SPORTING ANSWERS

Side-by-side guns for steel

SHOTGUNS

Q Much has been said about the steel shot debate and it looks inevitable that many old, and often hand-made, guns will be scrapped or become obsolete ornaments. While there are a huge number of steel-proofed over-and-unders, does anyone make a steel-proofed side-by-side to an English specification for less than, say, £1,500? I’m specifically thinking of 30in barrels, straight stock and a maximum weight of 6lb 12oz.

A I don’t agree that old guns will “become obsolete ornaments”. Any nitro-proofed gun that is still in proof can be used with standard steel shot cartridges. It does not have to be specifically proofed for steel shot.

Using the International Proof Commission (CIP) principle of not using a cartridge longer than the gun’s chamber, any standard steel will be safe in any nitro-proofed gun in good condition. That gives plenty of room for manoeuvre because most guns built in or imported into the UK after 1954 have 70mm (2 ¾in) chambers.

There is a glut of well-made Spanish side-by-side guns on