I have a question regarding using steel shot and shooting through an improved modified choke. Maybe this is a stupid question, but now I’m unsure.
I have a modern AyA 4/53 BL with steel shot proofing (Fleur de lis stamped on the barrel flats). I bought it specifically for use with steel shot if need be going into the future, but have never used it with steel shot to-date. When I bought the shotgun it was tagged as having modified x modified chokes. When I got the gun, I measured the chokes with a choke gauge, and found one barrel measures modified and one measures improved modified.
Tamid’s thread re: pressure variances, got me thinking about the potential riveling of a shotgun barrel. I think I have personally seen that once with my friend’s Ruger Red Label 20 gauge. I had noticed the barrel had little wavy bulges down through the barrel. I had questioned him about it and he told me that he once tried a couple steel shot shells through it. I told him my thought was that it may have happened from him shooting steel shot through too tight of a choke.
Anyway, I certainly don’t want to bugger up my expensive nice AyA. So my question, if the barrels are marked as steel shot proof, then is it still okay to shoot with an improved modified choke? I use to hunt ducks and geese back in the 1980’s before steel shot became mandatory, then stopped, so I have never used steel shot in any of my guns to-date.
I know with our old vintage shotguns, the rule is use nothing tighter than a modified choke with standard steel shot.
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TC
