Full choke shooting steel in Rem 870?

[alsatian]

I shoot a Remington 870 Super Express Magnum (chambered for 2 3/4", 3", and 3 1/2" shells) that is about 3 years old.

I thought I heard that it was a bad idea to shoot steel through a full choke, the idea being that the stress of forcing the steel through the greater constriction of the full choke may cause the barrel to stretch and thin and thereafter, as a result of the thinning, bulge and ultimately burst.  Part of the analysis may involve understanding that some steel loads are high velocity, up to 1550 FPS, maybe even 1600 FPS.  Part of the analysis may further consider shot size, for example advising against using full chokes with large steel shot -- #2, BB, BBB, T.

Does anyone have a comprehensive understanding of this issue that can provide some clarification?  Can I get a full choke and use it in my 870?  If I do, are their any restrictions on size of shot, muzzle velocity of shoot, or shot material that I need to be aware of?  I am most interested in using either Hevi Shot (just as hard if not harder than steel) and steel.

[Graybeard]

Ya don't shoot steel thru full choke PERIOD matters not the shot size just don't do it.

[Questor]

In the manual for one of my shotguns there is a matrix showing what chokes are compatible with what sizes of shot. As the shot gets bigger (like BB and larger) anything tighter than IC is not recommended. Modified is recommended for some smaller sizes of shot (like 4). Full choke is not recommended for steel shot. This includes other kinds of shot that have a hardness comparable to steel. This includes Hevi-Shot, Remington's new replacement for Hevi-Shot, and any of the other tungsten/iron waterfowl shot.

I believe the penalty for using tighter chokes is gun damage and bad patterning.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Actually----THIS IS REMINGTON ONLY!!!-----because I've never seen it from anybody else.

Holding in my grubby little hand---I have a Remington choke tube--on it, it says "REMINGTON FULL ** STEEL OR LEAD"

This is the standard flush fit Rem-choke---and I recall paying extra for it over a tube saying "FULL ** LEAD ONLY"

I've never used it--so it sits here brand new 1.Because I no longer own a Remington 12ga. and 2.Most of my shooting is done with more open chokes.

I'm assuming steel can be done with this choke--but the pattern might suck. Never tried it--so don't know.

SO yes(REMINGTON ONLY WITH THE CORRECT TUBE)---you can shoot steel shot through a Full choke.

http://www.remington.com/products/accessories/gun_parts/remChoke_tubes.asp

[Graybeard]

I believe if you measure the amount of constriction in that tube you'll find it is closer to IC than Full dimension wise. I seem to recall Remington making those separate tubes for steel and marking them not by constriction but by the pattern they threw using steel shot.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I have an IC tube in the pouch right next to the FULL tube----the thickness of the F tube is at least double that of the IC tube. Outside measurement of the tubes is the same--so the F is much more constricted than the IC. I did pay more for this tube than the "lead only" full tube so I'm assuming it was constructed to withstand a higher level of pressure. I can't say anything about patterns since I never used the tube in the time I had the gun.

I don't have a MOD tube to compare it to because the gun was an Express model and they got that when I traded off the gun.

I bought the full range of tubes when I had the gun to be prepared for any situation---even got an Extra Full turkey tube on Walmart clearance for $4.00.