Using Steel shot in your shotgun.

Most modern shotguns can use standard steel shot if they have half choke or less - it is essential you check before using steel shot .

There are two types of steel ammunition , Standard Steel and High Performance Steel.

Use  of  Steel  Shot  Ammunition There  is  much  confusion  over  what steel ammunition  can  and  can’t  be  used  with  shotguns bearing  both  CIP  proof  marks  and  historic national  proof  marks,  or  “proof  symbols”  as  we  prefer  to  refer  to  them.  We  will  attempt  to  explain in  the  simplest  terms  possible  what   ammunition  may  be  used  with  the  relevant  proof  symbol.

It  must  be  understood  there  are  two types of  steel  ammunition,  Standard  Steel  &  High  Performance  Steel. Standard  Steel ammunition  can  be  used  with  any  shotgun (other  than  Damascus/twist  barrelled  guns),  in  good  order,  bearing  any of  the    CIP,  London or  Birmingham  symbols shown in the main image,  provided  the  ammunition  is  of  the  correct length  for  the chamber and  the  barrel  choking  is   less  than  half  choke  (some  small  cosmetic  choke  damage  may  still  be  incurred, even  under  these  conditions). Ammunition  packaging  should  denote  that  the  ammunition  is  Standard  Steel.  However, if  at  all  unsure  whether  your  ammunition  is  Standard Steel,  please   consult  the  manufacturer.  If you’re  unsure  whether  your  shotgun  is  suitable for  use  with  Standard  Steel  ammunition please  contact a   competent  gun  dealer,  gunsmith  or  the  British  Proof  Authority  for  advice,  this  may  involve  the  submission  of  your  shotgun  for   inspection.

High  Performance  Steel ammunition  can  only  be  used  with  shotguns  bearing  a  CIP  fleur  de  Lys mark,  as  represented  in  the  above table.  The  ammunition  should  be  of  the  correct  length  for  the  chamber.  The  CIP  recommends  less  or  equal  to  half  choke  in  relation  to  a   given shot  diameter  for  the  Bore,  please  see  the  table  below  for  clarification.

*Please  note  the  British  Proof  Authority will  not  give  guidance  on  pre-­‐‑1954  marks  and  recommends  re-­‐‑proof  of  such  arms.  

Ammunition  packaging  should  denote  that  the  ammunition  is  High  Performance  Steel.  However,  if  unsure  whether  your  ammunition  is   High  Performance  Steel,  please  consult  the  manufacturer.  If  unsure  whether  your  shotgun  is  suitable  for  use  with  High Performance   Steel  ammunition  please  contact  a  competent  gun  dealer,  gunsmith  or  the  British  Proof  Authority  for  advice,  this  may  involve  the   submission of  your  shotgun  for  inspection.