My experience with steel shot in old guns is based on two separate guns. This was circa 2005 so the shot was modern with thick wads and whatnot. At the time I was very bullish on steel, we needed it at the gun club because we shot over the marsh so I shot kent #7 for target and anything from steel bb to hevi 6 on ducks. I got the first gun in the spring, it was a cheap kassnar churchill 12. The chokes were m/f and I shot it all summer before I noticed it had a slight bulge in the barrels of the f choke. I never shot anything bigger than the factory kent #7. I wasnt that concerned for safety but did note that my position on small shot didnt matter needed reconsideration. I sold the gun before duck season and bought a 1904 lc smith which I had opened to ic/mod at the suggestion of the Mr Hamlin. With less than full chokes it has worked fine since. Could be luck, could be the barrel steel. Hope this anecdote helps someone.
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