If Tim's AYA (company) says that he can shoot steel shot through his gun, then he shouldn't have to worry about shooting normal loads of steel shot though it. It should have been tested at the factory to do such. I have a 686 Beretta that I have always used to shoot trap for 20 years. Some places I shoot only allow you to use steel shot if you want to shoot there and you have to buy THEIR ammo to shoot at their range. I have shot several boxes of steel shot through that gun of normal trap loads over the years at that range with an IM choke with no problems. Browning says I can use steel shot in my Citori and I will use steel shot in it if I ever need to. --7 1/2 shot--1 1/8th oz. about 1235 FPS--10,400 PSI in a 12 gauge is what I refer to as a "normal" trap load with lead shot for me. The steel shot load that they sell us is pretty similar. Either breaks targets fairly well.......P.S. Pardon me, Tim for thinking that your gun had screw in chokes at the beginning of this thread. I didn't realize that your gun had fixed chokes. Good luck.
An AyA 4/53 is neither a Citori or a 686. The 4/53 is a light game gun.
All AyA is saying is that the BARRELS can handle steel loads, loaded to CIP standards. Our steel loads are not loaded to CIP, they’re loaded to SAAMI pressures. Euro proof makes no claims as to the effect of the loads on the action, stock, etc.
Take the “mild” 2 3/4” Remmy Sportsman high speed steel, it’s a 1200 bar load (17k psi) Thats not a normal trap load. They are stout, and It’ll loosen up a light game gun fairly quickly.
There are some Euro steel loads available here in the States. Bioammo produces CIP steel loads that several places sell here in the USA. I have no personal experience with any Euro produced steel loads. Mr. Cartmell may want to look into offerings like that. If it were my AyA, I’d probably stay away from SAAMI steel ammo.
