le long carbine

Thanks folks, Kent, when you say downgrading to standard steel do you mean from hp steel 2 3/4" or from 3" carts? Interested to know if magnum steel is ok. would I be right in saying that an open choke, skeet or imp/cyl or 1/4, will fire steel quite tight? Maybe equivalent of lead 3/4 choke? Luke.

Hello, I have recently inherited a family side by side, a 1960's spanish Zabala with 3" chambers, 30" barrels and full/full fixed chokes. Its heavy, just over 81/2lbs and the barrels have 1820grams stamped on them. Appears tight on the face and to be honest I quite like it but cannot hit much!? Do any of you have any thoughts or recommendations on how good it will be if honed out to maybe 1/2 and 3/4 or 1/4 and 1/2 for general sporting/field use? My local gunsmith seems to think it would do fine with steel shot but maybe not to feed it heavy 3" shot all the time, would assume it will wear out quick. He has a friend who uses steel all the time in a similair gun with the choke at 1/2 and 1/2 which must pattern quite tight? Apparently the gun was bought 20 years ago from a collector and wasnt cheap, it has very nice woodwork, pistol grip and beaver tail foregrip. Although I have never seen anything like it selling for very much nowadays, did Zabala produce some expecive guns in the 60's as well as all the light english sxs copies of varying quality? Do any of you have and use such a gun? What are thoughts on modern steel and choke size? Luke.

thanks folks, nice welcome. L.

Hello, just joined and thanks for having me. Been shooting for 25 years on and off, mainly with air rifle. Use to have shotguns on the farm for vermin control where I grew up, now getting into clays and sporting shooting with a 12 and a .410. Have regularily found myself reading from these forums when searching for info on shooting and thought it would be a good time to join. Keep up the good work. Oh and there are plenty of pigeons near our house, never shot one yet but have been keeping a careful eye on them for some years. I would class myself as an excellent pigeon watcher........ and an average shot! Take care, L.