Small steel shot in a VHE
 

Please feel free to direct me to some old threads, because I realize this has no doubt been covered before:
Wife just got a very nice Rem 20 ga VHE and wants to shoot nontoxic. Have bismuth for her in *6 and larger, for grouse and pheasant, but she needs smaller for quail and snipe. Can't find anything smaller than 6 in bismuth and was wondering if a person would dare shoot #7 steel in this little VHE? It's marked modified and improved mod. We definitely don't want to damage this fine gun. Any thots or advice?

Thanks!

Modern steel 7 1/2 should be fine in a Remington VHE of the bores you mention. My opinion only.

Thanks Bill. Understood and appreciated.

Mike

Why do you need non-tox for upland game? Are you hunting in one of the few states that banned lead?

Well, excellent question... No, we're in Idaho and can do pretty much as we want, however, the wife is a wildlife toxicologist and no very enamored of lead. I'm an old "leader" myself, but I do run into riparian quail hunts were a teal or wood duck may be encountered at close range and steel gives you more options. That said, most of my shooting is lead.

If the chokes are more open in the gun, you would likely be ok. But personally, since you can use lead, I would personally not chance any damage by using steel.
I suggest either finding a suitable steel substitute for the gun, or tell her that using lead is the only option. OR, use a more modern gun suitable for steel.

OK, that's what we wanted to know. Do NOT want to take a chance w/this gun. Thanks.
Mike

Gun designed for steel, shoot steel. Gun not designed for steel, don't shoot steel. There will be no second guessing nor regret (the worst of emotions).

A pre - WWI Parker “Vulcan” (courtesy of Ron Graham) barrel was AISI 1015.
A post - WWI Parker “Vulcan” barrel (courtesy of Dave Suponski) was AISI 1030.

Modern steel loads have a thick shot cup to protect the bores from scoring, but neither of those barrels were designed for steel.

Makes sense - thx.

OK, point taken. Thx.

Hi Mike, RST offers 7 1/2's in Bismuth. I use bismuth for rails and snipe which is required in CT because of their proximity to the tidal wetlands. They work well in the old Parkers.

Hey Andy!
Good deal! I guess I'm not handling their website very well, cuz I didn't find that they last time I was there, but will be more persistent now. Thanks very much.

Mike

Best thing to do is just call them. I ordered a mixed flat of normal shells Thursday afternoon and it showed up at my door mid day Saturday. They are great!

I’m with Andy: bismuth. With today’s alternative to steel there is just no reason to risk an old gun no matter how open the gun is choked.

OK Andy, appreciate the inside scoop. Have dealt w/them before, but not a whole lot and it's been awhile. Thanks much!

Mike

Well Dean, thanks. This exactly the kind of advice we were looking for. She is very thrilled w/the gun and certainly wants to treat it right. Much appreciated.

Mike

I am of the opinion that steel shouldn’t be used in anything other than a NiCrMo barrel. The density of the charge, regardless of wad wall or fusion, passes through the choke constrictions as a pretty tight mass. Bulges are a lot more expensive than a pound or two of bismuth.

In my opinion steel should only be used in skyscrapers and automobile frames. It is the absolute worse thing to try and kill a bird with. There were many more birds, mostly waterfowl, who were wounded and lost by using steel loads than ever died from "lead poisoning". Use Bismuth... your gun and the birds deserve it.

OK Edgar. My original understanding, and it was certainly not based on any exhaustive research, was that the small shot, like #7, would be OK in older guns. The gun writers who mentioned that probably also said "in modified, or more open barrels", so even if true this VHE's improved modified barrel is too probably too tight. Add to that the unanimous response on this forum that steel should not be used in a gun not made for it is certainly convincing. Thanks for the help and we will heed the advice. Have already ordered the bismuth!

OK, appreciate the response. Thx.