Oops. Steel shot down my vintage barrel.

[Dobbinsky]

I know...There are no accidents when handling firearms. With that being said, I had a loose, high brass Remington Express 2 3/4" #4 steel shot shell which I thought was lead at the time. I fired it through my late 50's Winchester model 50 with a full choke. This happened last year. I found no bulge in the barrel, and no scoring at all inside. Smooth and shiny. With no visual anomalies noted, I've been shooting it again with the proper lead. I'm a bit OCD, so my question is this. Could there be unseen damage to the barrel with that one shot, or should I just let it ride and consider myself and the shotgun lucky?

 

[Pitdogg2]

Anxiety much??

 

[Old_Me]

I know...There are no accidents when handling firearms. With that being said, I had a loose, high brass Remington Express 2 3/4" #4 steel shot shell which I thought was lead at the time. I fired it through my late 50's Winchester model 50 with a full choke. This happened last year. I found no bulge in the barrel, and no scoring at all inside. Smooth and shiny. With no visual anomalies noted, I've been shooting it again with the proper lead. I'm a bit OCD, so my question is this. Could there be unseen damage to the barrel with that one shot, or should I just let it ride and consider myself and the shotgun lucky?

if you really wanna settle your mind

take it to a competent smith and have him send a bore camera in there.

maybe there is a hairline crack in the rifling you cannot see, maybe there isn't.

pay the cost for the exam....or not........your choice.......

 

[Dobbinsky]

Anxiety much??

Only most of the time.

 

[bc22wm]

One round through a 50's modern steel barrel with no signs of bulge or scaring, I wouldn't give it another thought. Anything is possible, you could get struck by lightning while flapping your ears flying to the moon.
JMHO, OCD is nothing more than an excuse to stay wound up and worried. Being worried is like nicotine, damned addictive. Knock it off you're only here once, enjoy.

 

[Dobbinsky]

if you really wanna settle your mind

take it to a competent smith and have him send a bore camera in there.

maybe there is a hairline crack in the rifling you cannot see, maybe there isn't.

pay the cost for the exam....or not........your choice.......

No cracks in the rifling.

 

[Musashi]

Have your wife give you a good slap, you shud b ok after that lol. I wouldn’t worry n I wouldn’t repeat the mistake.

 

[Old_Me]

No cracks in the rifling.

are you sure..??

your eyes are THAT great to see hairline cracks..???

 

[Dobbinsky]

One round through a 50's modern steel barrel with no signs of bulge or scaring, I wouldn't give it another thought. Anything is possible, you could get struck by lightning while flapping your ears flying to the moon.
JMHO, OCD is nothing more than an excuse to stay wound up and worried. Being worried is like nicotine, damned addictive. Knock it off you're only here once, enjoy.

All good points. My experience with steel shot is about nil. The OCD is true though. My name is Dobbinsky, and I've been known to re-tighten my oil drain plug three times to get it just right. But, I'm much better now!

 

[Dobbinsky]

Have your wife give you a good slap, you shud b ok after that lol. I wouldn’t worry n I wouldn’t repeat the mistake.

On the face or the butt?

 

[Dobbinsky]

are you sure..??

your eyes are THAT great to see hairline cracks..???

If there was rifling in my shotgun, probably not.

 

[Old_Me]

If there was rifling in my shotgun, probably not.

i am not familiar with shotguns...so i would not have known about the lack of rifling.

so, at least..i have nothing to worry about......

but next time for you...??

keep things in labeled boxes..???

 

[Grayfox]

The shot is encased in a plastic cup until after it leaves the barrel. The steel shot never comes in direct contact with the bore.
As long as you're using standard pressure loads, I don't see a problem.
Them older guns are tougher than you think.

 

[bc22wm]

keep things in labeled boxes..???

Now that takes all the fun out of life Now was that rat poison or sugar?

 

[Old_Me]

Now that takes all the fun out of life Now was that rat poison or sugar?

i got a bro-in-law that is my special taste tester.....

 

[Dobbinsky]

i am not familiar with shotguns...so i would not have known about the lack of rifling.

so, at least..i have nothing to worry about......

but next time for you...??

keep things in labeled boxes..???

Your labeling idea is a good idea, and since the box has "steel shot" right on it, no loose shells again.

 

[Belt Fed]

Yep it's toast, you should send it to me.

 

[Dobbinsky]

i got a bro-in-law that is my special taste tester.....

I'll volunteer my X.

 

[Dobbinsky]

The shot is encased in a plastic cup until after it leaves the barrel. The steel shot never comes in direct contact with the bore.
As long as you're using standard pressure loads, I don't see a problem.
Them older guns are tougher than you think.

I was thinking the same thing about the wad protecting the barrel. I've seen photos of older shotgun barrels supposedly scored by steel, and don't know how that happens when shot is encased with plastic.

 

[Old_Me]

I'll volunteer my X.

does she look like this..???


if she does...gimme her number, email address.