doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What are SST and SLE on L.C Smith?

How do these identifiers compare to "full" and "modified?

My main concern is whether at least one could be shot with steel shot

Lou

SLE = Sidelock ejector SST
neither has anything to do with the chokes.

SST is single selective trigger.

Choke was not always/clearly marked. You may need to measure for choke; a good idea on old guns anyway. Personally, I'd leave steel shot to modern guns.

No personal experence with a Smith single trigger but from what I hear I'd steer clear of it.

L. C. Smith didn't mark their barrels with the choke constriction e.g. "mod", "full".

BM - FYI

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

The LC Smiths, at least those made prior to 1913, were normally choked full in each barrel, unless otherwise ordered. Smiths were never marked as to gauge and choke, and in my experience (I own and shoot 4 12 gauge LC Smiths at present) the best way to determine choke is to pattern test your gun.

I do use two of my Smiths for waterfowl, BUT ONLY with the Cabela's Hevi-Shot for classic doubles non-toxic loads, NEVER with steel shot. Good original replacement barrels for any older quality double are as scarce as an honest politician--

SST means single selective trigger, Smith later offered a single non-selective trigger. I only buy and shoot 12 gauge Smiths with double triggers, their Hunter One triggers are fine if they function, but if they "balk" or go "haywire" they are a gunsmith's nightmare. IMO the best LC Smith (and LeFever) gunsmith is Buck Hamlin, and if I have my facts right, he will not work on a Smith single trigger.

What type of Smith are you looking into buying, if I may ask? RWTF

Steer clear of it....single trigger (HOT & Miller) goes hand in hand with the fat beaver tail forend and the fat/rubber padded Monte Carlo butt stock...all three go together and belong __ ___ _________ ______...

"L. C. Smith didn't mark their barrels with the choke constriction e.g. "mod", "full". "

As a general rule, Smith guns were not marked as to choke; however, an example will occasionally surface with the odd factory choke stamp. For me personally this has been two post-13 Field Grade Smith guns special ordered with the right barrel special ordered cylinder choke and stamped "cyl." on the bottom of the barrel tube.

As to factory chokes, unless ordered otherwise by the customer, period catalogs stated all guns would be shipped Full/Full; and a Smith full choke is very full.

As to shooting steel shot in a Smith gun, I'm sure someone has done so; but I personally haven't. Some years ago I experimented with factory steel shot loads in a 1907 vintage Fox Grade A gun; a gun that was heavy with thick barrel tubes, but its bores were rough. I figured that if steel shot did indeed scar/score a barrel tube, as was one of the advertised hazards of shooting steel shot in vintage barrels; it wouldn't matter in a gun that already featured rough bores. My experience revealed no additional damage to the barrel wall whatsoever; and I was surprised at the very mild recoil from those 3" steel shot shells (not at all like the old fashioned duck loads I grew up with). Now, prior to shooting that gun, I had it thoroughtly inspected by Buck Hamlin, opened both chambers to 3", and the chokes to improved cylinder/modified (manufacturers had cautioned against shooting steel loads in any choke tighter than modified). That said, I would NEVER shoot steel shot in a vintage gun that I thought a lot of, or that was valuable; too much at risk. And as to Smith chokes, always have them measured, then pattern your gun to see that it properly handles the load you want to shoot; and more importantly, that a load that is SUITABLE for use in a vintage gun. Chances are that your Smith gun is more than strong enough to handle any factory load of the correct length you might choose to shoot; however, your Smith stock may not be quite up to such a challenge. But of course, if you're not a novice you already know this.