Probably the most knowledgeable person on you tube concerning shotguns. Always enjoyable to listen to.

Old video I know, but a good one. For those that are concerned about steel in the UK, here in the USA we’ve had to use steel for all waterfowl since 1991. In my state of California, where we enjoy all types of wild game wing shooting (dove, quail, pheasant, chukar/partridge, grouse, Ptarmigan, turkey, cottontail rabbit, squirrel), we’ve had to use nothing but steel since 2019 and in the entire state. So we here are used to using steel shot. (Or bismuth and Tungsten but that costs a fortune). Initially we all thought switching to steel was horrible, because there was a learning curve about adjusting the steel shot size and choke size, when compared to lead. But now it’s evolved and the technology with the wadding and overall performance of the steel cartridges makes it an effective loading. The key to using steel successfully in the field is to select TWO sizes of steel shot larger than what you normally chose for lead shot. For your choke, the trick is to choose ONE (or two) sizes WIDER choke diameter than what you’d use for lead. Example: If you shoot #8 or 7.5 lead, move two sizes larger with #6 steel. If you shoot #4 lead for duck, move up TWO sizes larger to #2 steel. If your choke was a “modified” (1/2) with lead, use a wider “Light Modified” (3/8ths) or even an Improved Cylinder (quarter) for steel shot. If you shoot a Full choke with lead, move up to the wider Improved modified (3/8ths) or Modified (1/2) choke with steel. It really works! But steel maintains a tighter pattern at distance, so one must absolutely use a more OPEN CHOKE with steel shot. That is very hard to accept with old timer lead shooters. But steel is a completely different animal than lead. You’ll see that the steel when it’s adjusted properly to match lead, it then performs the nearly the same and you will not have any issues adjusting and hunting. Again, move up (larger) two sizes for steel shot and move up one or two sizes wider in choke diameter. Pattern your chokes and see which one works best with the load you plan on using. As a general rule, using steel shot through a choke that is tighter than “Modified” (1/2), will distorts and deform the pellet pattern terribly. A Modified (1/2) choke with steel, maintains a tight pattern nearly identical between an Improved Modified (3/4) and a Full choke with lead. The steel pattern through the 1/2 choke is actually closer to the pattern of a Full choke with lead. Therefore, DO NOT SHOOT STEEL THROUGH A CHOKE THAT IS TIGHTER THAN MODIFIED (1/2). THERE IS NO BENEFIT and actually becomes a detriment if you do so anyways! The only exception to this rule is unless you have a modern SPECIALTY choke made to handle steel shot in a tighter than Modified (1/2) choke. Steel will damage barrels and chokes if shot through anything tighter than modified (1/2), unless it’s a specialty choke, usually made by an aftermarket company. Mueller and Carlson’s for example make them, but I find that they are NOT really needed for hunting generally.

Excellent information

Just for reference to the US. All 3" or shorter 12, 16, 20, and 28 bore Ammunition is limited to essentially standard steel pressures. 793 Bar as opposed to 740 Bar for CIP standard steel. So in America we can shoot steel in all our old shotguns follow the same rules and we do not need to worry about High Performance steel because it does not exist in the US. just remember 1/2 choke or less, #5 shot or smaller

Having had this conversation here in the US some thirty years ago, I know that a lot of fixed choke guns from earlier times will have steel-damaged barrels. I had a wonderful O/U that ended up with bulges behind the chokes, (Modified and Modified). Gun and ammunition makers assured us there should be no concerns, but there were. Several friends quit hunting because of the damage to their firearms. The newer guns and ammunition seem to work well with steel. I hope the English have learned from our early mistakes.

I have an 1922 EM Reilly 16 g hammer gun, ok it is what you would call a Journeymans gun. Is in good condition and been well looked after. Is my favorite as is not so much of a lump as my 1960's AYA No2. Age and infirmity prevent game shoots but enjoy staggering about Edge Hill clay shooting with it and hope continue doing so despite lead ban.

What about steel standard steel geese cartridges for 30 year old o/u with 3” chambers? When are we likely to see bio wads/ cartridges for 28 and 410? Thanks 🙏

Just a question. The transition will it effect people who shoot clays. will they need to shoot steal shot too.

Wow - pretty late adaptation of steel. We here in Denmark have been using them since '96 :o

Big fan of this fella. Knows his stuff!

I wonder how many older sportsman have bought a shotgun in the last 5 years!

My old AYA S/S is choked 1/2 and FULL. Do I have to throw it away?

Manor & Co have started producing 16 bore steel shot.

As I understand it, the problem is with the supermarkets who have been persuaded not to buy game shot with lead. There IS an issue with lead in wetlands, but this is NOT a problem over land. The wetland problem has been addressed, and there is NO reason to apply it to normal game shooting. OK so what if shoots have a certification scheme for supplying lead free game? You have steel shoots and the birds from this go to the game dealers. You can also have lead shoots where the game goes to the shots and anyone else who is happy to take lead shot game.. Why do we have to have nanny solutions where everyone has to change to suit the demands of a small minority...?

I am new to shooting and on a tight budget so steel is attractive to me, however iam scared to use it in my husqvarna 310 "swedish special steel" Anyone have experience with this barrel material?

I have looked online and cannot find that Guidance sheet you reference - anyone care to post a link , thanks .

Not fair to guys with a holland and holland Damascus gun....

Can anyone tell me why steel is more expensive than lead ?? Bearing in mind there's a lot more steel around than lead. Just go to your local scrap dealer to find that out !!

Is the mod going to steel ????

That video was 100 percent I’ve been using standard steel through my AYA NO3 MAGNUM Made 1979 for years with no effects 👍👍

The barrels are brazed on not WELDED Simon...!!

Is this guy reading an autocue or what?

Tom Roster claims that above 1300 fps there is no performance benefit with steel shot.

So I’m understanding that “standard steel” is ok with my 1920 browning, Ithaca, savage all can shoot standard steel, High performance steel or high standard steel is only recommended to when it’s proofed for high standard steel. Also no less then 1/2 choke when using steel in older guns, that’s what I understood.

I shot 3" steel about 20 cartridges with full tight chock Browning Citori :( I sow sometimes the gun little broke :) I was crazy

Is it not a fact that you can shoot standard steel shot No4 and smaller through tighter chokes then 1/2. There may be bulging but the modern nitro proof guns will be fine. Bulging will put it out of proof, that is UK proof, so you will not be able to sell on. But it will be perfectly fine to shoot. Therefore fixed choked guns in 1/2 and full that are nitro proofed firing 32 gram No 4 steel (replacing 32 gram No6 lead) for rough shooting once in good repair should be okay.

We have to be honest,,,,,,,steel shot is not worth a bucket of cold piss. Pure and simple if you know anything about ballistics.

I have been shooting steel at waterfowl for a long time. You need to use a more open choke and a larger size shot. A little less range. In my side by side 16 I shoot bismuth shot, I also use bismuth in .410 bore. It shoots different, but you can learn how it performs in your gun. It works. Pheasants and ducks won't know the difference.

you dont need to be a gunsmith to know steel will be hard on your gun.

Who actually wants this I bet if you questioned every licence holder the majority would tell you where to shove your politically correct steel cartridge!!!

Apparently the Danes are shooting standard steel through Damascus barrels without problems. I don't know whether it's a practice elsewhere. The comment to the effect that the shell fitting the chamber is one of the criteria for use of steel cartridges isn't quite accurate. Of course, the chamber must be at least as long as the OPEN (fired) cartridge. What if it isn't? What if one has been careless and fired a 70mm shell in a 65mm chambered gun? In general, about 1000 psi will be added to the chamber pressure. There is some variation between paper and plastic, rolled and star crimps. So, usually not enough to be alarmed about, IF barrel wall thickness is appropriate. Also, you didn't indicate the distance from muzzle or chamber for measuring barrel wall thickness. The figure you mentioned certainly wouldn't be appropriate for the breech.

Don't get too keen on game shooting with steel cartridges if you want to freeze the game to eat another time. Leave it a month or two and when it is defrosted the meat you are looking forward to eating will contain RUST !!.

What about the .410/28 guage user this steel shot business is utter tosh and a massive smoke screen con with un backable science !!!!

No one recommended using "modern smokeless powder" through Damascus barrelled guns either (and still don't) but we have put countless through nitro proof for years and enjoy shooting them on game day. Have any one of you lot put a Damascus gun through proof for standard steel before speak?? Thought not.