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shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 17:44:12
by thekinetic
So I'm going to go hunting but I have to use non toxic shot, which is fine, but my question is are there special chokes required for use with steel shot? My brother claims there are but everywhere I look it says everything about choke size and nothing about what they're rated for. So I think either I'm just not looking in the right place or my bro is full o' crap!
BTW my SxS is using improved cylinder and modified chokes.
Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 18:19:07
by OakRidgeStars
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't being shot with "non-toxic shot" in of itself toxic?

Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 19:20:34
by GeneFrenkle
This may help
http://www.browning.com/customerservice ... asp?id=284
http://www.trulockchokes.com/faqs.php
The punchline is patterning will be different between steel, lead, and other alloys using the same choke. There isn't a special "steel shot" choke, rather it is use a different choke to get a similar pattern to lead shot.
So, yes, you need a different choke and no there isn't a special choke - just a different constriction for a similar pattern. I don't rightly know if that means your brother is full of it, however.
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Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 19:31:46
by GeneFrenkle
I changed my mind - if your brother is like mine, yes, he's full of it just on the principle of it.
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Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 19:57:26
by thekinetic
I mean he says there are choke specially constructed for steel shot, that somehow steel shot will mess up you choke. But like I said most of what I read is saying anything tighter than a modified will get F'd up by the steel.
Don't get me wrong my brother is usually knowledgable about things, especially guns but I love research and all my research is contradicting him.
Thanks for the links they really did help!
Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 20:05:32
by GeneFrenkle
Wasn't suggesting your brother was full of it on this point. Just if your brother is like mine, he's full of it because he's a brother. lol
I'm presumimg you're preparing for geese? Enjoy your hunting!
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Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 20:06:45
by WRW
This is more an old guns vs. new guns issue. When steel shot was made mandatory for waterfowl there were problems. This is what Browning has to say:
http://www.browning.com/customerservice ... asp?id=128
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Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 20:08:17
by FiremanBob
The owner manuals on my shotties all say that steel will pattern 1 choke tighter than lead with the equivalent choke...except the full choke, which is specifically NOT recommended for use with steel shot.
You don't want to end up like Elmer Fudd.
Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 23:48:11
by thekinetic
GeneFrenkle wrote:Wasn't suggesting your brother was full of it on this point. Just if your brother is like mine, he's full of it because he's a brother. lol
I'm presumimg you're preparing for geese? Enjoy your hunting!
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Well no goose season is over, I was going squirrel hunting and bringing my shotgun to shoot dove as the wmd I was going to has open fields good for hunting them.
Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:07:57
by jdonovan
WRW wrote:This is more an old guns vs. new guns issue.
+1
Generally you are going to find 3 types
1) no steel ever
2) steel, but only with a newer choke tube designed for steel
3) steel is ok with the chokes that come with the gun
the 1 or 2 guns are generally 20+ years old. Some of the #3 guns may still have restrictions about what chokes can/can't be used.
Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:02:25
by WRW
Apologies to the readership for repeating GeneFrenkle.
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Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:05:09
by GeneFrenkle
thekinetic wrote:GeneFrenkle wrote:Wasn't suggesting your brother was full of it on this point. Just if your brother is like mine, he's full of it because he's a brother. lol
I'm presumimg you're preparing for geese? Enjoy your hunting!
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Well no goose season is over, I was going squirrel hunting and bringing my shotgun to shoot dove as the wmd I was going to has open fields good for hunting them.
Good Grief! Where has this month gone?
Re: shotgun chokes and steel shot
Posted: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 17:09:27
by thekinetic
GeneFrenkle wrote:thekinetic wrote:GeneFrenkle wrote:Wasn't suggesting your brother was full of it on this point. Just if your brother is like mine, he's full of it because he's a brother. lol
I'm presumimg you're preparing for geese? Enjoy your hunting!
[ Post made via Mobile Device ] 
Well no goose season is over, I was going squirrel hunting and bringing my shotgun to shoot dove as the wmd I was going to has open fields good for hunting them.
Good Grief! Where has this month gone?
I know right, between work and all the bs in between it's hard for me to find a time to go hunting. Heck I've been trying to find a time go to the range to sight in my .22's scope seeing as how I just put new rings on it that are raised. Luckily now if I can't find the time I can just use the irons but my .270 I have to take to the range before deer season starts as the scope needs adjusting for windage.
My 20 guage shotgun on the other hand is good as is, and it's the one gun I can hit dang near everthing I shoot at. And the clerk that sold it to me said it wasn't good at a distance, yeah right I outshot my dad and his 12 guage.