[Model121917]

Hi all:

I picked up a beautiful Model 12 Winchester .12 Gauge manufactured in 1917 (nickel steel barrel) - full choke. Today I grabbed three boxes of Federal Game Load HI-Brass 7 1/2 shot at the store and noticed after I got home that it notes they contain "hard shot" lead. I planned on putting a box through the gun this weekend at the clay range in preparation for small game season.

Am I safe shooting these through the Model 12? I have read everything about steel shot in older guns but was not sure about hard lead? Any thoughts, opinions, advice?

Thanks!

 

[chairman]

No problem

 

[Drew Hause]

I had an analysis done on a pre-1920 Model 12 Nickle Steel barrel and it was non-standard (slightly low Ni & Mn) AISI 2340 medium carbon low alloy steel with a tensile strength of 124,000 psi - better than the steel in lots of shotgun barrels today.

 

[ricklin]

It's what the gun was made to shoot.

 

[sandcountyalmanac]

Shoot'em. The Model 12 is one of the best shotguns ever made. Otherwise, any fixed choke shotgun that is choked any tighter than modified, I'd be wary of shooting modern steel shot ammunition.

 

[noweil]

Hard lead shot is a relative term. It is still much softer than the steel in your gun barrel.

 

[BobK]

"hard" lead shot vs. "chilled shot" is like comparing butter coming out of the refrigerator to butter out or the refrigerator for 1 minute.

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

I have a nickel steel 12 ga mdl 12 from 1917, a 20ga mdl 12 from 1957 and an 1897 12 ga from 1918. They all flourish on ANY 2 3/4" lead shot shell ever made. IN fact the 2 12 ga's have digested lots of #1 & 00 buckshot.

 

[OldStufferA5#1911]

Hi all:

I picked up a beautiful Model 12 Winchester .12 Gauge manufactured in 1917 (nickel steel barrel) - full choke. Today I grabbed three boxes of Federal Game Load HI-Brass 7 1/2 shot at the store and noticed after I got home that it notes they contain "hard shot" lead. I planned on putting a box through the gun this weekend at the clay range in preparation for small game season.

Am I safe shooting these through the Model 12? I have read everything about steel shot in older guns but was not sure about hard lead? Any thoughts, opinions, advice?

Thanks!

"Hard" lead is one heck of a lot softer than steel, ANY steel.....

 

[Ravenanme]

I believe the "Lead Hardness" chart shows where Federal premium shot is not as hard as Remington's or
Winchesters shot as it's close to 3.46 BHN !

 

[scooter123]

The biggest difference that matters between Chilled and Magnum shot is the Density is different. As a result if you load with 3/4 ounce of Magnum shot you'll get perhaps 10 or 15 more pellets than with 3/4 ounce of Chilled shot. It's why Skeet shooters are always looking for Magnum shot, one of those extra pellets might be that "magic BB" that saves a straight.

 

[BobK]

"Hard lead shot" compared to "Normal lead shot" (also called "chilled shot") is similar to comparing butter that's been out of the fridge for 5 minutes to butter that's been out of the fridge for 10 minutes. IT WON'T HURT YOUR M-12 BARREL!

 

[dutch7373]

Be cautious. Please check the chamber length of your model 12. I believe that the ones of that era are 2 9/16. Not 2 3/4