I'd alter whatever can be altered so it can still be used.Or start hoarding ammo and load Bismuth.Years ago a 7lb bottle from SIR was $120
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10-19-2019, 05:12 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 400
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Prices for bismuth shot has gone up considerably. The last quote I have from Bilozir Fine Guns and Reloading Supplies is $220.00 for 7 lbs of #2 bismuth shot.
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10-19-2019, 05:22 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,329
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Willy's markup
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10-19-2019, 05:35 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 400
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Thanks for the link. 10# of number 2 shot for sale price of $149.00 US. Way cheaper for sure even with the exchange on the dollar, customs and shipping.
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10-20-2019, 08:18 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,329
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I wonder
If you could simply drive across to Washington and pick it up? Or it shot something that endangers Nation Security?
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