Steel proofed SxS shotguns?

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stubear

stubear

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Anyone got any recommendations for steel proofed SxS shotguns to look into?

I have a SxS that I love but it’s not steel proofed and by the looks of it it’s going to become an ornament or an occasional bismuth shoot jobby in the next 5-6 years (thank you very much HSE…) so I figure I might as well get ahead of the curve with a decent steel proofed SxS to replace it.

Budget probably £2k max, would be great if it had the looks as well 👍🏻

Any good recommendations to look into?
 
Quite a modern looking design, but:

www.guntrader.uk

12 gauge Side by Side Fabarm Shotguns for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used 12 gauge Side by Side Fabarm Shotguns, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.
www.guntrader.uk www.guntrader.uk

As an alternative, open the chokes on your current sxs (if needed) and present for stew proofing? I’d wager that a decent condition AYA or similar would probably pass.
 
stubear said:
Anyone got any recommendations for steel proofed SxS shotguns to look into?

I have a SxS that I love but it’s not steel proofed and by the looks of it it’s going to become an ornament or an occasional bismuth shoot jobby in the next 5-6 years (thank you very much HSE…) so I figure I might as well get ahead of the curve with a decent steel proofed SxS to replace it.

Budget probably £2k max, would be great if it had the looks as well 👍🏻

Any good recommendations to look into?
Click to expand...

What about the Yildiz Wildfowler (Elegant) 12 bore side by side?

"Because the UK shotgun market is awash with side by side 12 bore shotguns we do not stock a basic side by side game gun. We have, however, identified a market for a gun suitable for wildfowling that can accommodate the latest 3 1/2” steel cartridges. We have combined this with a single selective trigger and multichokes, which we believe makes it unique. It is stocked in a 30” barrel length either with ejectors or not"

Features:
Ejector or non-ejector
28" or 30" barrel
Stock length 14 ¾"
Selected Turkish walnut
Steel action
3 ½" chamber

There is a £700 version and a £1000 version.

Yildiz Elegant Wildfowler Side by Side Shotgun

Yildiz Elegant Wildfowler Side by Side gun for sale at Driven Sporting in East Yorkshire
www.drivensporting.co.uk www.drivensporting.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Hello. I've the same concern. Indeed I sold my Boss because of the oncoming steel shot. I still have my late father's gun however a basic provincial 12 bore 2 1/2" side by side boxlock ejector. In that I will use bismuth or tin.

For the days when it is too wet or foul to use it or when steel is the needed cartridge I will do as ANDYK suggests. and have already acquired three AYA. A standard length stock No4 with 27" barrels, a Yeoman Ejector I had the stock lengthened in wood and just two months ago a used factory longstock No 4 with 28" barrels. I will have the chokes opened and use standard steel.

And just in case I've a 1960s Browning A-5 in 12 and another 1960s in 16 bore. So IMHO there's no need to buy a superior steel side by side UNTIL they come down in price AND in 3" length chamber.
 
Pretty much any side by side in good condition and not tightly choked can shoot steel cartridges designed for standard pressures.

I am getting good results with Eley Grand Prix Steel and Gamebore Regal Steel - can’t tell any difference to the lead versions of the same cartridge.

High speed steel designed for guns with a Steel Proof are a different matter entirely - they are higher pressure than standard cartridges and shoot with higher velocity. They are also substantially more expensive.

With a side by side - those built in the last few years will be proofed for steel.

Older guns such as the AyA No 3 Magnum which were proofed for 4 Tonnes, rather than 3 tonnes for standard proof. If any older guns would take a steel proof, I would suspect these will but you would need to open chokes out to max 1/2. I used to have an AyA magnum and fed it a diet of 3” steel with no adverse effects. Couldn’t hit a thing with it though so moved it on.
 
The more modern the gun, the more likely it'll be properly steel friendly. Many older guns though will be able to take standard steel shot anyway, (maybe not superior steel) so long as they are nitro proofed. So before throwing the baby out with the bath water, do check into what your gun can use.

As for other guns, I'm sure, for example that you could get a second hand Beretta SXS well within your budget and they are a dream to shoot. If, of course that's your thing. Other makes are available.
 
Worth checking out Bioammo blue, it’s an alloy of bismuth, tin and zinc, softer than steel so no harm to any barrel/choke. Ive used them for a couple of seasons on our little shoot to good effect.
 
Given that side by sides are generally light guns, why would anyone want to shoot superior steel cartridges with their greater recoil, they were traditionally designed to shoot lighter loads such as the old 1oz Impax. If shooting standard steel then any gun with choke no tighter than 1/2 will work perfectly well as long as it nitro proofed.
Every gunshop in the land has racks full of unwanted side by side guns and the prices reflect that lack of demand.
There is a lot of misunderstanding surrounding steel proofing, there is only one steel proof and that is for superior steel, as denoted by a fleur-de-lys stamp. Standard steel loads do not require any such proof mark but it is advised that a gun should bear a nitro proof mark.
 
Smellydog said:
I had a zabala 3" proofed for high pressure. They are out there.
Click to expand...
I was tasked with offloading one of those recently, the beavertail magnum. Honestly, the barrels looked like they’d been made from steam pipes they were that thick, I didn’t weigh it but it was the heaviest SxS that I had ever picked up. 💪😥
 
I sold my old 1890 William Powell and bought a chapuis, not really in the same league as far as beauty goes, but a good well made gun that has accounted for partridge pheasant pigeon and a fox since I’ve owned it.
 
andyk said:
Quite a modern looking design, but:

www.guntrader.uk

12 gauge Side by Side Fabarm Shotguns for sale | Guntrader

Explore our wide range of new and used 12 gauge Side by Side Fabarm Shotguns, suitable for all levels. Browse our listings to find the perfect gun.
www.guntrader.uk www.guntrader.uk

As an alternative, open the chokes on your current sxs (if needed) and present for stew proofing? I’d wager that a decent condition AYA or similar would probably pass.
Click to expand...
Might give this a go, and the bio ammo as well.

Thanks chaps!
 
stubear said:
Anyone got any recommendations for steel proofed SxS shotguns to look into?

I have a SxS that I love but it’s not steel proofed and by the looks of it it’s going to become an ornament or an occasional bismuth shoot jobby in the next 5-6 years (thank you very much HSE…) so I figure I might as well get ahead of the curve with a decent steel proofed SxS to replace it.

Budget probably £2k max, would be great if it had the looks as well 👍🏻

Any good recommendations to look into?
Click to expand...
I bought a Chapuis side by side new two years ago and am now on my third season with it. It has 3" chambers and the fleur de Lys proof (details in this thread). I'm still finishing the last of the Jocker standard power cartridges that I bought for use in my old Brno shotgun which is not steel proofed but was perfectly happy with them, as am I. They're absolutely perfect for pheasants, pigeons, woodcock, hares etc, just maybe a bit underpowered for big ducks like mallard. So this year I bought a slab of Eley ESPs (3", No 3 shot) which are high power cartridges and better suited to bigger birds/longer ranges.

Back when I was mostly wildfowling, I had a Yildiz Wildfowler that someone else has mentioned and shot very well with it, I just didn't need it anymore. However some of its DNA made it into the way I specced out the Chapuis, which is as a result about 50% a 'fowling piece.
 
I have taken the advice of a number of gunsmiths who build and repair British side by sides.

Key points are:

1) the gun needs to be in good repair. So decent wall thickness, bores are clean etc. Avoid guns that have had bores honed out and barrels struck for refinishing. Or at very least check bore measurements.

2) make sure no ripples, bulges etc.

3) chokes - with steel, there is much less deformation of pellets so you get tighter patterns. Recommended max 1/2 choke.

4) if you are shooting an older gun use a cartridge designed for an old gun. These have better wads to protect bore from the steel shot and are the correct length for the shorter chambers of most old British Guns.

5) avoid using the longer 70mm, 2 3/4” cartridges unless your gun is so chambered. Chamber length is the cartridge case once it is opened - not closed length. A longer cartridge will chamber in a shorter chamber length. But when it goes bang the case opens into the forcing cone and is thus slightly restricted increasing pressures.

6) and if you have a fine old gun and don’t want to use steel, use bismuth, bioammo or hopefully the forthcoming Hortonium shot. Yes more expensive, but still a very small part of the overall cost of game shooting. Pick your shots, make them count and enjoy the gun.

7) and if you shooting any shotgun, remember they are a short range gun and max range is really only 40 ish yards. Yes some do shoot out to longer ranges, but I do question how many pricked birds fly on. Personally I like to pick my shots and make sure I kill well.

If you sell it and buy a newer gun cost of the transaction will buy you many many bismuth cartridges.
 
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