I'm not going to recommend either gun..I shoot an SX3 or and 870 for goose/duck....

Remember that steel patterns differently than lead. Steel is not recommended in a full choke.
A modified choke with steel shot patterns full. An improved cylinder patterns modified.

 

The Franchi Affinity is a solid choice as is Benelli M2 American.

The two O/U need to be left wherever you found them.

 

I have found break action shotguns to be ungainly in duck blinds. For me there was not enough room to break them open to reload. I would go with a semi-auto or pump with a mod chock. If you go with the o/u I think IC and MOD with steel shot as it holds it's round shape better than lead and flies truer. These are just my thoughts. Good luck, Have fun, Be safe.

PS: With the barrels pointed up it's hard to close the opened action before the shells fall out. The only solution for me was to stand up and get the barrels horizontal.

 

You can go on to the Browning web site, look in FAQ on what guns can shoot steel shot. I don't think they recommend shooting steel shot in the fixed choke Citori. You can also give them a call.

 

Maybe I can find a modified Remington 870 or 1100. Anybody got one for sale?

 

Maybe I can find a modified Remington 870 or 1100. Anybody got one for sale?

Just buy an 870 with Remchoke or a Benelli Nova..don't buy a fixed choke barrel...why would you?

 

I would because I'm old school. I've owned a fixed choked 870 and 1100 and I know what they can do. I should have kept them but I didn't.

 

My son had a Nova and the stock broke and was unable to be fixed. The threaded stud on the receiver that the stock screws on is less than 1/2 inch and doesn't have much there (thread wise) when screwed in the plastic of the stock. One misstep while hunting and your done!

Benelli does not stand behind this either. That was surprising.

 

I agree with the statement that a break open gun is ungainly in the duck blind. As for full choke, even if the barrel could take it I wouldn't use it. Will pattern to tight. I use IC over decoys with steel.

I think the Beretta A300 is a great gun and great for ducks. If you're old skool, get an older 870 Wingmaster, Browning BPS or Ithaca 37. They are all classic duck guns, IMO.

 

I've got an old 1100 fixed modified choke gun that I have shot steel through for years. No bulge in the barrel yet. Shoot size 2 and smaller shot in it. It's a 3" gun, haven't found a field load it won't cycle and it patterns just fine with any shells I've used in it. With the availability of bismuth again, I have a couple of old 2 3/4" fixed choke guns that get a little use for wildfowl shooting.

 

A good gunsmith could hone out those chokes from full/modified to modified/improved cylinder no problem.

Bigger steel shot puts more stress on chokes than smaller shot. You might be able to shoot #4 steel though a full choke but probably shouldnt go much larger. What will happen when it fails is that the barrel will bulge behind the choke. On a double barrel that can be a real problem. Might throw off the barrel regulation.

 

Darryle referenced a great shotgun that seems to go unnoticed quite often
the FRANCHI AFFINITY...I ordered one for my 14 year old son to shoot this
winter since he is now bigger than I am...ugh
going to let him shoot of MY HeviX 2's

 

I would because I'm old school. I've owned a fixed choked 870 and 1100 and I know what they can do. I should have kept them but I didn't.

Old School and steel shot don't go together. Shoot steel in fixed full choke at your risk.

As far as Remington goes, any fixed mod barrel made 1970 or later is ok with steel shot no faster than 1500 fps or larger than #2.

 

I would not shoot steel through an old barrel
The are a variety of options for those old
shotguns