steel shot

[desertdog 149]

just a quick question lads, im sure someone can help, i got my single harrison and richardson, what id like to know is can i use steel shot for geese in it, or do i need a more up todate gun, im busting to shoot some geese.

[kingkeeper21 2]

to be honest matey it all depends on how much the gun means to you if your just using it as a knock about gun something your not to bothered about getting scratch and mudded up then yes. but idealy useing a more modern gun is better you wont wear the barrels out as quick. but always check them for pitting if the steel starts to damage the barrels give it a rest.

[borntoshoot 1]

I think if there is a fleur de-lis (spelling) on stamped on the barrels then It proofed for steel but i would wait for someone to verify this because im not 100% sure.

[desertdog 149]

cheers lads , i will get it lloked at to be safe, dd

[matt_hooks 188]

Because steel is much lighter than lead, it has to come out of the barrel faster to get the same energies. Hence the chamber pressures are extremely high, and so the gun has to be proofed for that.

 

Steel shot are fired either with a plastic wad with a cup that contains the shot in the barrel, or a fibre wad that does the same job, so the steel shouldn't come into contact with the barrels.

 

Some of the other lead free options are very good. Bismuth shot is denser than lead, and can be very effective, if not a little on the dear side!

[HUnter_zero 58]

You will get all sorts of responses from all sorts of people, I did when I enquired if my Hatsan Mk1 Escort could fire steel shot.

 

I think the steel shot subject is one of contention.

 

You have two main stream opinions.

 

1) "All" barrels in good condition can fire modern steel shot cartridges because the steel shot in enclosed in plastic as such the steel will not contact the barrel.

2) Your barrel has to be proofed for steel shot and if it is, you will have "steel shot" or a Fleur-DE-Li's stamped in to the barrel.

 

I know it's safe to use steel in my Escort magnum because the Mk1 has the same barrels as the Mk2, however it's not proofed for steel, so to my mind it's not been designed to shoot steel shot. After all if a gun was capable of firing steel shot, the manufactures would promote it as an extra selling point.

 

 

I was a bit gutted, as my plan was to use the escort as a wet weather goose gun.

 

John