Speycaster Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 (edited) Hi folks, I'm looking at getting an AYA No.4 through a dealer down in the Borders. Gun's in a tidy state (for the money) but I'm just trying to work out whether I could shoot steel through it (of the regular variety at least!). Gun doesn't seem to have any UK proof stamps on it (though I could have missed them), but is stamped with what I presume are the Spanish equivalent (no pictures, as I didn't think to). No FDL or BNP marked on it, but it is stamped "1320 bar"? Which has gotten me in a muddle as I don't know if that is "equivalent" to a FDL? Further confusion as the gun is choked to at more than half and full in the barrels. The dealer's offered to open them out for me, but had a shot of a yeoman shortly after choked similarly and really enjoyed the breaks with it. So if it would be covered for regular steel I'm tempted to keep them as is? I'm sure the question's been asked a dozen times, sorry for asking it again! Thanks in advance! Chris Edited January 30, 2023 by Speycaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 Firstly, if the gun hasn’t been proofed, then the dealer can’t legally sell you it. He can ‘gift’ it to you, but not sell it, which in turn means you can’t sell it either, if you decide to get it. Saying that I doubt it hasn’t been proofed, but you need to make certain one way or the other. Secondly, if you do find BNP stamps, then yes, you can put standard steel through it, even at full choke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo yorks Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 If it's 2 3/4" Chambers and nitro proofed you can throw standard steel through it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 (edited) Since some decades there has been the CIP Rules that allow guns proved in Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria and others to be sold in the UK and guns made in the UK sold there. So the Spanish proof will be acceptable in the UK. None of my several Spanish SBS have any UK Proof Marks! The offer to open the chokes will save you at the very least £65 per barrel to have this done at a later date. The gun will not need a re-proof. It would for altering it to use screw in chokes but not if the existing chokes are merely adjusted to, say IMP and 1/4 or even IMP and IMP. For a game gun a "tight" IMP and "tight" IMP is pretty useful. The old 1/8 or "loose 1/4" choke as better called. Is it steel proved? Unless it has the fleur de lys marking specifically applied to steel proofed guns then no it is not "steel proved". But as both member SCULLY and JIMBO says subject to it being in good order and the current advice from the UK Proof Houses followed regarding choke and shot size you can use standard steel cartridges of appropriate 70mm or 65mm size. But given all the above the auction houses are full of AYA N04 at around the £200 to £400 figure so it's very much a buyer's market. My favourite is the less common side by side AYA Yeoman Ejector (I have at present two) as it has a filed raised rib and no unnecessary engraving on the action. A plain gun is the Yeoman Ejector where form follows function and the better for it too! Edited January 30, 2023 by enfieldspares Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speycaster Posted January 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 Hi folks, Thanks for all the comments! To be honest, there must be a proof stamp somewhere, I think they were really just not as clear as the pressure rating? I will have to try and have another look as it does have 2 3/4 chambers. I am also tempted to leave it for longer and see if I can find a better "bargain" though, seeing as the prices only seem to keep going down on these SxS's. Replying to Enfield, thank you very much for the info especially re: what to open it out to! I did however give the Birmingham office a buzz shortly after posting this (as I read an article that suggested that it would need a visit to the proof house) and they advised that any barrel work, whether opening fixed chokes or "teaguing" it, would require reproofing... Clear as mud this whole steel business 🥴😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down South Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 A shooting friend bought an AYA 25 a couple of seasons ago. It was cheap, well used but not abused. He send it to a gun smith to have the action tightened, barrels blued, woodwork refurbished and chokes opened for steel. He had it sent to the proof house and he says it has passed proof for hp steel. It wasn’t cheap to do but still a lot less than a new Browning/Beretta. He is over the moon with it, just needs to learn how to shoot it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigroomboy Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 An AYA 25 is a fine gun I've almost been tempted by a few times but not given in. I would say though there is no point getting a gun HP proof for your own use. Either is use it and it gets cosmetic damage or you send it away and they will scrap it if it fails. Proof is purely there to protect a buyer from being fobbed off with something sub par. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down South Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 21 minutes ago, bigroomboy said: I would say though there is no point getting a gun HP proof for your own use. I agree with you. I don’t think a light sxs is the gun for shooting hp steel loads, could be a handful but have no personal experience of gun or hp steel loads. Far better to keep it for partridge days and 1oz lead loads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigroomboy Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 9 hours ago, Down South said: I agree with you. I don’t think a light sxs is the gun for shooting hp steel loads, could be a handful but have no personal experience of gun or hp steel loads. Far better to keep it for partridge days and 1oz lead loads. Also agree with that. Although my experience this season is that for normal driven and walked up shooting standard steel 32g 4s will do the job and likely 5s for partridge. But as you say a light sxs has other problems with bigger steel loads than proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 the 1320 bar will be the proof pressure. Not proofed for hp steel but standard steel (eg 32g no4 gamebore super steel) will be fine if you open the chokes to say 1/8 and 3/8. Borders gun room will do a good job for you, used them for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 On 30/01/2023 at 14:57, Speycaster said: Hi folks, I'm looking at getting an AYA No.4 through a dealer down in the Borders. Gun's in a tidy state (for the money) but I'm just trying to work out whether I could shoot steel through it (of the regular variety at least!). Gun doesn't seem to have any UK proof stamps on it (though I could have missed them), but is stamped with what I presume are the Spanish equivalent (no pictures, as I didn't think to). No FDL or BNP marked on it, but it is stamped "1320 bar"? Which has gotten me in a muddle as I don't know if that is "equivalent" to a FDL? Further confusion as the gun is choked to at more than half and full in the barrels. The dealer's offered to open them out for me, but had a shot of a yeoman shortly after choked similarly and really enjoyed the breaks with it. So if it would be covered for regular steel I'm tempted to keep them as is? I'm sure the question's been asked a dozen times, sorry for asking it again! Thanks in advance! Chris More like the barrels are stamped 1320gms which is what they weighed at Spanish Proof. No 4`s are usually proofed at 900kg/cm and ok with standard steel.Hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speycaster Posted January 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, grahamch said: the 1320 bar will be the proof pressure. Not proofed for hp steel but standard steel (eg 32g no4 gamebore super steel) will be fine if you open the chokes to say 1/8 and 3/8. Borders gun room will do a good job for you, used them for years. Thanks! Will have to see when I can next get down there 😅 have fishing booked for the next few weeks 25 minutes ago, matone said: More like the barrels are stamped 1320gms which is what they weighed at Spanish Proof. No 4`s are usually proofed at 900kg/cm and ok with standard steel.Hth Possibly, but interestingly the "1320 BAR" were very clearly stamped. Other marks on base of the barrels were much harder to see for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamch Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Speycaster said: Thanks! Will have to see when I can next get down there 😅 have fishing booked for the next few weeks Possibly, but interestingly the "1320 BAR" were very clearly stamped. Other marks on base of the barrels were much harder to see for me. Can you post a pic of the proof marks or the barrel flats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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