non-toxic shot

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dog dr
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non-toxic shot

Post by dog dr » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:20 pm

what do you all recommend for non-toxic shot as far as minimizing the damage to a gun is concerned?? i have heard that steel can be pretty tough on the bore. any suggestions??

Dave Quindt
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Dave Quindt » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:36 pm

Steel is hard on guns not made to handle steel. I can't shoot steel through my early 70's era Beretta BL-4 o/u, but could shoot steel all day long out of the model that replaced it, the 686.

What kinda gun you talking about?

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Greg Jennings
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Greg Jennings » Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:49 pm

A bit of trivia. "Steel" is actually a misnomer. It's really soft iron. Can't shoot it through my beloved M-12.

Some of the alternative non-toxics are actually harder on barrels.

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dog dr
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by dog dr » Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:20 pm

my only 12 gauge is a weatherby orion, field grade. thats the gun i am concerned about.

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Greg Jennings » Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:11 pm

If it is of recent manufacture, you won't have a problem.

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Sharon
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Sharon » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:09 pm

dog dr wrote:my only 12 gauge is a weatherby orion, field grade. thats the gun i am concerned about.

Com'on Doc. You can do better then that. :wink:
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dog dr
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by dog dr » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:11 pm

Sharon wrote:
dog dr wrote:my only 12 gauge is a weatherby orion, field grade. thats the gun i am concerned about.

Com'on Doc. You can do better then that. :wink:
huh?

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Sharon
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Sharon » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:54 pm

Teasing doesn't come across very well on the forum.

I was just teasing you about your gun. I have one of those and I'm poor.
I thought you'd have a Benelli or something. ( Just kidding you.)
Last edited by Sharon on Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by claybuster_aa » Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:31 pm

Sharon wrote:Teasing doesn't come across very well on the forum.

I was just teasing you about your gun. I have one of those and I'm poor.
I thought you'd have a Benelli or something. ( Just kidding you.)
His other gun is a K-80.
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Sharon » Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:43 pm

:lol: :lol:

I saw that Krieghoff to-day for $17 000. used.
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dog dr
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by dog dr » Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:59 pm

to be honest with you, i felt like i was splurging on myself when i bought that gun! i felt guilty for a week. :D

so you guys think this gun will be okay with steel??

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Sharon » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:16 pm

Greg Jennings wrote:If it is of recent manufacture, you won't have a problem.
" We are more than our gender, skin color, class, sexuality or age; we are unlimited potential, and can not be defined by one label." quote A. Bartlett

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Dave Quindt » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:19 pm

Doc,

You can download the owner's manual here:
http://weatherby.com/support/ownersmanual

Assuming your gun is one of the Japanese-made Weatherby guns, you can shoot steel as long as you have a modified or more open choke tube.

When steel became available, the manufacturers starting putting so much extra metal in those barrels that you can shoot nothing but steel and you'll never wear out the barrel before you wear out the action.

There are certain situations where shooting another non-tox might be better from a performance standpoint, but from a gun safety standpoint shoot all the steel you want. As a guy who has bought 3 shotguns in the last year, and NONE of them can shoot steel, take advantage of what you got.

FWIW,
Dave

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dog dr
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by dog dr » Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:28 pm

thanks! :D

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Razor » Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:15 am

Kent tungsten matrix may be shot out of ANY shot gun. Very pricey but worth it. It shoots just like lead.

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Greg Jennings » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:19 am

Razor wrote:Kent tungsten matrix may be shot out of ANY shot gun. Very pricey but worth it. It shoots just like lead.
Just looked them up at Cabella's online. $41.99 for 10 shells, 12 ga, 3".

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by dog dr » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:46 pm

Greg Jennings wrote:
Razor wrote:Kent tungsten matrix may be shot out of ANY shot gun. Very pricey but worth it. It shoots just like lead.
Just looked them up at Cabella's online. $41.99 for 10 shells, 12 ga, 3".
holy crap!!!!!!!!!! i think i would just throw rocks at them.

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by Razor » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:47 pm

If you are shooting high dollar doubles the price is irrelevant. I shot a goose last thursday, he was stone dead at 50 yards. I was hunting ducks, when this lone goose flew in and circled the pond I was on. I had 3" 4 shot Heavy Shot in my gun. These were the duck loads, one shot completely shattered the left wing bone and killed him dead. Fast forward to yesterday night. I shot a number of ducks with 3 1/2 inch #2 Faststeels. I shot a limit of ducks and had to hit a number of them with more than one shot. The plain truth is STEEL SUCKS!!!!! The other non tox options are much better and I find I use far fewer shells. I use Remington HD or Heavy shot the most. They are much cheaper than Kents but the shot is very hard compared to lead. They will damage guns not made to shoot steel.

If your guns are unable to shoot steel you have three options. Bismuth, Heavy Shot Classic doubles, and Kent Tungsten Matrix. The kent load is the best of these three, but they are not the cheapest. I used to use them all the time when they were much cheaper than they are now. I only use a SBE 2 when I have to shoot non tox now days. The Remington HD's are very tough to beat if you are able to shoot the hard alternatives.

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by claybuster_aa » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:49 pm

I think all modern firearms can handle the steel or bistmuth, but what you need to pay attention to is the choke selection.
IE, a skeet choke would then become an IC if using steel. An IC choke would become a MOD. Somebody please correct me if I am wrong, but I am pretty sure that is how it works.

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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by claybuster_aa » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:39 pm

...and I don't think it is recommended to shoot steel or bismuth through a full choke. Best bet I think is to go with an IC because then you are shooting a Modified.
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Re: non-toxic shot

Post by claybuster_aa » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:42 pm

...however if you are shooting at one of those upscale skeet fields that require bismuth, then go with a CYL choke then you're really shooting IC.
A good bird dog is always the right color

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