Steel shot damage?

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by Steve McCarty

I do not reload shotshells. Do commercial steel loads damage the barrel in my Auto 5 12 gauge with a screw in sheet choke? I think the choke is a Colonial, but I'm not sure. It is a thin walled rather short choke tube. All It says on it is "sheet".

I'm hoping you mean "Skeet" and not "sheet" chokes! If your A-5 is a Belgian gun with after-market screw chokes, I would be very reticent to use any constriction other than IC due to the narrower mid-bore diameter of the Belgian guns vs. conventional US standards (.723 vs. .729 in 12 gauge).

If the A-5 is Japan-built and Invector or Invector Plus screw choked, Browning literature will suggest the proper size steel for use according to differing situations (ducks over decoys, pass shooting geese, etc.).

I have always been a fan of the A-5 for waterfowl hunting but only owned Belgian guns when the lead ban came into effect; I solved my dilemna by buying a used Japan A-5 3" Magnum with Inventor chokes, which has turned out to be my most dependable and effective gun for most any waterfowling setup, including ducks, geese, and brant shooting.

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Kevin McCormack

I'm hoping you mean "Skeet" and not "sheet" chokes! If your A-5 is a Belgian gun with after-market screw chokes, I would be very reticent to use any constriction other than IC due to the narrower mid-bore diameter of the Belgian guns vs. conventional US standards (.723 vs. .729 in 12 gauge).

If the A-5 is Japan-built and Invector or Invector Plus screw choked, Browning literature will suggest the proper size steel for use according to differing situations (ducks over decoys, pass shooting geese, etc.).

I have always been a fan of the A-5 for waterfowl hunting but only owned Belgian guns when the lead ban came into effect; I solved my dilemna by buying a used Japan A-5 3" Magnum with Inventor chokes, which has turned out to be my most dependable and effective gun for most any waterfowling setup, including ducks, geese, and brant shooting.

My typo sorry. Of course I mean "skeet". My A5 is a Belgium gun. I bought it with the screw in choke a few years ago. I'm not sure which company made the choke. It is short, and doesn't include the company name anywhere.

BTW: Does anyone know if the advent of non-toxic shot has actually had a positive effect upon waterfowl numbers? I know it is supposed to, but has it?

[Drew Hause]

It's complicated Steve. Waterfowl populations are highly dependent on drought, breeding season weather and habitat loss. There are also studies documenting little change in the amount of lead shot in sediment samples.
Here is a report from Ducks Unlimited with a population graph 1955 - 2024
https://www.ducks.org/conservation/w...4-duck-numbers