What to do if your side-by-side isn't suitable for even standard steel loads

According to the 2020 Game Shooting Census, AYA are the most popular brand of side-by-side shotgun among game shots in the UK, so it should come as little surprise to you to learn that I am an AYA user. Like many who use a side-by-side, the phase out of lead shot for game shooting presents me with an issue. Of course, there are those with modern-built side-by-sides whose guns bear the fleur-de-lis stamp and are proofed for high performance steel loads, for example, all AYA and Rizzini shotguns made after 2005. But the vast majority will be, at best, limited to standard steel loads. 

I say “at best” because we are advised, even when using standard steel cartridges, that we should not put them through guns with greater than half choke in the barrels, so if your gun has, as I do, an unusual choke configuration - in my case, ¼ and full, - then you are unable to use even standard steel cartridges.

I love my old AYA, and am loathe to give it up in the face of a non-lead future

On the assumption that there are others out there with similar problems to me, but who are unenthusiastic or unwilling to move over to the dark side an over-and-under, I spoke to Edward King of A.S.I, the UK importer for AYA, to find out what options might be available to me and others in a similar position.

Why can you only use steel cartridges in barrels with up to half choke?

An important thing to understand about steel shot cartridges is that they require greater pressure in order to deliver the speed required to reliably kill game. When this wave of pressure meets the taper of the choke cone, the resultant increase in pressure can cause the barrels to ring-bulge in front of the choke cone. While this isn’t in and of itself a problem except where aesthetics and resale value is concerned, the advice is the advice. 

What are your options if your old side-by-side isn’t suitable for steel shot cartridges?

The first step, Edward suggests, is to find out exactly what chokes your gun has, especially if your gun is second hand. “Whatever is stamped on your barrels with regard to choke, it may be that a previous owner had them opened up at some stage, so you may find that you don’t need to do anything. Take the gun to a gunsmith who will measure the bore size and the choke constrictions and from that will determine the actual choking. While he is doing so, he should also measure the wall thicknesses at different points on the barrel.”

Option one - open the chokes

If it does turn out that your chokes are too tight for steel shot cartridges, the first - and cheapest - option is to get the choke(s) opened up. Edward recommends that while the notional limit for steel cartridges is half choke, you may be better off exercising a bit of caution and having them opened up to 3/8ths. You can get your local gunsmith to do this, and depending on the gun, the gunsmith and how many barrels need work, it shouldn’t set you back more than about £300-500.

Option two - new barrels

While, as Edward says, “it would be unusual that one would not be able to open chokes up a little bit at least, because guns with tight chokes will obviously have more “meat” to them,” if for any reason your gun is not be suitable to have the chokes opened up, you may think about getting new barrels made for your shotgun. The advantage of this is that it takes any of the uncertainty out of things.

There is, however, one significant drawback. When I ask Edward how much a new set of barrels for my mid-70s built AYA No.2 would set me back, he told me to sit down and pour myself a stiff drink. The figure he quoted me, while not actually eye-watering, certainly made me gulp. £3,720. 

If you do intend to have new barrels made, Edward recommends that you go to the original maker of the gun, not a local gunsmith.

Option three - buy a new gun

The simple truth is that for the cost of a new set of barrels for your AYA you could quite easily get yourself a brand new, fleur-de-lis stamped side-by-side. For example, a Rizzini BR550 RB (round body) comes in cheaper than a new set of barrels for my AYA No.2.

Rizzini BR550 Round Body

This, you might argue, is a pretty good reason for buying a brand new shooter. “Darling, I’m actually saving money by buying a new gun.” You can judge for yourself if you think that particular line is likely to fly in your household.

As it happens, I’m veering towards the ‘new gun’ option myself, and have started a “new gun fund” in anticipation. This is in part down to a desire to have plenty of cartridge options, and partly just because I want a new gun. As the father of twins, I’m going to need two guns to pass down in any case, so I will probably have the full choke in my current AYA gun opened out too. Ideally I’d like to get another AYA No.2, but since they come in at £9,219 I’m going to need to squirrel away a few more pennies before that’s a realistic option. 

Whether in the end I opt for a Rizzini or an AYA, Edward points out that both makers’ guns are available at no extra cost with 3” chambers. He would recommend that you don’t opt for this, since a day firing the heavy loads that accompany that length of chamber may well be a fairly punchy experience. Happily both makers are also happy to camber guns for 2 ¾“ cartridges as well. 

As for Edward - what will he be doing? “I’m a committed side-by-side user,” he tells me. “I’ve tried some 2 ¾ “ steel loads for duck shooting I shot no better or worse than I would have done with lead, and there was one that I thought was a really good shot. I’m not much of an “extreme bird” shooter so I don’t feel the need to get an over-and-under - I’ll be sticking with my side-by-sides.”

For more information about Rizzini and AYA side-by-side shotguns, visit the A.S.I website.