re: Belgium A5 Info

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I have a Jap May 12 that had a fixed full choke. Gunsmith opened to a “loose” modified. Works great. Killed a limit of ducks with it this morning.

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bumping this ancient thread, rather than making one. I'm getting mixed results online. For a 1985 Japanese Mag 12 with a 32" barrel that has ["special steel 2 3/4" -3"] stamped on the barrel right after the engraving is that referring to steel loads or the steel the gun is made with? Lots of people online in other threads/sites were going back and forth on whether it was just is referring to the steel used on the receiver and/or barrel or whether it was steel shot ready.

it doesn't have choke threads and im guessing 32" is full choke. I was always under the impression the Belgiums were the ones you weren't "supposed" to shoot steel shot with without modifying to a new barrel but the Japanese ones were fine, but 1985 was before the lead ban so it gives me pause.

So @dwr353 you still had to have them modify the barrel? As posted here, I know you can get newer barrels but the barrel is pristine on this and 32" barrels just seem awesome as an occasional duck gun. If all else itll just be a project gun or one more for the collection, but this place seems to have all the answers.