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From: nvuxl!gjb@bellcore.bellcore.com (G. Blanchard)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: steel shot
Message-ID: <529@erb1.engr.wisc.edu>
Date: 11 Apr 91 12:04:25 GMT
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I think that whether or not a shotgun is safe with steel depends on
the steel used in the barrel(s) and not the action type. This applies
especially to the choke region of the barrel. Older guns (whatever
action) were not designed for steel shot use but newer ones apparently
use harder steel in the barrels. I have an old Lefever 20 ga. and I would
not even think of using steel shot in it. I use a Remington 1100 since,
even if I trash a barrel, I can replace it easily.

On a related note, I'm sure that this has been thought about before
but... is there any treatment process that can make older shotgun barrels
tough enough for steel shot use? I seem to recall an article in Physics
Today a few years ago where nitrogen ion implantation was used to toughen
up replacement titanium hip joint balls so that they were no longer
"expendible" items. They claimed something on the order of a factor of
400 increase in surface hardness because of a thin skin of titanium 
nitride formed by the ion implantation. Is such a treatment applicable
to shotgun barrels?

Gary Blanchard