Pheasant and Duck Loads

[Blind Dog]

I agree, no steel or hard stuff in an old barrel and through no choke tighter than a nominal modified. I use "Black Cloud" 2&3/4", one ounce #3 in the gun pictured below (and recently posted as my grouse/woodcock gun) where notox is required such as certain public hunting lands in SD and waterfowl. The latter game is approached with my sneaky <12' canoe. The gun is a 1901 VH which I bought with barrells cut from 30" to <26". I burst the left barrel at the end of the forend (all fngers accounted for) with a 1&1/2 oz load (obstruction, honed too thin? I don't know) and Kirk Merrington sleeved in a new pair, nominally choked Sk in and Sk out; thus, steel is ok. I also stretched the shortened pull with a Galazan/Silvers pad; comb height is just right; balance point an inch behind the pin.

Clearly steel is not an effective substitute for lead, but maybe better than pebbles or rock salt.

Happy Hunting, Fred