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.