All

Have been a satisfied Remington Shotgun owner since 1972 - own both 870s and 1100s. Unfortunately, I bought them in the 70s and 80s and they are not steel shot compatible. I stopped duck hunting several years ago, but am very interested in getting back to it. I am in desperate need of advice. I don't want to spend a $1000 bucks for a steel shot compatible shotgun since I'm retiring this year. The price of an 870 Super Magnum fits my pocketbook much better, but I can't seem to find if it is steel shot compatible anywhere. Can someone give an old dude a hand pls?

If the 870 isn't steel shot compatible, could you pls advise me which models are?

Thanks a ton in advance from a cranky old soldier who needs coke bottles to see the ducks these days.

All 870s (both Magnum and SuperMag models) should be able to handle steel shot, they're plenty strong enough. When it comes to steel shot, the most sensitive part of an 870 tends to be the choke tube. If all of your current 870s have fixed chokes that aren't steel-ready, you could simply buy a Rem Choke barrel for them, or have one of your existing barrels threaded for chokes. Either should be a lot cheaper than buying a whole new shotgun, plus you get to keep using something you're familiar with.

Whether you buy a new gun or update one of your existing ones, make sure any chokes you use are rated for steel shot, and that they're not too tight for your shells' shot size & velocity. And if you're running a ton of steel shells through your tubes, keep an eye on them and replace them when needed. Even a steel-rated tube will wear out eventually with heavy use, and if you keep shooting with a tube that's past its useful life, you can end up ruining your barrel.

Another option is to look at some of the more advanced non-toxic options on the market. This isn't the 1990s anymore, there are plenty of lead-free shot materials that are easier on shotguns than steel, and offer much-improved ballistics.

Thanks Syncronizor. Much appreciate the feedback.