Hello again if a Auto-5 says special steel does that mean you can shoot steel shot. The reason I ask is a guy at work has a really nice looking Auto 5 and that's what he says my knowledge of Auto 5s is very limited what do you guys have to say thanks.
Browning will tell you that the old barrels are not rated for steel. The invector barrels you can shoot steel. If you do enough research you will see that people shoot steel shot in the old barrels and have no issue. Just like shooting 2 3/4 shells in a 2 9/16 chamber. There are plenty of people that do it will no worries. I guess you will have to make that call for yourself. Just remember just cause it fits don’t mean it will work, or work all the time. Personally my face is near that chamber and my hands near the barrel. I kind of like both of them. You can get away with something that isn’t right for awhile, but eventually it will bite you. How much risk are you willing to take?
The very first Auto-5’s said COCKERILL STEEL on the barrel. In 1903 that was the finest available. Later they changed it to SPECIAL STEEL, but it has nothing to with the steel shot that debuted about 80 years later. Even those that shoot steel through their Auto-5’s won’t shoot it through a full choke. It will bulge your barrel. Choke is marked by stars, one for Full.
If you wanna shoot steel shot, get an invector barrel and be done. Shoot all you want. Steel or lead. They are available. Little pricey but you can do it all with one.
I don’t either, but I have invector barrels for all my a5’s. Sure much better to have a different choke you can put in a barrel and do anything, skeet, sporting clays, or hunt.
400-600 If your lucky I have got one for as low as 275. Just bought 1920’s 16 gauge barrel with 2 9/16 chamber in really good shape for 400. They are getting harder to find and they have doubled in the last year. If you want a sweet 16 barrel they start at about 600-700 range.
Your kidding right cause my local gun shop I go to has one that says it's for a Auto 5 3" mag it's vent rib with ivector chokes for 95.00$