Steel Shot & Shotgun Barrels

BlackSky · Oct 31, 2009

Quick question for the Model 37 guys. We've got two of them, both 20 gauge featherlights. My 1957 model 37 is an absolute dream and is my regular hunting gun. Recently my wife picked up a 1973 model 37 and this is the one I have a question about.

My local range mandates that we use steel shot when shooting clays. I can not use my 1957 gun with steel shot as it will tear up the inside of the barrel.

Does anyone know if the barrel on a 1973 Model 37 is ok to shoot steel shot through?

Here's a photo of both of them just for fun...

Spotteddog · Oct 31, 2009

BlackSky,
Not being a clay or bird guy myself, I received a few "teachable moments" in the ammo section recently related to "steel shot" and my (erroneous) assumptions about it!
Those are two beautiful guns!

(EDIT)
That thread in the ammo section is under 16 gauge Federal (Sorry, I forgot to say so?)

OKFC05 · Oct 31, 2009

1973 was a transition time in making shotgun barrels stand up to steel, and probably only Ithaca can give you a definitive answer.
Ithaca Barrels--Strongest and Straightest in the Land

In general, I don't shoot steel shot in ANY of the fixed choke barrels, but stick to steel-rated replaceable screw-in chokes. If something goes wrong, the choke tube is easily and cheaply replaced.

You can get new Ithaca barrels complete with Briley choke system for your Model 37s directly from Ithaca.

westkybanded · Oct 31, 2009

I'd buy two new barrels and shoot hellouta those two. Beautiful old guns!

I can't imagine having to shoot steel on a trap range. Unreal...

If it's just going to be a one round thing a year- go for it with the barrels as they are.

Now I'm thinking- do they require "Steel" shot or "Non-toxic" shot? If you've got a trust fund, bismuth is soft enough for those older guns. It also performs better than steel while being on the fed's approved list for migratory waterfowl. If you have a small island in the carribean, Hevi-Shot makes a load called "Classic Doubles" that is a bismuth blend that's even better.

HEVI-Shot® Classic Doubles

fyimo · Oct 31, 2009

I have a really nice Gamba O/U from the mid 1970's and it developed a bulge in the upper barrrel after one duck hunt with steel shot. The gun still shoots great but it's value has been dimisnished because of the bulged barrel.

westkybanded · Oct 31, 2009

fyimo said:
I have a really nice Gamba O/U from the mid 1970's and it developed a bulge in the upper barrrel after one duck hunt with steel shot. The gun still shoots great but it's value has been dimisnished because of the bulged barrel.

Not that I question that your gun is messed up, but how do you explain the bulge? I've heard of erosion over time with steel, but it almost sounds like you had an overpressured shell or a squib?

BlackSky · Oct 31, 2009

Thanks for the info guys, I'll contact Ithaca and see about a couple modern barrels.

We try to go clay shooting at least once a month. We've been using my modern Remington SBS, both sharing it but I'd love to take those 37's. The local range is in Marin County and they are the ones requiring the steel shot. It's not a waterfowl issue, they don't want all our deadly lead soaking into the ground water from the fields it lands into. The requirement is steel #7 shot only. The non-steel non-toxic are not permitted either for whatever reason.

Gotta love Marin County. The shooting range is only a mile or two away from a coastal military base so the county put up "Nuclear Weapons Free Zone" signage all over the roads around the base. We pass by the signs when going to the range. I guess years ago Marin found out that the govt. was using this base as a waypoint to transport the nuclear missles destined to be on our subs.

Self righteous SOB's, the lot of 'em.

Steel Shot & Shotgun Barrels

BlackSky

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Spotteddog

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OKFC05

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westkybanded

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fyimo

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westkybanded

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BlackSky

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