I have a LC Smith 12 gauge shotgun serial number 338xxx (which I believe dates it to 1912). It has 00 stamped below the serial number, and "steel" stamped on the bottom of each barrel. I believe that means it has armor steel barrels. Is that correct?

Also, do you know whether this gun (if original) would have 2 3/4" chambers?

I'm considering whether to fire modern shells (low brass target loads) in this gun. Is that a good idea? What about modern high brass (buckshot etc)?

Thank you for your help.

Welcome Alan. You have a No. 00 with Armor Steel (fluid steel) barrels (which became the Field grade in 1913), and yes the chambers were originally 2 3/4". The chambers should be measured to be sure they have not been modified however.

Please review the FAQs, esp. "Is my gun safe to shoot", and the Shotshells and Shooting section
https://lcsca.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=274&club_id=43784

ANY 110 year old gun needs to be evaluated by a double gun specialist before use, with attention to the stock for cracks. If you intend to use the guns with heavy waterfowl or buckshot loads, it would be wise to have the head of the stock glasbedded.

That is some really good information, especially the section on Shotshells and Shooting. It seems 1 and 1/8 oz loads at 1200 fps should be the limit. Probably 1 ounce at or below 1200 fps would give a better margin of safety. Of course, first I need to get a gunsmith to check it out.

My father and most of his deer hunting friends carried Lefever, LC Smith, and Ithaca double barrel shotguns (usually 16 gauge)until the mid 1960s. My father used 1 buck 16 gauge then-modern shells in those shotguns.

I never knew he even had a 12 gauge shotgun until he passed away. He had no 12 gauge ammo at that time. In his notes he wrote that he bought this 12 gauge LC Smith used in 1945, and added a recoil pad in 1947. It seems he later settled on 16 gauge and stuck with it until the mid 1960s when he switched to a .308 rifle.

This LC Smith is no beauty queen but everything seems to function correctly. It could be a wall hanger but I hope for something better than that.