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.