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Non-toxic shot in a fixed choke Citori?
- Thread starter rbernie
- Start date
What non-toxic??
There is a large variety of non-toxic on the market. If I were to go waterfowling with a good older shotgun I would shoot Bismuth. Sure it's expensive, but how many rounds are you going to shoot?
It depends on the hardness of the non-toxic shot. Bismuth is soft like lead. Steel?? not so much.
There is a large variety of non-toxic on the market. If I were to go waterfowling with a good older shotgun I would shoot Bismuth. Sure it's expensive, but how many rounds are you going to shoot?
It depends on the hardness of the non-toxic shot. Bismuth is soft like lead. Steel?? not so much.
You said your gun was choked " Mod / Imp" ---- Improved What ??
Is it Improved Cyclinder or Improved Modified --- it makes a difference..
It is probably Imp Cyclinder - so, if it is IC, then yes its fine to shoot steel in it. The tightest choke recommended for Steel shot is Modified. Early Citori's ( prior to having screw in chokes are no more susceptible to shooting steel - than guns with screw in chokes - it just depends on what they are choked at).
Your decision only depends on the choke in the barrel / no other reason ...( and the length of the chamber ) so you pick the proper shell.
My hunch is your gun is probably a 2 3/4" or 3" chamber ..but check the barrel and tell us what it says ...for chamber length and chokes please..
Is it Improved Cyclinder or Improved Modified --- it makes a difference..
It is probably Imp Cyclinder - so, if it is IC, then yes its fine to shoot steel in it. The tightest choke recommended for Steel shot is Modified. Early Citori's ( prior to having screw in chokes are no more susceptible to shooting steel - than guns with screw in chokes - it just depends on what they are choked at).
Your decision only depends on the choke in the barrel / no other reason ...( and the length of the chamber ) so you pick the proper shell.
My hunch is your gun is probably a 2 3/4" or 3" chamber ..but check the barrel and tell us what it says ...for chamber length and chokes please..
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There is one other feature of a shotgun bbl beside the choke to consider.The forcing cone.There are long and short tapers.This is a point where it is possible for steel shot to cut thru a shotcup..
It is also possible for steel shot to initiate the soft solder to break loose wher the bbls are soldered to the ribs in a double.
For myself,I won't shoot steel in a double.Appropriate ammo,such as classic double or bismuth are options.Another option is a separate steel shot shotgun for waterfowling,etc.Bennelli Nova and Mossy 500s come to mind.
I might be overly cautious,but I will not be able to afford replacing my doubles.
It is also possible for steel shot to initiate the soft solder to break loose wher the bbls are soldered to the ribs in a double.
For myself,I won't shoot steel in a double.Appropriate ammo,such as classic double or bismuth are options.Another option is a separate steel shot shotgun for waterfowling,etc.Bennelli Nova and Mossy 500s come to mind.
I might be overly cautious,but I will not be able to afford replacing my doubles.
I've shot a lot of steel shot in my older Browning Citori field gun (a Lightning model with 28" barrels ) and it was no problem - with Modified chokes.
They aren't cheap guns / but they certainly are not $ 3,000 guns either...on today's market. The barrels on these older Citori field guns are very strong ...(as are the newer ones) whether its a new model with screw in chokes or the older model with fixed chokes.
The guns I hunt with these days are Browning XS-Skeet models ( with screw in chokes ) ....but I have no problem scewing in a Modified choke and shooting Steel in my guns ....and they don't show any signs of abuse ...(and if I thought it would hurt them at all ...I would shoot something else ) !
My XS-Skeet Citori's ...(top one is the 12ga / that has many thousands of shells thru it / and its killed its share of ducks and pheasants ..)
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=52948&d=1256245028 These guns are my primary guns for hunting birds, Skeet and Sporting clays ( one in 12ga, one in 20ga, one in 28ga, and one in .410 )...its been a great set of guns for me ( for last 10 yrs or so ..).
Here is my Citori Lightning, that I bought new in 1988 ...I think .. its also killed a lot of Ducks, Pheasants, etc ....and a lot of clays as well .... 50,000 shells thru that gun easily by now ( and I haven't shot it at all in the last 10 yrs ..)... Its just in the safe / waiting for its next home (my oldest son wants it ..).
View attachment 58675
They aren't cheap guns / but they certainly are not $ 3,000 guns either...on today's market. The barrels on these older Citori field guns are very strong ...(as are the newer ones) whether its a new model with screw in chokes or the older model with fixed chokes.
The guns I hunt with these days are Browning XS-Skeet models ( with screw in chokes ) ....but I have no problem scewing in a Modified choke and shooting Steel in my guns ....and they don't show any signs of abuse ...(and if I thought it would hurt them at all ...I would shoot something else ) !
My XS-Skeet Citori's ...(top one is the 12ga / that has many thousands of shells thru it / and its killed its share of ducks and pheasants ..)
http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=52948&d=1256245028 These guns are my primary guns for hunting birds, Skeet and Sporting clays ( one in 12ga, one in 20ga, one in 28ga, and one in .410 )...its been a great set of guns for me ( for last 10 yrs or so ..).
Here is my Citori Lightning, that I bought new in 1988 ...I think .. its also killed a lot of Ducks, Pheasants, etc ....and a lot of clays as well .... 50,000 shells thru that gun easily by now ( and I haven't shot it at all in the last 10 yrs ..)... Its just in the safe / waiting for its next home (my oldest son wants it ..).
View attachment 58675
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Sorry - improved cylinder.You said your gun was choked " Mod / Imp" ---- Improved What ??
If you are concerned about damaging the barrels (a very valid concern), you might want to try the new tungsten-polymer shot loads, they are designed to be safe in older doubles.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=680560
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=680560
Imp Cyclinder / Mod are just fine for steel ....
Like I've said - in my opinion - you can run thousands of Steel shells thru that gun and not hurt it a lick ...
Your gun isn't really that old ....the first Citori's coming out of Japan were made in about 1973/1974 ... and I think the first guns showing up with Invector screw in chokes were in the mid 1980's ( but it varied by Browning model I think )...
Like I've said - in my opinion - you can run thousands of Steel shells thru that gun and not hurt it a lick ...
Your gun isn't really that old ....the first Citori's coming out of Japan were made in about 1973/1974 ... and I think the first guns showing up with Invector screw in chokes were in the mid 1980's ( but it varied by Browning model I think )...