The issue is increasingly important in England. The target loads are standard velocity and (mostly) British No. 7 shot, with modern steel compatible shotcups.
"Steel shot - will my shotgun be safe with steel shot cartridges?"
https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/guns/ammunition/will-my-shotgun-be-safe-with-steel-shot-cartridges-25848
We have a limited sample of actual Smith barrel composition:
1898 Hunter Arms “Armor Steel” - Non-standard AISI 1045 carbon steel with high phosphorus and sulfur.
1908 Hunter Arms “Armor Steel” - Non-standard AISI 1018 low alloy low carbon steel.
1909 Hunter Arms Acier Cockerill Liegoise “Armor Steel” - AISI 1030 low alloy medium carbon steel. This probably reflects the composition of Smith and most U.S. maker's doubles barrels around WWI and immediately thereafter.
BOTTOM LINE: none of these steels are compatible with steel shot.
We do have (expensive) non-toxic and barrel safe Bismuth & Tungsten Matrix loads for game and waterfowl today.
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