Would it be at all possible to use iron bullets in a Victorian Era gun?

I don’t know it would be realistically possible or not, but you’re writing a fantasy story involving fairies. Do realistic gun mechanics matter that much to the purpose of the story?

In fantasy fiction, if the plot calls for a gun that fires iron slugs, then write one into the story. Whether such a gun works in reality or not does not matter. Indeed, in the best fantasy fiction, it seems like reality is a distracting intrusion, not a necessary element.

Absolutely. You can fire iron bits or bullets. It does scratch the barrel. But you don’t care. If you don’t have a bullet in a pinch you can fire out round shot or nails or shards of anything.

Many hunters are moving from lead shot to steel shot for environmental reasons. Go for it.

The guns of the Royal Navy fired iron shot. That’s what Nelson used to win at Trafalgar.

Yes,If it was a smooth bore.

You could use a sabot. No barrel damage, and one dead fairy.

You could shoot a muzzle loader all day long with iron bullets if you used a greased patch as a pressure seal between bullet and barrel. Even lead balls were loaded into muzzle loaders using patches. They hold the bullet tight and keep it from falling out of the barrel and keep moisture from ruining the black powder propellant. You have to keep the bullet packed tightly against the powder. If there is any space between the bullet and powder, the gun could explode in your face when fired.

Thank you @LuckyGuy @zenvelo @1TubeGuru @Adirondackwannabe and @kritiper for the information! I know it’s technically a fantasy story which means I can write what I want, but since it’s also set in a specific era, I want era-appropriate details, and for as many things as possible to be within the realm of possibility. I find it’s easier to suspend disbelief elsewhere if the rest of the facts are correct. Thank you again, you’ve been very helpful!!