Well, if by giving in, you mean shooting steel, keep this in mind-for the past twenty seasons, or so, I have rubbed shoulders with duck hunters at the Carlos Avery WMA, just north of the metro area. They were shooting steel, by law, at ducks, and I was hunting pheasants, well within the law, with lead. Same area. Did it just a few weeks past. Got my rooster. Always wondered, exactly what was being saved, but, went about my business, all the same.
I shoot steel when told to. I'm just beginning to see that I will be told to do that, much more often, real soon. All of us will. In fact, my Darne, with a backbore and opening of the chokes to slim and none, was made steel ready, by someone other than me. But, if it were a 28, I doubt being steel ready would save it from the fact it wouldn't be effective for gamebirds, period. The fact it is a 12 will make it at least useful.
I think you are kidding yourself when you say, "if steel is going to be the thing..."
Steel, is almost the thing, already. And, it seems to me, the Beesley was enshrined pretty much the day you bought it. Frozen ammunition, and all.
Best,
Ted
