Gun Reviews – Shooting Sportsman

Gun Review

BRUCE BUCK

If you shoot clay targets in the US, you’ve certainly seen Krieghoff K-80s in action. These are popular guns in American trap, skeet and sporting clays. They are made in Ulm, Germany, but their heritage is American, because the K-80 is a refinement of the pre-WWII Remington Model 32. That gun was easily identified by its sliding top lock and split barrels.

In 1954 an American named L.M. Donaldson brought a Remington Model 32 to Krieghoff and asked the company to make a similar model for sale in the US. This became a reality by the end of the ’50s and was known as the Krieghoff K-32. The major changes from Remington’s Model 32 were an upgraded trigger and tighter tolerances, but the sliding top latch, basic action and split barrels remained.

In 1980 Krieghoff updated the K-32 with a better trigger, some exterior cosmetics, and stock and barrel options and renamed it the K-80. Since then, incremental improvements have been made and more options added, but the gun remains basically the same.

The K-80 has always been known as a low-recoiling, steady over/under with an excellent mechanical trigger. Balance differs from the Krieghoff K-32 in that it is heavier and carries a good portion of that extra weight up front. This makes it smooth and very well adapted for the slower-speed American trap and skeet games, though less so for the more challenging Olympic shotgun games where Perazzi dominates.

Krieghoff is well represented in sporting clays in America. The typical K-80 sporter weighs close to nine pounds and lends itself to the pre-mounting that relaxed sporting clays rules now permit. Shooters who have wanted more responsive, lighter guns have usually looked elsewhere.

Until now. Krieghoff continues to make the equivalent of a Mercedes sedan in its K-80, but now the firm has added a Porsche. It’s the new Krieghoff K-80 Parcours sporting clays gun. Basically, it is the K-80 action with different wood and very different barrels. In the base configuration, the Parcours has an MSRP of $11,395. That’s $700 more than the regular K-80. Our test Parcours had upgraded Vintage Scroll Nickel engraving and Super Scroll-grade wood for $1,500 extra.

I usually start my reviews with the receiver, but the Parcours is all about the barrels. They weigh more than 10 ounces less than the standard K-80 sporter barrels. Ten ounces of barrel weight is an entire ton. Two ounces would be noticeable. Ten ounces is a transformation.

The weight loss was achieved by making barrels the way everyone else does. Instead of using the usual Krieghoff split tubes with no side ribs and a hanger up front, the Parcours barrels have standard side ribs running back 19” from the muzzles. You might think that adding side ribs would increase weight, but that’s not the case. Ribs add strength to the barrels. Without the support of side ribs, barrel tubes must be made thicker and thus heavier. With the support of side ribs, barrels can be made much thinner and yet be just as strong. That’s where most of the 10 ounces has been removed.

Another weight savings is in the use of conventional fixed chokes. The extended screw chokes of the standard K-80 sporter and the barrel jugging they entail do add weight, even though the chokes are titanium. The Parcours currently comes with 32″ barrels and fixed chokes of Modified & Improved Modified. According to the manual, Parcours barrels are approved for steel shot up to size No. 5. Briley screw-in chokes are an extra if you must.

The rest of the barrel interiors remain unchanged. Bore diameters are the slightly overbore .733″ that Krieghoff has used for years. Ditto the 3″ chambers and 3″ forcing cones. Krieghoff was the first company to really popularize overbore barrels and long cones, long before the current trend followed.

Another difference between the Parcours and standard sporter barrels is the top rib. In the past Krieghoffs have had top ribs that were ramped up in the rear and lower at the muzzle. I’ve been told that this was done because the split-barrel configuration made the guns shoot low. A rib raised at the rear and low at the muzzle brought things back into line. When you look at how successful Krieghoff has been in the shooting sports, this obviously works well.

But once the barrels are soldered together conventionally with side ribs, they shoot flat and there is no need for the ramped rib. That’s why the Parcours has a parallel and most attractive slender tapered rib. It is almost ¹/3″ wide at the rear and ¼” wide at the muzzle, with the usual superfluous center bead and nice white target bead up front.

One thing that the new Parcours barrels do give up is the adjustable point of impact. On the standard split-barrel K-80s, the point of impact of the lower barrel can be raised or lowered by swapping out the barrel hanger for one of a different size. That way barrel convergence can be fine tuned to exactly what the owner wants. Don’t underestimate this. I can’t tell you how many guns I’ve shot that had barrels that didn’t remotely shoot to the same place. Krieghoff obviously goes to some length to ensure proper barrel convergence on the Parcours before soldering things together. Our test sample was spot on.

The barrel joining on the Parcours is interesting. Krieghoff silver solders the top rib and soft solders the side ribs. Silver solder is of higher temperature than soft solder and can warp thin tubes, but it is stronger. Since it is almost always the top rib that shoots loose on an O/U, this is probably a good compromise. All solder seams were absolutely flawless on our test gun, though there was no attempt to disguise the monoblock seam.

In case the balance of the new barrels isn’t exactly to your taste, Krieghoff will supply 1.4-oz weights. Up to three of them can be fitted to the barrels underneath the forearm. Weight change under the forearm will be subtle, but it allows one to tinker, fuss and hope.

The Parcours receiver is unchanged from that of the standard K-80. From the outside it has two significant characteristics: It is quite long front to back, and lockup is via a sliding hood latch. The latter is odd looking but well proven. I wouldn’t call it graceful, but that isn’t the point of a gun like this.

Inside, the gun is very Teutonic. There are lots of little parts and springs, all carefully assembled to produce a reliable action and perhaps the best trigger pulls in the business. It is a triumph of execution over design. The barrel selector is a lockable toggle in front of the adjustable trigger blade. The mechanical trigger has a very “clicky” feel. Trigger pulls on our gun were a delightful 3½ pounds on both sears, but there was some creep. The K-32’s overly long trigger release between shots has long been remedied.

The receiver, like everything else on the gun, is solid German steel. Unlike most competitors’ guns, the receiver, top and bottom tangs, and vertical riser are all one solid, indestructible piece. Lockup is by the aforementioned sliding top latch engaging exterior flats on the monoblock. It’s a good system that wears in as it ages. Interior pieces are mostly machined steel, with the usual exception of a cast inertia block. The Krieghoff action is certainly well proven and has the reputation for long life if properly maintained.

Like the barrels, the wood on the Parcours is new. Gone is the clumsy Schnabel forend. Gone is the pointless Monte Carlo stock comb. Gone is the overly thick stock. The forend is a slender conventional target style that provides a good grip and minimal bulk. It works nicely with the lighter barrels. The stock is normal in outline but thinner, to cut about 2 ounces of butt weight. Clearly there is an English sporting influence here.

Our stock was right-handed and had a length of pull of 14³/8″, including a ½” KICK-EEZ pad. Cast-off was ¼” at the heel and ³/8″ at the toe. Pitch was about the usual 4°, or 2″ stand-off. The adjustable comb ranged from a drop of 1¼” to 1⁵/8″, with a good bit of lateral movement possible too. It should accommodate most facial structures and shooting stances. The pistol grip is a nice compromise between that of a field grip and the overly vertical wrist-breakers some makers stick you with. The grip has slight palm swells on both sides just to make sure.

Checkering on our test gun was machine cut in a clean double-border pattern. The checkering was coarse enough for a good grip without being crass. The wood was finished with Krieghoff’s special epoxy high-gloss lacquer. It fully filled the grain and was well applied. It’s waterproof too. The inside of the forend was only partially finished, with some raw wood exposed, while the interior of the head of the stock was fully finished to prevent oil seepage. The advantage of an epoxy finish is its durability and weather resistance. The disadvantage is that it is harder to repair dings than with an oil finish.

Because our test gun was the upgraded Vintage Scroll model, it came with better Turkish walnut. Our stock had straight-line grain, but it was pronounced, contrasty and attractive without being flashy. The laser-engraved receiver isn’t the reason the Vintage Scroll package costs $1,500 extra. It’s the wood.

Our Parcours’ cosmetic details were what you would expect on a gun that costs more than 10 grand. The execution of everything was correct. The bluing was good, the silver-nickel receiver finish was well done, the solder seams were flawless, the machine checkering was correct, and the wood-to-metal fit was spot on. I couldn’t detect any evidence of human intervention in the laser engraving, but it was a pretty pattern.

The Parcours comes in a first-class aluminum-and-fiber Americase suitable for the most simian baggage handler. The kit contains snap caps, a stock wrench, Allen wrenches for comb and trigger adjustment, plus a fairly detailed instruction manual. The guarantee is for five years, with another five tacked on if you send in the registration. Krieghoff service in Ottsville, Pennsylvania, is absolutely first class, and your gun won’t languish for half a year the way it will at some other makers’ shops. A recommended 15,000- to 20,000-round tune-up is $295, and it is thorough.

Looks and mechanics aside, shooting is where it gets personal. Sporting clays shooters seem to be in two camps. Some like heavy, steady guns that are best shot pre-mounted with a sustained lead. Others prefer lighter, more agile guns that can easily move from one bird to the other of a true pair. The latter is especially true for field shooters who still have the skill to shoot sporting clays low gun. Krieghoff clearly has the former well covered with its standard K-80 Sporter.

For the second group, there is the Parcour. It is a well-balanced and facile target gun. The weight centers on the hinges, and the moment of inertia is moderate. The slender stock and forend allow the shooter to become one with the gun. The light barrels move with a fluid ease. I shot the Parcours at 5 Stand, FITASC and sporting. It shot as well as anything I own, maybe a little better on the long shots, where it excelled. At 8 pounds, it certainly wasn’t so light as to be whippy, but it definitely hit that elusive sweet spot between steadiness and maneuverability. The long barrels helped on the long shots, while the lighter weight and neutral balance helped on the short stuff.

I loaned the gun to a dozen different shooters. Everyone commented on how easy it was to shoot. Those who were already shooting the heavier K-80 sporters invariably asked whether Krieghoff would sell the barrels separately. And, yes, the company will, for $4,395.

Mechanically, the gun was correct in all respects, as I have come to expect from Krieghoff. If you shoot with a limp-wristed hold or pull the stock away from your face on firing, the gun will double every time. The trigger mechanism needs recoil resistance against the shoulder to set correctly. If you hold it properly, all will be perfect. The triggers felt crisp, and the bit of creep wasn’t noticeable while shooting.

The Parcours kicked a bit more than the very light-recoiling standard K-80, but it was no more than some other O/U target guns and less than many. There was almost no muzzle rise when the gun was fired—a real plus. The Parcours had the usual Krieghoff inconvenience when reloading in that you had to hold the gun open against spring pressure to load the bottom barrel.

I was never a fan of the standard K-80 sporters, because they don’t suit my particular shooting style. Obviously, many other shooters would disagree. But the new Parcours changes everything and gives Krieghoff another sporter with a new dimension.

Krieghoff has always made one of the best of the “stately” target guns—reliable and soft recoiling. American-style skeet, trap and many sporting clays shooters are devoted to the guns and rightly so. But now Krieghoff also makes a gun for those of us who want something more agile and fluid. The Krieghoff K-80 Parcours is going to be a very popular sporting clays gun, and for good reason. Well done, Krieghoff.

Author’s Note: For more information, contact Krieghoff International, 610-847-5173; www.krieghoff.com.

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is available for $30 (plus shipping) from 800-685-7962; www .shootingsportsman.com.

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Gun Review: Remington Model 870 Express Super Mag Waterfowl

By Bruce Buck

Introduced in 1951, Remington’s 870 pumpgun is now just about eligible for Social Security. For many of us, it was our first gun. Today more than 10 million 870s have been made, making it by far the most popular shotgun in the world. As well it should be. Modestly priced, ultra-reliable and very, very efficient, the 870 stands apart in its own class. But a lot has happened in the past 63 years. Let’s look at one of the current 870s.

If we concentrate on wingshooting 870s and eliminate the multitude of police, military, tactical and slug versions, one is left with roughly three basic models and many variations thereof. The least-expensive and by far the best-selling 870 is the Express. In various versions it has been around since 1987. Starting as low as $417 in 12 and 20 gauge, Express guns have plain hardwood, laminate or synthetic stocks and matte-finish metal. These are the guns you generally see in the big-box stores.

The Wingmaster is the next step up, starting around $830. Remington currently lists it in 12, 20, 28 and .410, though 16 has been available in the past. Compared to the Express, the Wingmaster gives you nice medium-gloss bluing, an aluminum instead of a plastic trigger guard, a chrome-plated bolt and a plain walnut stock with laser checkering. Most importantly, in 12 gauge the Wingmaster comes with the lighter-weight Light Contour barrel. This barrel is about the same weight as the original non-Rem Choke barrel and noticeably lighter than the thicker Express barrel.

At the top of the line is the new American Classic, introduced this year for $1,249. It’s basically a cosmetically upgraded Wingmaster with snappy wood, extra machine engraving with gold fill, an olde-tyme white-line recoil pad and a highly polished blue finish. Remington shows the gun coming in 12, 20 and 28, but at the time of this writing, it was available only in 12.

Since waterfowl season is starting, I picked an 870 Express Super Mag Waterfowl to review. This is a 3-½” magnum decked out in Mossy Oak Duck Blind camo and retailing for $629. If you aren’t into that camo stuff, you can get basically the same gun for $469 in ultra-plain wood or a very nice all-black synthetic stock. Considering what happens to duck guns tossed into the bottom of the boat with the decoys and dog piled on top, synthetic is a good thing.

Our review Super Mag weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces with its 28” Rem Choked barrel. Action lock-up is achieved by a locking block rising from the bolt and engaging a notch in the rear extension of the barrel, not in the top of the receiver like in some other pumps. The solid-steel receiver houses the traditional dual-bar 870 action. Remington always has made a big thing about the reliability of the dual action bars, and it is true. They are strong. Then again, the sainted Winchester Model 12 pump had a single action bar, and its durability wasn’t too shabby. The Model 12s pumped more smoothly than the 870s too.

The ejection port in the Super Magnum 870 is extended to handle 3-½” shells. The bolt is somewhat similar to the regular 3” bolt but with a spring-loaded thin, steel port cover 1/2″ extension on the right rear of the bolt to shield the longer ejection port. The majority of the bolt, slide-block platform and interior locking lug appear to be cast steel and are roughly finished compared to the brightly polished bolt finish of the Wingmaster.

The trigger group is easily removed by driving out two cross pins. The Express trigger housing is some sort of space-age molded plastic, while most of the internal parts are stamped steel. Inexpensive as it surely is, the 870 trigger is, like the rest of the gun, ultra-reliable. What surprised me was that the trigger pull on our test gun was a consistent 4 pounds, with little or no creep or slop. I’ve reviewed some pretty snappy guns with triggers that weren’t any better.

The push-through safety is in the rear of the trigger guard. That’s probably better than in the front but not nearly as convenient as the Browning BPS or Mossberg 500 safety, on the top rear of the receiver.

The dual-action bars are stamped steel and welded onto a collar that goes around the magazine tube. The magazine will hold three 3-½” shells or four 2-¾” or 3” shells. Of course, the gun comes with a separate plug for two in the magazine to meet waterfowl regulations.

The early 870s had the problem of trapping a shell when one was only partly inserted into the magazine and popped back out to lodge between the top of the shell lifter and the bottom of the closed bolt. Disassembly or forza bruta was then required to clear the jam. Today’s 870s, including our Express, have been modified to allow the action to be more easily opened and cleared when a shell is thus hung up.

The barrel of our Waterfowl pump was 28” long, because that’s the only length this model comes in. The extended Rem Choke adds another ⅝”. The gun comes with only one choke marked “Over Decoys” and “.006.” It is 2-¾” long and of typical parallel/conical taper. It actually did measure .006” constriction, so it’s just a nudge tighter than “Skeet” (usually.005” in 12 gauge). If you use steel shot, expect patterns about one choke tighter than lead, so you ought to get good Improved Cylinder performance from that choke. Definitely ideal for decoyed ducks.

Our barrel bore miked .728”, almost exactly nominal for the 12. No fancy overboring here. The chamber is 3-½”, and the chamber forcing cone is standard length. Again, nothing fancy or trendy, just proven to work. The barrel bore is not chrome-lined and did appear slightly less smooth than the bore of a recent Wingmaster, but the difference was not great and certainly would not affect performance. The top of the barrel was capped by a normal ¼”-wide flat rib ending with a plain small steel bead sight. If that isn’t enough and you would rather focus on the front of the gun than on the duck, the gun does come with a package of magnetically attached green, white and red glowworm front sights. Fortunately, they detach as easily as they go on.

And speaking of detaching, the choke-tube wrench is one of those wretched cheap flat stamped things guaranteed to encourage you to finger tighten your chokes, even though you know that’s not safe.

The “wood” on the gun isn’t. The Waterfowl has a properly durable synthetic stock and forend that will probably outlast the Earth. Built for “Mr. Average” circa 1950, the stock has a length of pull of only 13-¾”, including a 1” smooth black Remington Super Cell pad. This pad is claimed to “reduce felt recoil by up to 54%.” Stock height is 1-½” at the nose and 2-¼” at heel. There is no cast, and pitch appears to be about the usual 4° or 2” of stand-off. The stock length appears to be awfully short, but remember that many waterfowlers hunt in heavy clothing.

If these stock dimensions don’t fit you, you are out of luck. There are no shims to adjust stock height or cast. This is a shame, because it wouldn’t cost the company very much to do this and it would make the gun fit far more people. The Mossberg 500 and Benelli Super Nova pumps have stock-adjustment shims. C’mon, Remington. On the plus side, the stock grip is nicely relaxed and comfortable, as is proper for a field gun. Also, the forearm of the Waterfowl is extended to the rear, so that you are not forced to run your left hand all the way forward if you choose not to. Nice touch. The “checkering” is different. Grip panels are outlined by a groove encompassing a slightly roughened synthetic grip surface. It’s not exactly a grippy treatment, especially if your gloves are wet.

The buttstock has a sling attachment molded in, as does the magazine cap. A padded black nylon sling is included in the package. A sling can be very handy in a duck gun, so this is a good thing.

The cosmetics of our Waterfowl Express centered about the Mossy Oak Duck Blind camo. It covered everything except the bolt, magazine cap, trigger guard and recoil pad. The camo adds 50 percent to the cost of the gun compared to the plain black synthetic Magnum 870. I can’t envision the ducks caring one way or the other, so it’s your call. On the plus side, that camo coating is bound to be seriously rust proof.

Shooting any pumpgun is always interesting. There is a little showmanship, but it’s like riding a bicycle. Once you learn to shuck a pump, you never forget. A big plus to a pump, especially the 870, is that it always works. Always. Well, unless you screw up and short shuck it. Throw it in the bottom of a boat, drag it through the mud, use it as a paddle; if the barrel is clear, it will work. And when you do have to use your 870 for a push pole, be assured that cleanup is a breeze. Unlike the Winchester Model 12, disassembly of the 870 to its major components is quick, easy and can be done in the field.

Only the basics come in the cardboard carton. With the Express Super Mag Waterfowl, you get the gun, one choke, the choke wrench, the magnetic add-on front sight with a half-dozen Litepipe glow worms, a black nylon sling, a bulky trigger lock, an extremely basic manual and a two-year warranty.

When assembled with two shells in the magazine, our gun had a definite weight-forward bias. Some will like this for waterfowling, some won’t. This is due to the heavier weight of the 28″ Express barrel. A 26″ option would be nice, especially when you consider that the 870’s long receiver adds about 4″ to the gun, so a 28″-barreled 870 equals a 32″ over/under in length. In shooting clays, the balance wasn’t really a handicap on the short shots, and the stability was welcome on the longer ones; but I certainly wouldn’t pick this setup for ruffed grouse.

Remington claims that its twin action bars smooth out the pump stroke of the gun. Maybe so, but when I think of smooth pumpguns, I think of the 870’s predecessor, the Model 31 “ball-bearing” pump, and the Winchester Model 12 and 42. Those guns defined smooth. But our review gun was certainly good enough and as fast shucking as you would ever need it to be. No complaints. The Express has a right-side ejection port. If you are a lefty and this really bothers you, look at the bottom-ejection Browning BPS and Ithaca Model 37 pumps.

While the 870 can certainly get off three shots quickly, it does have the common pump gun issue of barrel movement off target while being pumped. If you take just a moment to reacquire the target, it’s fine. But if you are going for speed, the second and third shots require a touch more control. Gas operated semi-autos are better in this respect. O/Us and SxSs are in between.

Since this gun is a 3-½” Super Magnum, I briefly thought about testing some Roman candles in it. Briefly. Then I did the math, and the urge for self-preservation prevailed. In our 7-¼-pound test gun, a light 2-¾” 1-oz lead upland load at 1,150 fps has 17 foot-pounds of calculated recoil. A moderate Winchester Xpert 3” duck load of 1-⅛ oz of steel at 1,280 fps has 25 foot-pounds of kick. A Winchester Blind Side 3-½” 1-⅝-oz steel load at 1,400 fps has a whopping 58.5 foot-pounds of recoil. It’s hard to tell whether it’s the duck or the hunter that gets blindsided.

Even after 63 years and many millions of guns, the advantages of the Remington 870 remain clear. The gun is modestly priced, fully functional, almost indestructible and completely reliable. Our Express Super Mag Waterfowl makes an ideal waterfowl gun. Just save the Roman candles for July 4th.

Author’s Note: For more information, contact Remington Arms Co., 800-243-9700; www.remington.com.

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is a collection of 38 of his most recent Gun Review columns. It is available in bookstores and online.

Click here to purchase this issue.

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From the rounded, curved receiver to the relaxed-knob grip to the multi-depth engraving, the EVO is one beautifully designed gun.

Gun Review: Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO

By Bruce Buck

This is my third Caesar Guerini review in the past seven years. That’s a lot, but I have my reasons. Since its inception 11 years ago, Guerini has earned a prominent place in the shotgun world. The company’s lifetime warranty and factory service are first-rate. The guns are well-made and have proven durable. Certain of the Guerini guns are absolutely gorgeous. The prices are not egregious. And, most important, every Guerini I’ve ever spent time with has been an easy gun to shoot well. Every one.

The subject of this review is the Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO over/under, the company’s first gun with a truly rounded action. This field gun costs $5,495 and at this writing is built on a 20-gauge action with 28″ barrels in either 20- or 28-gauge. As a 20/28-gauge two-barrel set, it runs $7,220. If it were just the usual Guerini with the annual cosmetic upgrade, I wouldn’t spend much time on it. But it’s not. It is an excellent example of how a good basic gun can be transformed into something far greater.

The interior of the Ellipse action is standard Guerini issue. In my review of the Guerini Apex a year ago (Nov/Dec ’09), I described it as sort of Brescia generic. The replaceable Woodward hinge stubs and Browning underbolt are typical of B. Rizzini, Fabarm, FAIR, E. Rizzini, Fausti and others. Beretta is the notable exception with its mid-breech locking cones. The bottom of the Guerini action is solid, so the two locking lugs on the monoblock engage it but do not penetrate through as they do on a Superposed. There’s a large cocking rod up the middle of the floor, and ejector tripwires run inside the lower edges of the action out to the knuckle. Sears are suspended from the top strap, and hammers pivot on the triggerplate. Interior machining is crisp, though machining lines can be seen on the inside of the top and bottom tangs. In all, the action is a good one and well proven.

The receiver is machined from forged steel. By varying the time and temperature of the heating process, only the exterior is hardened to avoid brittleness inside. The rounding of the Ellipse begins at the receiver. Just how do you significantly round the underside of an over/under action? You can’t just grind away metal, because the ejector tripwires run through the receiver’s lower edges. Guerini first widened part of the action. The Ellipse has sort of a cheek on the side of the receiver, much like some Berettas. The usual Guerini receivers are cut away some .035″ in front of the cheek up to the knuckle. In designing the Ellipse this cutaway was restored so that the front of the receiver had the same width as the rear. This wider receiver enabled a greater rounding of the lower edges.

But when the front of the receiver is widened, the forend iron must be widened also. Then Guerini had to widen the monoblock shoulders of the barrels. None of these changes were much over 1/32″, but they meant new machining for each part. The result was a modestly rounded receiver and a most comfortable one-hand field carry.

The changes didn’t stop there. As you can see from the photographs, the Ellipse receiver has a beautiful semi-circular cut at the rear. It results in a much more attractive line than the usual vertical junction of the stock head at the back of the receiver. The curve flows smoothly into the tapered top tang. It’s really classy, but it took some work.

The rest of the Guerini line—and most other modern Italian boxlock O/Us —usually use a tab on the top of each side of the head of the stock to engage a cutout in the receiver. This tab keeps the stock head from spreading apart as it is snugged down. The Ellipse’s sensual curve eliminates this cutout, but the stock still has to be kept from being split apart by the wedge of the upper tang. On the Ellipse the stock head was given two very substantial interior side tabs, which engage cutouts on the inside of the receiver’s rear sides. It is all invisible until you remove the stock. It’s much more difficult to machine but much smoother and more pleasing to the eye.

The single trigger is inertia operated and has a couple of nice touches. Just aft of the blade are two small screws; one adjusts take-up and one over-travel. Getting to those screws may require an engineering degree, but at least the option is there. These are the only exposed screw heads on the outside of the gun. Trigger pulls on our sample were a consistent 4G pounds lower and 4I upper. Just about perfect.

What I didn’t find perfect was the manual safety. It worked correctly, but the Beretta-style safety/barrel-selector toggle has been eliminated. Our Ellipse’s trigger was non-selective. I asked Caesar Guerini USA president Wes Lang about this change. He said that it was done because the non-selective safety was slimmer and more in keeping with the attractive lines of the gun. True enough, it is slick-looking and many upland hunters always shoot the bottom barrel first. But, Lang added, if a buyer prefers the traditional toggle-selector safety, Guerini will install it for free at any time. Personally, I’d get the selector.

As mentioned, barrels for the first run of Ellipses are 20 and 28 gauge, and they are all 28″ long. Perhaps other choices will be added later. Our 20-gauge test barrels were similar to those of the Guerini Apex in that they were properly hot-blued, ripple-free, chrome-lined, 3″-chambered and screw-choked. There is a bit of barrel bulge at the chokes, but it’s not too bad.

Five flush-mounted nickel-plated chokes come with the gun: Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full. They appear to be of average quality. At 2J” long, they have about H” parallel after the constriction and about .010″ jump from bore to the relieved rear of the choke. The chokes use a very fine thread that required 72 turns of the supplied wrench to remove and insert just one.

The side ribs of the barrels are solid and extend back to the monoblock. The top rib is a glorious, upper-class solid rib so appropriate on a field gun. As on the Apex, this 8mm-to-6mm tapered rib gives the gun a more attractive line. It is more resistant to the inevitable field knocks and dings. There is a proper brass bead at the muzzle and no silly mid-bead to clutter things.

The wood on our Ellipse EVO—and the wood on the other EVO samples I’ve seen in photographs—is really snappy walnut. Obviously samples will vary, but an effort has clearly been made to put the good stuff on these guns. Wood samples I’ve seen have ranged from blondish to dark. All have been heavily figured.

Standard stock measurements for the Ellipse are the same as they are on the Apex 20-gauge field: 17/16″ x 2G” x 14I”, with a touch of cast-off and 4° of pitch. Our sample was true to the standard. The Ellipse comes with a very relaxed round-knob grip. Few Italian guns get the round-knob genre right, but this one is good. I really liked the relaxed, capped Prince of Wales grip on the Apex, but the one on the Ellipse is also very nice. On special order, left-handed and English stocks are available.

The forend appears to be identical to that of the Apex, and that’s a good thing. Eschewing the trite Schnabel beak, the Ellipse’s forend is slender and smooth with a nicely rounded front. Your hand will be comfortable anywhere along it. Guerini uses an Anson pushrod for the forend release, necessitating a slightly deeper forend than with the usual Deeley latch, but Guerini does the Anson well and the forend retains its grace. An interesting note is that the only non-steel metal I found on the gun, other than the brass front bead, was the aluminum pushrod. Good place for it, as it saved some weight at no expense in strength.

The borderless laser checkering of 26 lines per inch was mechanically perfect and in a conservative pattern. As befits a field gun, the Ellipse uses a wooden buttplate. It looks classy, but if you find it slippery, it is easy to substitute a rubber pad. The medium-gloss stock finish is listed as hand-rubbed oil, and it was first class. The grain was properly filled, and everything was smooth. Even the inside of the stock head and forend got a coat or two for protection. Wood-to-metal fit was about .020″ proud everywhere to provide a bit of leeway for eventual refinishing.

I’ve saved the engraving for last because it is so outstanding. Like the work on Guerini’s other engraved guns, it is done outside the factory by Bottega C. Giovanelli, the largest of Italy’s mechanized engraving houses. Giovanelli is not always forthcoming about the engraving processes used, but Lang felt it probably involves laser, hand chasing and perhaps some EDM. It is far, far more advanced than the engraving on the company’s Summit that I compared it to. I think it’s also nicer than that on the more expensive Apex, but that’s just personal taste. It is multi-depth engraving, not all on a single plane like most other laser efforts. The varied depths in the foliate pattern also show up better because of the new receiver finish. Instead of the protective nickel plating used previously, Guerini simply polishes the metal and coats it with a proprietary clear-coat process. It is said to be extremely durable and rustproof, and it certainly shows the engraving to advantage.

Another big thing about this engraving is that it goes around the curves. Often you see machine engraving that stops at a rounded edge and then starts up again after a space because it can’t turn the corner. The EVO’s mechanical engraving is the first I’ve seen to take curves in stride. This is a big deal. You really notice the unbroken engraving on the rounded parts.

The Ellipse is also sold in the Limited model. Mechanically identical, the Ellipse Limited has a chemically case-colored receiver, modest border engraving, and wood that is just a notch less magnificent than that on the Evo. But you get the same sensuous lines and marvelous handling for $1,500 less.

The Ellipse EVO comes in a standard ABS takedown case with odd-looking pseudo-suede patches on the outside. Included are a plastic box of five chokes and a wrench. It also comes with Guerini’s lifetime guarantee, backed by an enviable service reputation. The guarantee and service have earned a loyal following for the brand.

I shot the Ellipse at skeet, 5 Stand and sporting clays, all low gun. It was mechanically correct, with no flaws or failures of any kind. Chokes stayed put, ejectors ejected, triggers stayed crisp and nothing fell off. Like the Apex before it, it moved well. The relaxed grip allowed shooters of different statures to adjust fit a bit. It was an easy gun to shoot.

One of the reasons it shot so well was that the balance was slightly forward, and at 6 pounds 11.3 ounces, the gun had a bit of heft. Great for shooting, less-good for carrying. Most of the Beretta 680-series 20-gauge guns are around 6 pounds 4 ounces, so the Ellipse is a bit buxom. Of course, if you ever take advantage of the 3″ chambers, you’ll welcome the extra weight.

At the range, I showed the gun around. Without exception, everyone felt the Ellipse EVO was absolutely gorgeous. The Ellipse’s rounded lower edges and curved receiver smoothly transitioning into the tapered top tang give it a design artistry unequalled in its price range. The engraving pattern and its quality really are a step up. The solid rib, tastefully smooth forend and graceful grip seal the deal. And, good looks aside, it’s a shooter. It has the feel. That’s the highest compliment I can pay any gun.

Author’s Note: For more information on Caesar Guerini shotguns, contact Caesar Guerini USA, 410-901-1131; www.gueriniusa.com.

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Gun Review

BRUCE BUCK

Author’s Note: For more information, contact Krieghoff International, 610-847-5173; www.krieghoff.com.

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is available for $30 (plus shipping) from 800-685-7962; www .shootingsportsman.com.

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Gun Review: Remington Model 870 Express Super Mag Waterfowl

By Bruce Buck

And speaking of detaching, the choke-tube wrench is one of those wretched cheap flat stamped things guaranteed to encourage you to finger tighten your chokes, even though you know that’s not safe.

The buttstock has a sling attachment molded in, as does the magazine cap. A padded black nylon sling is included in the package. A sling can be very handy in a duck gun, so this is a good thing.

Author’s Note: For more information, contact Remington Arms Co., 800-243-9700; www.remington.com.

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is a collection of 38 of his most recent Gun Review columns. It is available in bookstores and online.

Click here to purchase this issue.

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From the rounded, curved receiver to the relaxed-knob grip to the multi-depth engraving, the EVO is one beautifully designed gun.

Gun Review: Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO

By Bruce Buck

Author’s Note: For more information on Caesar Guerini shotguns, contact Caesar Guerini USA, 410-901-1131; www.gueriniusa.com.

Click here to purchase this issue.

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BRUCE BUCK

The three Salvinelli brothers have been in the arms business since 1955. Today Armi Salvinelli, located in Marcheno, Italy, makes a number of target and field over/under shotguns in its modern, computerized plant. The target guns have won world-championship medals and a skeet silver at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Although everyone in the Italian gunmaking community seems to be related, Armi Salvinelli is not related to Abbiatico & Salvinelli, despite the similarity of names.

Salvinelli guns are newly imported into the US by Salvinelli USA, a division of Pacific Sporting Arms. Pacific Sporting Arms is run by John Herkowitz and carries the line of guns in both its California store and new location in Michigan.

Herkowitz was kind enough to send me a Salvinelli EXL Sporting 12-gauge. The sporters range in retail price from the L1, at $4,995, to the Extra Gold, at $42,995, depending on engraving and extras. Our EXL model is in the middle, retailing for $9,495. The mechanics are identical on the guns; it’s just the cosmetics that vary, to give customers a broader choice.

I could tell right away that this gun was made for serious target shooting—and lots of it. The receiver is a solid-steel machined forging. The top and bottom tangs are integral with the main receiver, and the riser at the rear that separates the two is part of the same forging. Often the trigger tang and riser are separate pieces, which sometimes permits unwanted flex.

In typical modern O/U fashion, sears are suspended from the top strap and hammers pivot from the bottom. Substantial horizontal coil springs drive the hammers. Wire ejector cocking rods are connected to the bottom of the hammers. These rods are somewhat thicker and stronger than one often sees.

The work on the interior of the action is very clean. It looks to be straight off of the CNC. Even the inertia block is machined. It’s not the usual cruder casting as on most O/Us.

The locking mechanism has the large mid-breech locks engaging monoblock extensions like on Perazzis, but it uses Browning-style underlugs on the monoblock to engage twin recesses on the bottom rear of the receiver. The recesses go through the bottom of the action but are hidden by the separate action floorplate. This not only looks cleaner but also keeps out errant detritus. Up front the action hinges on replaceable hinge stubs, like just about every modern O/U action except Browning’s, with its full-length hinges. The hammers are cocked on opening via a single large cocking bar in the bottom of the action. In all, the action appears exceptionally robust.

The trigger on our gun was fixed in place and not adjustable fore and aft to fit hand size. Of course, that means it won’t come loose at the wrong time either. But if you prefer an adjustable trigger, one is available. The trigger is inertia operated, relying on the recoil of the first shell to set the second sear.

And it’s a heck of a trigger. One of the best I’ve used. Our sample had virtually zero take-up and creep. Pulls were 4-1/2 pounds on each sear, and they were as crisp as you could ever wish. I don’t know if it is design, execution or a combination thereof, but the folks at Salvinelli know what they are doing.

The safety is manually operated, as befits a target gun. The safety slide incorporates a toggle to select the firing barrel. The toggle works with downward pressure, not lateral pressure. I have not seen a gun with this feature before, and it is quite convenient. Because it is easy to switch barrels inadvertently, the barrel selector works only when the lever is moved to the rear on “Safe.”

The automatic ejectors in the monoblock are Perazzi-style. They can be removed easily for cleaning by depressing the ejector, removing the retaining button and removing the ejector. This is a bit more obvious than the “twist to remove” ejectors on Berettas.

The barrels on our test gun were 32”, with fixed chokes and a weight of 1.54 kg (for comparison to other European guns; or, 3.4 pounds.) Sporting clays shooters often like longer barrels, but with many brands the penalty for length is excessive weight. After all, it is cheaper to make barrels thick and heavy, especially when screw chokes are considered. Not so this Salvinelli. I would rank the barrel weight as a little bit lighter than medium—right in there with the more facile Perazzi tubes and those of the surprisingly dynamic Krieghoff Parcours.

Barrel lengths are available in 28-3/8”, 30” and 32”. Our gun had the currently trendy yet retro fixed chokes set to Light Modified (.015”) on the bottom and Improved Modified (.025”) on the top. Of course, you can order what you wish, but LM and IM is a pretty good combination.

One of the advantages of fixed chokes over screw chokes is that there is no transition jump between the bore and the choke skirt to destabilize shot passage. Fixed chokes also can be made longer for a smoother taper and transition. The fixed chokes in our test gun were 4-1/2” long with a 1/2” parallel at the muzzle to ensure a smooth constriction. Screw chokes are available if you wish, but they do jug the muzzles a bit and add a touch of weight up front.

The chambers were 3”, but you can get 2-3/4”. The rear forcing cones were fashionably extended for a smooth transition between chamber and bore. The chrome-lined bores were .736” and measured the same on both barrels—something that’s rarer than you might think. This is a modest overbore compared to the nominal 12-gauge bore of .729”. All sorts of ballistic advantages are claimed for overbores, but some things should be taken with a grain of salt. There was no steel-proof fleur-de-lis stamp on the barrels, so they are for lead or soft nontox only—although they were CIP rated “Superior,” or magnum proof.

On the outside the barrels are joined by vented full-length side ribs and topped by a low flat rib slightly tapering from 13/32” at the breech to 10/32” at the muzzle. This is just enough rib to get the job done correctly without excess. Some makers are experimenting with much more intrusive raised ribs, which draw the eye more to the rib. The top of the Salvinelli rib is nicely hand-scribed to reduce glare. It has a small center bead and a modest white plastic bead up front.

The bluing was high gloss and absolutely free of holidays and skipping in the soldering. Truly first class. The locking lugs on the underside of the monoblock and even the forend latch have a bright finish for an attractive contrast. The name “Armi Salvinelli” was inletted flawlessly in gold on the right side of the barrels. “Made in Italy” was stamped in small letters, but that was it for impressed verbiage on the exposed part of the barrels. That’s in distinct contrast to the extensive legal documentation stamped on top of some cheaper guns’ barrels. Clearly Salvinelli understands subtle cosmetics and keeps its lawyers under control.

The stock on our gun was pretty much what you would expect on a target sporter of this class. It had a large vertical pistol grip with a right-hand palm swell and an adjustable comb. Length of pull was 14-3/4”, comb height was adjustable, pitch was a standard 4° and there was a bit of right-hand cast-off. Not to your preference? No problem. Custom stock measurements are included at no extra cost with the Salvinelli sporter. Get what suits you. The CNC stock machine can handle it with aplomb. That way you will save the almost $300 upcharge (included in the $9,495 cost mentioned in the opening) for the adjustable comb and get a better-fitting stock to boot.

The forend was a Schnabel-type, which has become popular with sporters. Salvinelli can supply a more classic forend if you prefer.

The wood on our gun was figured walnut, clearly a step or two up from standard. It was decently finished even to the extent that the grain was almost completely filled. One more coat would have done it perfectly. The checkering was hand-cut, not lasered, and nicely done in a classic minimalist pattern. Wood-to-metal fit showed no gaps, but the wood was a bit too proud at the rear of the forend. I’m being nit-picky here, as the wood really was perfectly nice.

In addition to the higher grade of wood, the other uptick you get for the extra $5,000 cost of the EXL over the price of the base model is the engraving. Since engraving has no practical value, one buys it strictly for the sake of the art. De gustibus and all that. The engraving on our gun was completely hand cut, not lasered and then lightly hand finished. There was 100-percent coverage in tight scroll, with bird scenes on the sides and bottom. The quality of the work was excellent. Really first class. It easily withstood inspection with a 10X loupe. This EXL model offers four different engraving patterns. Three have bird scenes, and one is pure scroll. If you want more, for $16,995 there is the EXL Sideplate Sporting, with even more extensive and intricate engraving on the sideplates and ultra-deluxe wood. And you can go up from there.

The test gun came in a nice Negrini ABS black case with leather trim. It is definitely a step up. While the case probably would survive the airline gorillas, it would be a shame to subject it to such treatment. I would leave it in the shooting brake.

The gun comes with a stock wrench, which is easily employed by insertion through a small hole in the recoil pad. There is also the usual manual and a five-year warranty. Salvinelli USA performs the warranty work. If the gun is ordered with screw chokes, five are included.

The EXL Sporting was very nice to shoot. It weighed 8-1/4 pounds, which is a fairly typical weight for a target sporter, but the weight was centered, not up front. The medium-weight barrels made the gun responsive, while their 32” length offered precision on longer shots. The gun was noticeably more responsive than a 32” Beretta Silver Pigeon sporter and older Browning Citori sporters. The Salvinelli handled more like a Perazzi than a standard-weight Krieghoff. It definitely had that racy Italian feel. I really enjoyed shooting this gun. It required no technique changes and was equally at home with swing-through or sustained-lead methods.

The gun functioned correctly with all factory target ammo in 1- and 1-1/8-oz weights. The inertia trigger would not reset the second sear when subjected to my grotty 7/8-oz 1,100-fps wimp reloads. This merely shows that the Salvinelli has good taste.

The trigger was marvelously crisp and made the timing of long incoming shots easy. I shoot sporting from a low-gun position, not premounted, and was relieved to see that the solid-rubber recoil pad was smooth and didn’t stick to my vest as new recoil pads often do.

While our highly engraved EXL model costs almost $10,000, it is important to remember that the mechanically identical L1 version with a plain receiver costs about half that. And a custom-dimensioned stock is included in that price. For $5,000 that is quite a sporting clays gun if you don’t mind something less decorated. But if you prefer high-end cosmetics, they certainly can be delivered. The bottom line is that, engraved or plain, this sturdy Salvinelli sporter is a well-balanced shooter. And that’s what really counts.

Author’s Note: For more information, contact Salvinelli USA, 626-633-1002; www.salvinelliusa.com.

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is available for $30 (plus shipping) from www.rowman.com.

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The Year’s Lineup of New Scatterguns

By Brad Fitzpatrick

If you follow hunting and shooting social-media sites, then you know that the first few months of the year mean a blitzkrieg of information about new gear introduced at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show. Companies use the show as their launch pad for new products, and thousands of offerings are showcased every year—everything from high-tech night-vision equipment to modern sporting rifles to concealed-carry handguns.

There are also plenty of new shotguns launched at the show, and this year was no exception. From budget-priced pumps to high-end Italian doubles, there were a variety of models introduced in Vegas in January. And Shooting Sportsman was there to get the lowdown. No matter what your preference—whether it’s upland hunting, waterfowling or clay shooting—you’re sure to find something of interest in the following roundup.

Benelli USA

The big news from Benelli is the launch of the Ethos 28-gauge autoloader. Like the 12- and 20-gauge versions, the 28-gauge receives the Progressive Comfort stock with buffers (for reducing recoil), Crio choke tubes, AA-grade satin walnut, an engraved receiver, a carbon-fiber top rib with interchangeable fiber-optic front beads, and the time-tested Inertia Driven operating system. Although a 28-gauge may seem like a simple line extension, there is something revolutionary about this model: It has a 3″ chamber. That’s a game changer, and this 5.3-pound 28 (which has a 26″ barrel) is perfectly suited for teal, wood ducks, pheasants, chukar, sharptails and more. MSRP is $2,199.

Ethos 28-gauge

Also new from Benelli is the 25th Anniversary Super Black Eagle II. At the heart of the SBE II is the legendary Inertia Driven system, which operates using just three primary parts and has helped make the Super Black Eagle one of the top waterfowl guns for the past quarter-century. The anniversary edition is available with a black Cerakote or Realtree Max-5 finish and comes with a 28″ barrel, a corrosion-resistant brushed-nickel bolt, an oversized bolt handle and bolt release, an elongated front sight and extended choke tubes. MSRP is $1,999.

25th Anniversary Super Black Eagle II

The Performance Shop M2 Waterfowl Edition 20-gauge is a purpose-built M2 semi-auto that is slimmer and lighter than the Performance Shop’s 12-gauge SBE II Waterfowl Edition. It receives the Performance Shop treatment, with an oversized bolt handle, HiViz sights and extended choke tubes, but it lacks the heft and length of the SBE II. (The M2, which has a 28″ barrel and overall length of 49.3″, weighs just 5.9 pounds, whereas the SBE II, with its 28″ barrel and overall length of 49.6″, weighs 7.3 pounds). Kick is dampened by the ComforTech stock. MSRP is $2,399.

Benelli USA, 800-264-4962; www.benelliusa.com.

Beretta USA

In 2014 Beretta had Australian industrial designer Marc Newson customize the appearance of the company’s 486 Parallelo side-by-side. The resulting 486 by Marc Newson incorporated a number of unique features, including an “edgeless” round-body receiver, a “woodbridge” separating the back of the receiver from the safety, a toplever emphasizing that element’s independence from the rest of the gun, and a streamlined forend. The engraving paid homage to Asia as the homeland of the pheasant. The gun originally came in 12 gauge, and this year it is being made available in 20 gauge with 26″, 28″ or 30″ OptimaBore barrels and adjustable chokes, as well as 28 gauge with 28″ barrels. Prices are available from Beretta Galleries and Premium Dealers.

486 by Marc Newson

Also new are the DT11 Sporting and International Trap Black Editions, the latest versions of the company’s competition over/unders. These racy-looking guns are not just black versions of the DT11, as they have new features, such as carbon-fiber top ribs and detachable trigger groups (for reduced weight) as well as adjustable weighting systems in the Steelium Pro barrels and stocks. They are available in 12 gauge with 30″ or 32″ barrels, 3″ chambers and five OptimaChoke HP extended tubes. MSRPs range from $10,800 to $11,300.

DT11 Black Edition

The 692 Sporting and International Trap Black Editions have many of the same features as the DT11, including balancing systems in the barrels and stocks as well as carbon-fiber ribs. Both come in 12 gauge with 30″ or 32″ Steelium Plus barrels, with the Sporting having 3″ chambers and five OptimaChokes and the International Trap having 23/4″ chambers and fixed IM & F chokes. MSRPs are $5,250 (without the stock balancing system) and $5,750.

The 690 Sporting Black Edition has a black receiver with orange highlights and comes in 12 gauge with 30″ or 32″ Steelium barrels, 3″ chambers and five OptimaChokes. MSRP is $3,000.

Beretta USA, 800-929-2901; www.berettausa.com.

Blaser USA

The Blaser F16 represents the latest evolution of the German company’s high-quality over/unders. Rather than simply adjusting the balance point forward and backward, Blaser actually lowered the F16’s center of gravity and combined this with a low boxlock action that makes for an extremely smooth-handling gun. The monocoque (aka “structural skin”) design gives the borders a rounded edge similar to that of a round-body gun. Other key features include a tapered rib for improved peripheral vision, a Triplex bore and the reliable Ejection Ball System, borrowed from Blaser’s successful F3. The F16’s trigger breaks at 3 pounds 10 ounces, making it competition-ready right out of the box, and the Inertia Block System prevents accidental “fanfires,” or doubling. As might be expected, the walnut stock has the superb fit and finish of a world-class field and competition gun. The Blaser F16 Game comes with a gunmetal-gray receiver, 14¾” length of pull and 28″ or 30″ barrels (12 gauge only). The Sporting model is offered with 30″ or 32″ barrels and comes with a stock balancer (to adjust the gun’s balance point), an adjustable trigger and a red-bead sight on the tapered top rib. MSRP is $3,795 for the Game model, $4,195 for the Sporting.

Blaser F16

Blaser USA, 210-377-2527; www.blaser-usa.com.

Browning

Browning has brought back the Sweet Sixteen! Though the autoloader shares the same name and hump-backed profile as the earlier 16-gauge version, the new Sweet Sixteen is mechanically very different. For starters, it relies on the Kinematic Drive recoil-operation system, which minimizes moving parts and weight and uses the recoil energy produced by the shot to cycle the action. The receiver is made of aluminum alloy, and the Inflex recoil pad helps reduce muzzle rise for faster follow-ups. The gun weighs just 5 pounds 13 ounces, making it ideal for long walks in open country. MSRP is $1,700.

Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen

The 725 Citori is now being offered in Sporting and Field models chambered for 28 gauge and .410. These lightweight, sub-gauge over/unders are built to Browning’s typically high standards, and the 725’s redesigned low-profile boxlock action makes it trimmer than previous Citoris. The Sporting has ported barrels (30″ or 32″), a gloss oil finish and an engraved receiver. The Field version comes with a gloss oil finish, as well, and is available with 26″ or 28″ tubes. MSRPs are $2,540 for the Field model and $3,200 for the Sporting.

Browning Arms, 801-876-2711; www.browning.com.

Caesar Guerini USA

Italian gunmaker Caesar Guerini has launched two new shotguns this year. The first is the Invictus V Sporting, which builds on the original Invictus line, introduced in 2014. The Invictus V Sporting has a sideplated action with full-coverage engraving that incorporates four engraving techniques for a magnificent aesthetic. The hand-polished coin finish receives Invisalloy coating, which protects the metalwork from the elements, and the deluxe-grade Turkish walnut stock has a semi-gloss oil-rubbed finish. Perhaps most important to serious clay shooters is the addition of the DTS II trigger, which offers the crisp break competitors demand. MSRP is $8,795.

Invictus V Sporting

Guerini’s other new model is the 20-gauge Gold Edition Ellipse Curve, based on the Ellipse Round Body action. This limited-edition model comes with exquisite engraving that Guerini says was inspired by classical fine art, and there are gold accents that add to the gun’s high-end aesthetic. A deluxe-grade Turkish walnut stock with high-luster oil finish rounds out this breathtaking gun. MSRP is $7,795.

Gold Edition Ellipse Curve

Caesar Guerini USA, 410-901-1131; www.gueriniusa.com.

CZ-USA

It’s safe to say that in the past decade few gun companies have increased their US footprint more than CZ. Consistent with that growth, the firm has introduced a number of new shotguns this year. To begin, the 712 Green G2 gas-operated semi-auto is available in 12 gauge with a wood stock and a green-anodized receiver that is a real head-turner. MSRP is $499. The 712 Synthetic Camo G2 is also in 12 gauge and has a polymer stock and comes in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades. MSRP is $670. A variant of the 712 G2 is the 720 Reduced Length G2, which operates on the same gas system as the 712 but is in 20 gauge and has a Turkish walnut stock and reduced 13″ length of pull. MSRP is $499.

Serious trap shooters need to check out the All-American Trap Combo, which comes with two 32″ barrel sets: an unsingle with a dial-adjustable rib that goes from a 50/50 point of impact to a 90/10 and a standard set of barrels with a stepped rib offering a 50/50 POI. The CNC-machined action has a white metal finish, the firing pins ride in bushings and the locking blocks are replaceable. The gun also has an adjustable parallel comb, competition trigger and ejectors. MSRP is $3,399.

The Drake is CZ’s newest budget-priced-but-well-equipped over/under. The gun has extractors, a single selective trigger, laser-cut checkering on the Turkish walnut stock, and a basic black receiver. It is available in 12 or 20 gauge with 28″ barrels and five choke tubes. MSRP is $629.

CZ Drake

There are two new versions of the Upland Sterling O/U. The Lady Sterling has an adjustable comb, a reduced length of pull and increased pitch (about 8°) for proper fit for female shooters. It comes in 12 gauge with 28″ barrels, extractors and five flush-mounted chokes. MSRP is $1,321. The Southpaw Sterling, as you might guess, is made with cast-on for left-handed shooters, although it has a right-handed toplever. It comes in 12 gauge with 30″ barrels, ejectors and five flush-fit chokes. MSRP is $999.

Also new is the Redhead Premier over/under, which has a one-piece CNC receiver and comes with 28″ barrels, a single selective trigger, five flush-mounted choke tubes, and a Turkish walnut stock with laser-cut checkering. It comes in 12 and 20 gauge with ejectors and 28 gauge and .410 with extractors. (A Reduced Length version comes in 20 gauge and has 24″ barrels and a 13″ LOP.) MSRPs are $959 or $1,057.

One of CZ’s other tried-and-true stackbarrels gets a new color treatment. The Upland Ultralight Green is a lightweight (6.3 pounds in 12 gauge, 5.8 in 20) over/under that comes with a green anodized-aluminum receiver, hollowed-out buttstock, 28″ barrels, single trigger and five choke tubes. MSRP is $762.

CZ-USA, 800-955-4486; www.cz-usa.com.

Fabarm USA

Fabarm is offering something new for North American duck and goose hunters with the introduction of its XLR5 Waterfowler. Like previous XLR5 guns, the Waterfowler uses the Pulse Piston system, which has revolutionized gas-operated design. The design eliminates valve systems and allows the gun to operate with a wide range of loads. It is reliable, simple to clean and easy to maintain, and the braking Pulse system greatly reduces felt recoil. The Tribore HP barrel, with its tapered bore, reduces recoil further and produces even patterns. The Exis DK competition choke tube is tuned for nontoxic loads in the most common sizes and allows for Extra-Full chokes to be used without damaging the gun. Waterfowl-specific features include an oversized trigger guard, safety and magazine cutoff, as well as an extended bolt handle for easy operation while wearing gloves. The Long Rib adds 4″ of sighting plane for comfortable upright shooting and has a matte top to reduce glare. The XLR5 Waterfowler is available in Kryptek Banshee camo and comes in 12 gauge in either a right- or left-handed version with a 28″ or 30″ barrel. To protect against corrosive elements the barrel extension and bore are chrome-plated, the bolt is PVD coated and the chokes are nickel-plated. The stock has a Soft Touch coating for a sure grip in wet conditions. MSRP is $1,650 for right-handed models and $1,825 for left-handed.

XLR5 Waterfowler

Fabarm USA, 410-271-7067; www.fabarmusa.com.

FAIR

Italian gunmaker FAIR (Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini) is expanding its line of Iside side-by-sides with the introduction of the Iside Prestige Tartargua Gold. The gun comes with a case-colored finish and is available in a wide variety of configurations and gauges. The trim sideplated action has elegant engraving, including gold-inlaid birds on either side of the receiver, and the wood-to-metal fit is excellent. Walnut stocks are well figured, and there is fine checkering on the pistol grip and forearm. The design of the pushbutton forearm release gives the gun an uncluttered look. The Tartargua Gold is available in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge as well as .410 with 26″, 28″ or 30″ barrels. You also can opt for fixed chokes or tubes and single or double triggers (single-trigger models have a barrel selector on the tang-mounted safety). MSRP is $2,999.

FAIR Iside Prestige Tartargua Gold

Italian Firearms Group, 800-450-1852; www.italianfire armsgroup.com.

Fausti USA

Fausti has launched a version of its exquisite round-body shotgun designed for women—appropriate for a firm operated by the three daughters of one of Italy’s best-known gunmakers. The Aphrodite has stock geometry fashioned for female shooters, with specific cast, pitch and drop; a Monte Carlo stock; and a specially designed recoil pad. In addition, lengthened forcing cones and special internal geometry are designed to mitigate recoil. Embellishment includes a combination of English scroll and ornamental laser engraving, and there is an image of Aphrodite on the bottom of the receiver and a special toplever. The gun truly is befitting a smoothbore named for the goddess of beauty. Available in 12, 20 and 28 gauge as well as .410, the gun uses the company’s time-tested, Four Locks low-profile boxlock action. Barrels are from 25″ to 30″ and come with interchangeable chokes. The stock is high-grade, hand-oiled walnut. MSRP: TBD.

Fausti Aphrodite

Fausti USA, 540-371-3287; www.faustiusa.com.

Franchi USA

Franchi has launched two new shotguns designed specifically for women: the Affinity Catalyst and the Instinct Catalyst. As the names suggest, the guns are based on Franchi’s Affinity and Instinct models—two of the best-designed and best-selling guns in the company’s history. The Affinity Catalyst is an Inertia-Driven autoloader with a Monte Carlo stock that has measurements specifically tailored for women. The Instinct over/under uses the same stock geometry but on the company’s low-profile boxlock action. Both the O/U and semi-auto are available in 12 gauge and have walnut stocks. The Affinity Catalyst comes with a 28″ barrel; 3″ chamber; 137/8″ LOP; black anodized receiver; 4+1 capacity; IC, M and F chokes; and a weight of 6.6 pounds. MSRP is $999. The Instinct Catalyst has 28″ barrels; 3″ chambers; a LOP of 137/8″; a color case-hardened receiver; IC, M and F chokes; and a weight of 7.2 pounds. MSRP is $1,599.

Franchi Affinity Catalyst

Franchi USA, 540-371-3287; www.franchiusa.com.

Krieghoff

Krieghoff’s newest offering is the elegant K-20 Parcours. Based upon the company’s robust and reliable K-80, the scaled-down Parcours has a trimmer receiver wrapped with graceful scroll and floral engraving. The receiver is mated with high-grade, hand-oiled walnut, and the gun’s balance is superb. Also, like the K-80, the Parcours comes with Krieghoff’s crisp, adjustable trigger. The K-20 Parcours will be available in 20 gauge with 30″ or 32″ barrels and in 28 gauge with 30″ tubes, all with 7mm tapered ribs and fixed M & IM chokes. Average gun weight is 7 pounds. MSRP is $11,695, with interchangeable barrels costing $4,695.

Krieghoff K-20 Parcours

Krieghoff International, 610-847-5173; www.krieghoff .com.

Mossberg

Mossberg’s new 930 Pro-Series Sporting is a semi-auto that operates on a dual-vent gas system that helps mitigate recoil and functions with light target loads. The gun was designed in collaboration with Gil and Vicki Ash, professional shooting instructors and proprietors of the Optimum Shotgun Performance School. Features include a boron-nitride-coated gas piston, piston rings, magazine tube, hammer and sear to prevent corrosion, as well as a shell stop, bolt slide and elevator that receive additional friction-reducing finishes for smoother operation and fast follow-ups. The receiver is protected by a Cerakote finish. The stock and forend are semi-gloss walnut, and the Ashes narrowed the comb, reducing the need for cast and allowing the gun to fit right- and left-handed shooters equally well. In addition a Stock Drop System allows for five drop-at-comb adjustments for a custom fit. The 930 Pro-Series Sporting is available as a 3″ 12-gauge with a 28″ ported barrel, HiViz TriComp sights and three Briley extended choke tubes (Skeet, IC and M). Buyers receive a complimentary 60-day trial subscription to the Ashes’ OSP School Knowledge Vault, with valuable tips from the two instructors. MSRP is $1,029.

Mossberg 930 Pro Series Sporting

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, 203-230-5300; www.mossberg.com.

Remington

Remington is now offering the V3 Field Sport, a 3″ autoloader that, like the Versa Max before it, uses a gas system that operates based on shell length. Known as Versaport, the system uses gas vents that are either opened or closed depending upon whether you’re firing 2¾” or 3″ shells. With a longer 3″ load, four gas ports are open, but when a 2¾” shell is in the chamber, 8 ports are open for maximum gas uptake for smooth, reliable cycling. The V3 will fire anything from light target to heavy waterfowl loads. A unique dual-piston design keeps the gun functioning smoothly, and the gas system itself helps reduce felt recoil, making this one of the softest-shooting 12-gauge semi-autos on the market. The dense recoil pad helps mitigate kick as well. The bolt-release button is located on the side of the receiver, and an oversized trigger guard makes shooting with gloves easy. The V3 is available in 12 gauge with a black synthetic or camo (Mossy Oak Blades or Break Up Country) stock and weighs 7¼ pounds. MSRPs start at $895.

Remington V3 Field Sport

Remington Arms Co., 800-243-9700; www.remington.com.

SKB

SKB has broadened its selection of field and target guns imported from Turkey. The Model 200HR Target side-by-side is now available with cast-on stocks (for left-handed shooters). It comes in 12, 20 and 28 gauge as well as .410 with a triggerplate action, non-selective single trigger, pistol grip, flush-fit chokes, raised vent rib and 30″ barrels (or 32″ in 12 gauge). MSRP is $2,500 for 12- and 20-gauges and $2,625 for 28s and .410s.

The 90TSS Trap O/U and Combo guns are now offered with reduced-length stocks for youth shooters. The guns have adjustable buttplates for length of pull (131/2″ to 14¾”) as well as adjustable combs. The regular O/U comes with 30″ or 32″ barrels, and the Combo includes an additional 34″ single barrel. MSRPs are $1,800 for the O/U and $2,600 for the Combo.

The 90TSS Sporting O/U now comes with an adjustable parallel comb (in addition to an adjustable standard comb) and an adjustable buttplate in 12-gauge models with 30″ or 32″ barrels for right- or left-handed shooters. MSRP is $1,800.

SKB, 800-752-2767; www.skbshotguns.com.

Syren USA

Syren was the first company to develop guns designed specifically for women, and this year it is adding two new models to the line. One is the Tempio Trap, a competition trap gun available as an over/under, an unsingle or a combo set. The adjustable stock has a 13.75″ length of pull, a reduced grip diameter, a pitch of 7° and more. Syren’s DTS (Dynamic Tuning System) allows the shooter to adjust the rib for POI changes, and the comb can be adjusted for height, drop, offset and cast. The trigger is adjustable for take-up, over-travel and length of pull. The action has classic scroll and bouquet engraving with gold accents, and signature carved roses adorn the deluxe Turkish walnut stock. MSRPs are $6,395 or $8,855 (for the combo set).

Syren Tempio Trap

Also new from Syren is the Elos Sporting, which has a blued receiver and floral engraving with gold accents. The Turkish walnut stock has a Triwood finish for an enhanced look and protection from the elements. The Elos Sporting comes with 5 EXIS HP hyperbolic choke tubes and Tribore HP barrels for consistent patterns. It is available in 12 gauge with 30″ barrels and a 10mm ventilated rib. MSRP is $2,595.

Syren Elos Sporting

Syren USA, 410-901-1131; www.syrenusa.com.

Winchester

Winchester has added several 20-gauge versions to its popular line of SXP pumpguns. The list of new models includes the walnut-stocked Field and Field Compact, which has a stock that is ¾” shorter than the standard SXP to accommodate smaller shooters. Also included are the Waterfowl (in Mossy Oak Shadow Grass Blades) as well as the Universal Hunter and Black Shadow. All come with Winchester’s four-lug bolt, a crossbolt safety (positioned in front of the trigger guard), chrome-plated chambers and bores, and Invector-Plus choke tubes. MSRPs are $399.99 to $549.99.

Winchester, 800-333-3288; www.winchesterguns.com.

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The post Shotgun Roundup 2016 appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck

When it comes to the origins of wingshooting one tends to think of the English, but that may not be entirely accurate. The possibility of “shooting flying” was directly tied to the development of the flintlock action. The matchlock and wheellock guns that preceded the flintlock were suitable for ground-sluicing, but the time between trigger pull and ignition was too slow to effectively take birds on the wing.

That all changed when a Norman Frenchman named Marin le Bourgeoys enhanced the flintlock by improving the frizzen and priming pan and internalized much of the lock’s mechanism. Lock time became fast enough to be practical on flying birds. In 1610 he made a gun for Louis XIII, and shooting flying soon became popular with French nobility. It wasn’t until later in the century that King Charles II’s courtiers introduced the sport to England.

France certainly has been as forward in arms production as any of the European countries. Saint-Étienne is the gunmaking center of France just as Birmingham is for England, Eibar for Spain and Gardone for Italy. Note that all are in areas rich in the iron ore necessary to arms making.

The main market for French shotguns is Europe. Unfortunately we don’t see that many French shotguns imported into the US, and that’s a shame. They make some good ones. Verney Carron, Manufrance, Darne and Chapuis are probably the names that come up first today, but there were many others—and often they were (and are) of extremely high quality.

Our review gun this month is from French maker Chapuis Armes. Chapuis is located just west of St.-Étienne and has been making guns since the 1920s, when the company was started by Jean Chapuis, father of current owner Rene. The firm probably is known best for the 20,000 double rifles it has made through the years, but its shotguns are of very good quality as well. In addition to over/under and side-by-side rifles and shotguns, Chapuis also makes the Manurhin double-action revolver.

In the late 1980s, Chapuis moved into a modern plant. That and an investment in modern CNC equipment have allowed the company to manufacture vertically without depending so much on outside suppliers. This also permits more consistent quality control.

Recently the prestigious Orvis Company began importing two versions of Chapuis shotguns for sale under the Orvis brand. One is the “off-the-shelf” Classic for $4,595, and the other is the custom-ordered Artisan for $8,995. Both are side-by-sides with the same triggerplate action and other mechanicals, but the Artisan offers custom fitting, upgraded hand engraving and nicer wood in exchange for the higher price and a three- to four-month wait. The guns are available in 12, 20 and 28 gauge.

As this is an upland gun, it seemed that a review of a 20-gauge would be appropriate. With today’s readily available shells, a 20 can do just about everything upland hunting requires and do it at a comfortable carry weight. Orvis was kind enough to send us a Classic model with 28″ barrels, fixed Improved Cylinder & Modified chokes, an auto safety and ejectors. Orvis says that these features can be changed upon request.

The gun is based on a triggerplate, or blitz, action, in which the moving parts are mounted to the triggerplate. This allows a somewhat more rounded receiver than the typical Anson & Deeley boxlock and has a smoother exterior with only one exposed crosspin head.

My comments on the interior of the action are based on photos of a double-trigger Artisan model that were sent to me by Orvis. Usually I disassemble a gun to review it, but Chapuis forestalled that by employing a stock bolt with a unique screw-slot head that had a bump in the middle. It required a special screwdriver with a notched blade that I had never seen before. The French often find ways to do things differently.

The photos of the action interior show a very simple action with coil-spring-driven hammers. The springs are located around horizontal guide rods. If a spring breaks, the guide rod should hold it in place, and it might just continue working. The safety is automatic, but the wire that couples it to the opening lever looks to be easy to remove if you prefer a manual safety.

While the design is extremely economical, the photos show that interior handwork and finishing are at a minimum. This won’t affect function, but it might explain why it is so difficult to remove the stock—to keep things hidden. On the plus side, the firing pins are disk-set, so you can remove and replace them from the breech face.

The lockup is again, well, French and not like the usual English, German or Italian approach. There is a fairly standard full-length hinge pin and a full-width locking tongue engaging notches in a unique, large underlug block. The lugs in the block are set up side by side, not like the usual Purdey underbolts running front to back. It is a little bit like the Perazzi side-by-side setup. In between the Chapuis lugs are nestled the ejector springs and mechanism. The broad sides of the lug block bear against the sides of the deep cuts in the bottom of the solid receiver. It certainly looks strong. In fact, the receiver is a serious one-piece forging. The only major separate part is the triggerplate.

Our review sample came with a non-selective single trigger, but tradi-tional double triggers are available on

request. Our single trigger had excel-lent pulls. The right barrel was 4 pounds, while the left was 41/4. Both were crisp with little creep or take-up. Very nice.

The fact that the single trigger is non-selective and the standard barrels have fixed chokes may prove inconvenient in certain situations where birds are incoming. Still, for most of the upland work for which this gun is intended, it will work fine.

The safety is automatic, meaning that it engages every time you open the gun. If you practice much on clay targets before the opening of the season, this may drive you loopy. As mentioned above, however, this should be easy to correct if you can figure out a way to remove the stock to get at the safety-actuating rod.

The cosmetics of the receiver garnered mixed reviews from both my local group of shooters and online comments. Everyone liked the slightly rounded action. It looks good and is comfortable to carry in one hand. The rear of the receiver is nicely scalloped to join the head of the stock, rather than being in a harsh flat line like so many boxlocks.

The issue was with the engraving. It is an extremely fine rose & scroll pattern in 100-percent coverage on a French-grayed finish. There is a small Orvis banner on each side of the receiver and “1856,” the date Orvis was founded, in gold amid the rose & scroll on the bottom. The engraving is applied by computer and looks it on close examination. Chapuis’ five-axis laser engraver did handle the receiver curves nicely, but the consistent depth robs it of life. Some who saw it thought it looked nice; others felt it was a bit too mechanical. Laser engraving can be like that. Some of today’s Italian variable-depth laser engraving is nicer. Of course, for an extra $4,400 you can order the upscale hand-engraved Artisan model. If you don’t want the Artisan’s usual dog-and-bird-scene engraving, you can have whatever you wish at additional cost.

The barrels on our gun were quite nice. Chambers were a useful 3″, though the forcing cones were conventionally short. Bore diameters were overbore at .627″ each (.615″ is nominal for a 20-gauge). The barrels were stamped with a fleur-de-lis, meaning that they are proofed and OK for use with steel shot.

The fixed chokes were marked as being 1/4 (Improved Cylinder) and 1/2 (Modified), but that was incorrect. They actually measured .017″ and .025″, which is Improved Modified and Full in a 20. I don’t pattern my review guns, because I don’t want to deprive you of that inestimable pleasure, but it might make sense to test these chokes with your favorite shells to make sure that they aren’t too snug for typical 20-yard upland shots. Of course, if you wish, screw chokes or other fixed constrictions are available if you order the gun.

The barrels were nicely blued in a medium gloss. Solder seams were correct and without holidays. The top rib has my favorite classic concave shape, which dips down between the barrels nearer the muzzle. I prefer this on an upland gun, as it gets the rib out of the way and lets me shoot off of the broad expanse of the muzzles. This is especially handy when shooting against a dark background, as in grouse woods, where you would lose the ridge of an elevated rib. A simple classic brass bead adorns the front, and there is no silly middle bead to clutter things. The top of the rib is not matted to reduce glare. It is blued the same as the barrels, but it doesn’t matter, as the rib is swamped and below the line of sight. Besides, if you look at the rib while you shoot, you’ll be ordering out for dinner.

The wood on our Orvis Chapuis Classic was attractive. The stock was in the classic gripless English configuration and had a 143/4″ length of pull, 11/2″ drop at comb and 23/4″ drop at heel, with normal right-hand cast and about the usual 4° of pitch. The grain of the walnut was very nice indeed. It wasn’t flashy, but it did go well with the gun. There also was a nicely figured wooden buttplate that was held in by two carefully engraved screws. The checkering appeared to be computerized and was in a simple pattern that didn’t overwhelm the wood. It wasn’t particularly fine, but it didn’t stand out as being too coarse either. As with the engraving, if you didn’t look too closely, it was fine.

I would rank the forend as being a slight semi-beavertail. The forend iron is a Deeley latch midway back on the forend rather than the Anson pushbutton found on many side-by-sides. The Deeley latch, most often found on over/unders, forces a deeper and longer forend on a side-by-side, hence the slight beavertail as opposed to the classic English splinter.

The stock finish was first class. The hand-rubbed oil filled all of the grain perfectly with no holidays. The semi-gloss finish and medium walnut stain were perfect. Definitely well done. Ditto for the wood-to-metal fit. It was noticeably better than on most guns I see in this price range.

The Orvis Classic comes in a Negrini ABS plastic locking takedown case, which appears suitable for air travel. Inside you get the gun, a two-year factory warranty and a proof certificate. Greg Carpiniello, Orvis’s personable gunroom manager, also mentioned Orvis’s standard satisfaction guarantee on all of its products: “We will refund your money on any purchase that isn’t 100 percent satisfactory. Anytime, for any reason. It’s that simple.”

I’ve been a little picky about some of the details of this gun, because it has a lot of competition in the $4,500 range. There is everything from the Connecticut Shotgun RBL to the Fausti Dea to the Merkel 40E, to name a few. But to me, cosmetic details pale in comparison to shooting. Some guns are shooters, and some just aren’t. And then there is the middle group of guns that some people can shoot and others can’t.

Our Orvis Chapuis Classic is one of the lucky guns. Perhaps it is some French subtlety or a credit to a knowledgeable gunmaker, but everyone who shot our test gun commented on how easy it was to shoot well. Excellent balance will do that for you.

At first I wouldn’t have guessed it, but our test gun weighed only 5 pounds 13 ounces. While that is nice to carry in the field, guns that light are usually whippy and hard to shoot with consistency. Not this one. To forestall whippiness, the weight-forward balance point was 3/4″ in front of the hinge pin, and the barrels had enough moment of inertia to smooth the swing. The lighter the gun, the more of its weight you want forward and, unlike so many other makers, Chapuis understands this. This gun handled remarkably well and was easy to shoot. In fact, it was one of the better-handling side-by-side 20s I’ve had the pleasure of shooting.

Classic lines, innovative design and superb handling. Orvis, always known for quality, is very wise to offer the Chapuis Classic. Vive la France!

Author’s Note: For more information, contact the Orvis Flagship Store Gun Room, 802-362-2580; www.orvis.com.

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is available for $30 (plus shipping) from www.rowman.com.

The post Orvis Chapuis Classic appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

The F16 is a new gun with a new action at a favorable price.

By Bruce Buck

Blaser firearms are made in the bucolic country town of Isny, in southernmost Germany. It’s between Munich and Zurich, Switzerland, on the edge of the Alps and just a few miles from the border of the principality of Liechtenstein. Like all of Germany’s countryside, it is postcard neat, clean and organized. I visited the factory in 2012 and found it to be thoroughly modern.

After almost 60 years in business, Blaser continues to produce its world-famous rifles in bolt action, the break-action single shot Stutzen, the over/under shotgun/rifle Bergstutzen and the three-barreled shotgun/rifle Drilling. Blaser started producing modern shotguns in 2003 with the F3 over/under in a clay-target version (Gun Review, Jan/Feb ’06) and a game model (Gun Review, March/April ’14.)

The F3 over/under clays version has become quite popular in America, where it has won numerous championships in sporting clays and trap. Today its base price has increased from its introductory cost of less than $5,000 to about $8,000. While well less than Perazzi and Krieghoff guns, the technically innovative F3 is far above the excellent, basic $2,500 Beretta Silver Pigeon. Until now that has left a pretty good price gap . . . but Blaser has just filled it.

Enter the Blaser F16, introduced this year. This isn’t just another version of the F3. It is a new gun with a new action. It costs half of what the F3 does, with the Sporting version listing for $4,195 and the Game version for $3,795, both currently available in 12 gauge only. Blaser was kind enough to send me an F16 Game gun with 28″ barrels to review, and I want to say up front that it is quite a gun.

The gunmetal-gray receiver immediately catches the eye. It is as far away as you can get from being overly fancy, but it has classic purity. Blaser says that the gun has the lowest-profile receiver on the market. A typical Beretta 680 series is about 1⁄16″ deeper, and the Belgian Browning is ¼” deeper. Not that this matters, but the ad men like it. However, nothing is free. The F16’s receiver is 2mm wider than the F3’s.

The F16 receiver is beautifully shaped, with no extraneous lumps, fences or sharp lines. It is slightly rounded underneath for a comfortable field carry. The way that the monoblock flows into the top of the receiver is the smoothest jointure I’ve seen in this area. It’s really slick. There are no exposed screw heads anywhere to break up the view.

The receiver is formed from one solid piece of steel that includes the receiver body, top and bottom tangs and rear vertical connector. This makes it as strong as you get. In fact, I went over the gun with a magnet and found that everything that matters is steel or walnut.

Inside, the action is mechanically clean and not as busy as the F3’s. The F16 has a triggerplate action, with the main moving parts on the tool-removable triggerplate. Unlike the F3’s linear strikers, the F16 uses conventional hammers but with short, vertical coil springs instead of the usual horizontal ones.

The F16 does have the F3’s ejection ball system. As the hammers go forward, they strike not only the firing pins but also the ejector-actuating pins. These pins protrude from the face of the standing breech and engage rod ends in the faces of the ejectors. These set the ejectors, which are then actuated on opening the action. To easily access the firing pins and ejector pins, the face of the F16’s standing breech is removable and held in place by two Torx screws.

The F16’s trigger is mechanical, so it will fire the second shot even if the gun is poorly shouldered or the first shell is a dud. The inertia block prevents doubling. The trigger blade is fixed and not adjustable for length as on the target F16. A fixed trigger is appropriate on a field gun, where extra complication is to be avoided.

What surprised me the most was that shooters of varying statures all shot the gun well.

Blaser, with its rifle heritage, is known for excellent trigger pulls, and the F16’s are no exception. After the slightest bit of take-up, both the upper and lower barrel trigger sears averaged very crisp 3¾ -pound pulls.

The trigger is selective via a lateral toggle on the bottom of the receiver immediately in front of the trigger blade. This is the same selector the F3 has, and it is similar to the one used on the Krieghoff K-80. Unfortunately moving the toggle from right to left selects the lower barrel, just the opposite of what the usual right-handed upland shooter wants when faced with a surprise longer shot.

The safety is a traditional slider mounted on the top tang with an engraved non-slip surface. It is manually operated, not automatic, so you have to remember to engage it. On the plus side, if you practice on clays before the hunting season, you will be most content with this.

The action lockup is both conventional and innovative. The action pivots on the usual replaceable hinge stubs engaging notches in the sides of the monoblock, but the stubs are somewhat larger than usual. Passive locking is by two lugs at the rear of the bottom of the monoblock engaging recesses in the bottom of the receiver.

The active locking bolt is traditional in function and design but innovative in placement. As mentioned, the F16’s receiver is very shallow, and shallow receivers normally use centrally mounted locking bolts like those on Beretta 680s. The F16 uses a low-mounted bolt but has the two bolt extensions engage the monoblock at the very bottom of the sides of the lower barrel chamber. This arrangement allows the greater angular advantage and strength of a low lock mount and yet permits a shallow receiver. Nice touch.

Since the barrel’s monoblock contains the ejectors, the only thing the forend iron does is provide the stud to push the hammer-cocking extension when the gun is opened. But two things make the forend a little different. The first is that it is held on via an Anson pushbutton at the front, like on most side-by-sides. Most O/Us use a Deeley lever latch midway down the forend. The Deeley latch allows more flexibility in the configuration of the nose of an O/U’s forend, but this Blaser’s forend front is very nicely shaped, even with the Anson button. Second, the tension of the forend’s engagement to the action is adjustable for wear via an eccentric cam. Several other shotgun makers do this but not many. This extra is a nice touch requiring a little extra work on Blaser’s part.

F16

The barrels are pretty standard in spite of the fancy advertising jargon of “Triplex bore design.” The bores had 3″ chambers, then long 3″ forcing cones to slightly overbore .732″ barrels. There was a clearance jump out to .745″ at the rear of the screw chokes before the tapers began.

The screw chokes supplied are flush mounted and 2″ long, looking very much like the old Beretta Mobilchokes. But there is a difference. Beretta’s chokes are threaded at the front, while Blaser’s are threaded at the back. While there are no problems with either, I think that rear threading is better and could better forestall carbon seepage and buildup. The chokes are notched on the front edge, to engage the supplied choke wrench.

Three chokes were included: Improved Cylinder, Modified and Improved Modified. The IC had .005″ constriction, not the usual .010″. The interior was all taper with no parallel. The M had .017″ constriction, a touch less than the normal, with ¼” parallel after the conical section. The IM had .020″ constriction, about usual for Modified, with ½” parallel. Note that as the chokes tightened, the parallel got longer, to stabilize the shot. Other choke constrictions as well as extended chokes are available on request. All of our chokes were listed as being suitable for steel shot. Barrel bores are chrome plated, which makes for easier cleaning.

On the outside the barrels have full-length solid side ribs, all the better to keep out arboreal detritus when beating the bushes. The vented top rib is blessedly low, flat and narrow, tapering from 11⁄32″ at the rear to 9⁄32″ in front. There is an appropriately small nickel-silver bead at the muzzle and no silly center bead. The top surface of the rib is crosshatched, to eliminate glare. In fact, the entire barrel is finished matte blue, to eliminate game-alerting flash. Our game-gun barrels were 28″ long, but 30″ tubes are available. If you do a lot of driven shooting or want to add in some target shooting, you might prefer the longer length. If you walk up your birds, keep things short and light.

The wood on our gun was a step up. Walnut with grain rated Grade 2 is standard, Grade 3 is $74 extra and Grade 4 is $321 more. Our demo gun had Grade 4 wood, and it was very nicely figured. For a few hundred dollars above the base price of the gun, it is well worth it.

The standard game-gun stock is listed as having a 14¾” length of pull, 1½” drop at comb, 2¼” drop at heel, 6° of pitch and slight right-hand cast. Our demo gun met those measurements. A slightly straighter sporter stock is available as an option, as is a left-hand stock. Our stock came with a modest right-hand palm swell and a fuller pistol grip than I usually see on field guns. It would double nicely for targets.

The forend is a most attractive minimalist game style with a classic rounded front end. It is fairly slender, and its lines fit perfectly with the gun. Its length allows hand placement forward or aft as preferred.

Wood-to-metal fit was a little proud, but there were no gaps. The clear wood finish was applied neatly but did not quite fill the grain. The F3 I tested also had slightly unfilled grain, and this is typical with many European makers. The checkering appears to be machine cut and is a fine pattern in terms of lines per inch. It is an attractive, modest bordered pattern with full coverage on the bottom of the forend.

The 1″ Comfort recoil pad is marvelous. It reminds me of the Microcell pads from Italy. Solid, yet ultralight, it is smooth, nicely rounded and not the least bit sticky like so many other new pads are. You won’t have to let it age to keep it from catching on your hunting vest.

If you insist on altering the balance, the F16 Game can utilize Blaser’s Balancer weights, which fit on the stock bolt inside the butt, but not the weights that fit under the forend. The Sporter version can fit the weights both front and back.

Our F16 Game came in a lockable ABS Negrini takedown case suitable for air travel. The case is all black, but the Blaser name is molded into the outside for all of the airport nether world to see. The gun was stored in cloth sleeves. A case compartment contained the third choke, Allen key, gun grease, case keys and the basic manual. Blaser’s warranty is a generous 10 years.

The Game is advertised as weighing 6.8 pounds, but our sample was 7 pounds even. Still, that’s fine for a 12-gauge carry gun. The gun is very nicely balanced. Very nicely, indeed. The balance axis is pretty close to neutral at ¼” in front of the hinge pin. Yet the moment of inertia (MOI)—or effort required to swing the gun—is a little bit higher than central balance would indicate. This is because the action is relatively light compared to the barrels and stock. This slight increase in MOI gives the gun a bit more stability without being burdensome.

Naturally, it all comes down to shooting. As I was recuperating from shoulder surgery and thus sidelined for a bit, I enlisted the aid of a half-dozen of my shooting pals. Some were avid hunters, some occasional. Some were excellent target shots, some average. Sizes and builds differed greatly.

The F16 was tested on our fairly challenging local 5 Stand setup. After the first station of five shots each, a total of 28 birds were broken out of 30. I was stunned, and so were my buddies. By the end of the round everyone, regardless of stature or experience, had shot the gun well.

The only mechanical issue was that one shooter had occasional top-barrel ejection failures with factory Rio shells. On my micrometer, both the top and bottom chambers measured the same, so I have no idea as to the cause. Everyone else shot a mixture of reloads and factory ammo and reported no problems. Ejectors were correctly timed and pitched the empties right together about 10 feet.

Comments were uniformly enthusiastic. Several guys said that the gun swung so well that it was like pointing a finger. Everyone liked the balance of the gun. Two of the avid hunters said that they would pick it over any field gun they owned. Everyone said that they would like to try the F16 in the Sporting version.

What surprised me the most was that shooters of varying statures all shot the gun well. You would think that one stock wouldn’t work for different-size shooters, but this one did. Perhaps stock dimensions become less important when a gun handles nicely. One of our local hotshots uses a Blaser F3 Sporter with an adjustable stock, and he was well disposed toward the F16 after he shot it lights out.

Comments on the sub-$4,000 price were also favorable. Shooters felt that Blaser has found a good market niche. I certainly agree. This is a very attractive gun of obviously good quality, and it is nicely balanced. The trigger is crisp, the wood is pretty and, most important, the gun is a real shooter. Keep your 870 for the duck blind. The F16 is too pretty for that. But in the pheasant field or for a driven day, Blaser’s F16 Game gun will shine.

For more information, contact Blaser USA, 210-377-2527; blaser-usa.com.

The post Blaser F16 Game appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck

For its shotguns, German gunmaker Merkel is perhaps best known for its Kersten-crossbolted over/unders (Gun Review, March/April ’05), though the company always has made marvelous side-by-sides as well. The problem with marvelous guns is that they are often marvelously pricey: The Model 147 EL side-by-side boxlock, with its nice wood and full-coverage engraving, is currently more than $8,000. In spite of the legendary Merkel quality, that’s a goodly amount to spend for a working field gun.

That’s why Merkel recently introduced its first new model in 10 years. The less-adorned Model 40E side-by-side boxlock replaces the case-colored 47E. The 40E’s introductory price is $3,999, with the regular price to be $4,595 down the road. That’s roughly half the price of the mechanically identical but cosmetically enhanced 147 EL. Let’s see what you get for $4,000 less.

The 40E comes in 12, 20 and 28 gauge, with 16 expected soon. Our review gun was a 20 in a classic upland configuration, with 28″ barrels (the only length offered at the moment), double triggers and an English stock. The 40E’s action will be familiar to anyone who has handled a Merkel side-by-side boxlock in the past 20 years.

The first thing you always notice with a Merkel side-by-side is the Greener crossbolt protruding from the top left of the receiver when the gun is open. The crossbolt engages the piercing through the barrel extension, which tucks down into a slot in the top of the receiver. All is perfectly smooth when the gun is closed.

While the crossbolt is probably enough to securely lock the gun, things don’t stop there. In addition to the crossbolt, the 40E has traditional Purdey, dual-underlug bolting to complete the suspenders-and-belt approach. This is why Merkel has the reputation for building such sturdy guns. That said, this gun does not have the reinforcing sideclips so often seen on Merkel side-by-sides. That would be suspenders and two belts.

Merkel 40E

Merkel describes the 40E action as an Anson & Deeley boxlock. It certainly isn’t the Blitz triggerplate action often seen in other German guns, but it doesn’t look like the traditional English A&D either. The outside lacks the three telltale crosspin ends exposed on each side of the receiver that secure the cocking levers, tumblers and sears. That’s all handled internally. The entire bottom of the receiver is removable for access. The face of the receiver shows that the firing pins are disk-set for easy access without receiver disassembly. The mainsprings are leaf, not coil. Modern steel leaf springs are exceptionally durable and maintain all of their force throughout their lives. Coil springs weaken slightly each time they are released. This action’s reputation for long life and strength is impeccable in previous mechanically identical Merkel models.

The 12- and 20-gauge 40Es are available with double or single-selective triggers. The single trigger on the 28, built on a 20-gauge frame, is non-selective. Our test gun’s trigger pulls measured an average of 3¾ pounds in front and 3½ pounds in back. Both had the tiniest bit of take-up, but then were quite crisp. You expect good triggers from Merkel. The firm makes a lot of rifles and knows triggers. The top tang safety is nicely shaped and engraved, to ensure positive action, even with gloves. The safety is automatic, engaging each time the action is opened.

The hinge pin, on which the barrels pivot, is replaceable, if tightening the gun is necessary. Considering the robustness of the action, this may not be necessary for a long time, but it is still nice to know. The ejectors use the tried-and-true Southgate system, which dates to 1893. It’s still the best system for a side-by-side. The ejector tumblers and leaf springs are located in the forend iron and are actuated by hammer fall.

Merkel clearly is trying to make its guns more affordable and do it the right way.

The Merkel action always gets a lot of attention because of its third fastener and reputation for strength, but Merkel barrels are even more famous. Unlike many gunmakers, Merkel makes its barrels in-house. The barrels are among the best, and a number of other companies buy their barrels from Merkel. The tubes are cold-hammer-forged, a process developed in Germany in 1939 and applied with modern machinery today. It is important to remember that, in addition to O/Us and side-by-sides, Merkel makes a wide assortment of excellent rifles, ranging from single-shots and bolt-actions to double rifles and Drillings. Some of these barrels require a great deal of precision in manufacturing, and that carries over to the company’s shotgun barrels.

Our 40E 20-gauge barrels were proofed for steel and had 3″ chambers with relatively abrupt forcing cones. The bores were both .630″. That’s .015″ over the nominal .615″ 20-bore, reflecting a fair amount of overbore. The fixed chokes were .010″ in the right barrel and .020″ in the left. The designations stamped on the barrels were Improved Cylinder and Modified. Like the chamber forcing cones, the choke tapers were fairly short. Screw chokes are not available from Merkel on this gun, but Briley will oblige you with aftermarket Thinwalls if you like.

The barrels are joined at the rear by shoe, or platform, lumps. Shoe lumps use a bottom plate on top of which the barrel tubes are silver soldered or brazed. Shoe lumps result in a slightly wider breech than chopper lumps due to the way the barrels are joined. The two lumps that comprise the hinge axis and engage the sliding Purdey underbolt lock are machined integrally as part of the shoe-lump plate.

Along their length the barrels are joined by a conventional soldered rib on the bottom and a solid raised rib with a flat upper surface on the top. This top rib is common on American, Italian and German side-by-sides, whereas a lower concave rib is traditionally British and often used by the Spanish. If you use the rib for a bit of peripheral sighting, the Merkel rib is functional. If you ignore ribs completely and concentrate only on the bird, a concave rib stays out of the way and is always more graceful. The 40E’s rib is tapered, and it is machined on top to reduce glare. Up front there is a proper single small brass bead.

The wood on the 40E held no surprises. One of the ways Merkel has kept the price low is to furnish the 40E with plain walnut. The gun is available with an English or rounded-pistol-grip field stock. Our English-stocked sample had a length of pull of 143⁄8″, with a drop at comb of 13⁄8″, drop at heel of 23⁄8″, a little right-hand cast and the usual 4° pitch. Custom dimensions are not available on this model.

Merkel 40E

There is a serviceable black plastic buttplate on the back of the stock. Checkering is machine cut in a standard yet attractive pattern. The checkering was coarse enough to provide a decent grip but fine enough for a good appearance. As a classy addition, the stock sported a trigger-guard tang fully six inches long. It was held in place by two indexed and engraved screws and was inletted flush to the wood. Unfortunately, that was the only really good wood-to-metal fit on the gun. The wood at the stock head and rear of the forend was quite proud, while the inletting of the forend-latch iron had the metal slightly below the wood. It looked as though handfitting of the wood was skipped to keep the price down.

The finishing of the wood was also pretty basic. As is the custom with many European gunmakers, the walnut grain was left open, with the wood pores unfilled. The Merkel website states that the gun has a “single oil-and-sand finish.” On the plus side, it will be easy to repair the usual hunting scratches with a little Tru-Oil.

The forend is something between the classic English splinter and a modest beavertail. Because of the use of a Deeley latch instead of the usual Anson pushbutton seen on most side-by-sides, the forend is longer, deeper and has a blunter nose than is usual. But it does allow a more forward hand placement, while its size gives a slightly better grip. A little grace has been sacrificed for practicality.

The cosmetics of the gun, not the mechanics, are where Merkel has saved money compared to its upscale 147 EL. The mechanics of our 40E were first class. In addition to the plain and not particularly well-fitted wood, the 40E’s receiver engraving is sure to attract your attention. It is so-so light laser scroll on a silver-nitrate finish. General opinion among those I showed it to was “meh.” On the other side of the coin, the physical lines of the 40E’s receiver are most attractive. The rear of the receiver is very nicely sculpted, to avoid the harsh straight line of so many A&Ds, and there is the classic Merkel sculpted “swoosh” along the water table and up the rear.

Our 40E was shipped in a cardboard box along with its certificate of proof and an extremely basic manual. The factory warranty is for one year, and it is not transferable.

The gun felt slightly heavier to me than its 6-pound 5.4-ounce weight, which is certainly about right for a 20-gauge side-by-side. The balance point was just at the front of the hinge. The gun was quick enough to point, but the heavier feel added steadiness on longer shots that is so often missing in sub-gauge guns. Barrel convergence was correct, as you would expect from a company that makes its own barrels and can regulate double rifles.

Mechanically, the gun was correct in all respects. The triggers were crisp and excellent, allowing perfect timing on more distant targets. The auto safety was just right in terms of feel and resistance. The ejectors did their job without wounding passers-by.

The stock dimensions seemed to fit compact shooters better than lanky ones, but everyone adapted well. The gun was definitely easy to shoot. All those who tried it praised its handling. The plastic buttplate was most welcome, as it smoothly slid up to the shoulder without snagging and grabbing.

So is the Merkel 40E worth $4,000? I think so. Merkel clearly is trying to make its guns more affordable and do it the right way. The savings are in the cosmetics versus the important stuff. Merkel’s mechanics are absolutely first class, its barrels are excellent and its guns are seriously durable. Besides, when that grouse surprises you and you trip over a root, the dings and scratches won’t break your heart. You’ll soon forget about them. What you won’t forget is the quality of the metal and mechanics on these excellent German guns.

For more information, contact Merkel USA/Steyr Arms, 205-417-8644

The post Merkel 40E appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck

In spite of the somewhat similar names and humpback look, Browning’s new A5 Sweet Sixteen inertia-driven autoloader is very different from the old Auto-5 Sweet 16. The original Auto-5 was designed by John Browning in 1902 and was the first truly functional semi-automatic shotgun. Fabrique Nationale, in Belgium, made the Auto-5 for 75 years, and then production moved to Miroku, in Japan, for the next 23 years. Auto-5s were made in 12, 16 and 20 gauge, but the version that got the press was the Sweet 16, a gauge that was blithely claimed to carry like a 20 and hit like a 12. The Auto-5 kept going until the last run of commemorative guns was sold in 2000.

The original Auto-5 was very popular, and everyone recognized its unique humpback profile. Its long-recoil action with the moving barrel was reliable, and it seemed as though just about everyone owned one or knew someone who did. As the Auto-5 aged, Browning introduced a more modern inertia-operated gun, the A500, which later was renamed the A500R. It had a cosmetic humpback to promote the comparison, but production lasted only from 1987 to ’93.

Gun Review

Browning had tried numerous entries into the gas-operated auto market with its discontinued B2000, B80, A500G and current Gold, Silver and Maxus, but the company didn’t forget about the inertia-auto market. In 2012 Browning took another try with a gun it called the A5. The A5 was introduced in 12 gauge, but four years later, at the 2016 SHOT Show, it debuted in 16 gauge as the A5 Sweet Sixteen—a name sure to bring back memories. This new Sweet Sixteen is the subject of this review.

The A5 has an inertia action that Browning calls “Kinematic Drive.” It is actually close to the current Benelli system, invented by Bruno Civolani in 1940 and improved since then. Instead of having recoil move the barrel to the rear and push the bolt back as on the original Auto-5, the A5’s recoil moves the gun to the rear while inertia keeps the outer bolt housing in place. This compresses an interior bolt spring, which then powers the bolt rearward, twisting the rotary head free of the barrel, cocking the hammer and ejecting the hull. Then the spring in the stock forces the bolt forward to chamber the new shell and close the bolt.

The A5 is 100-percent Browning. It was designed by Browning. Parts are made by Browning’s parent FN Herstal, in Belgium, and assembled in the Browning plant in Portugal. Paperwork included with our early production sample showed that it was subjected to almost 250 test shots before being released. I doubt if this amount of test firing will continue in later-production guns, but it is comforting to know that the early guns were carefully vetted.

Gun Review

The Auto-5 16 was all steel, and its weight reflected it, coming in at slightly more than 7 pounds. Our test A5 Sweet Sixteen has an aluminum receiver sized to the gauge and weighs 5 pounds 12 ounces with its 28″ barrel. (Even the forend nut is aluminum.) This is exceptionally light and will be delightful to carry afield. The 12-gauge A5 weighs a pound more.

The inertia action, like the Benelli’s, should prove reliable even in difficult hunting conditions. Because gas does not operate the action, cleaning should be minimal. Browning certainly has faith in it. The gun comes with a 100,000-round or five-year guarantee. The claim is that the A5 will function with the complete range of 16-gauge shells, from 1¼ to 1 oz.

The trigger is easily detached by pushing out two cross pins and giving it a yank. The trigger housing is aluminum, as is the trigger blade. The push-through safety button is at the rear of the trigger guard. In front of the trigger guard is the bolt latch, which allows the slide assembly to be locked open when the magazine is empty. It also can release a shell from the magazine to be loaded into the chamber.

There are two ways to load the gun. First is the usual one for semi-autos: Drop the shell into the ejection port and push the bolt-closing button, then put the next shell in the magazine. The second approach is Browning’s patented “Speed Loading Plus.” When the first shell is fed into the magazine, it is automatically chambered and the bolt is closed. The original Auto-5 had this feature (invented by Val Browning) added in the 1950s.

The barrel comes only in 28″, and the chromed forcing cone on our gun was a fairly long 13⁄8″. The bore was pretty standard for the gauge at .666″.

The gun comes with three of the new Invector DS screw chokes. These are flush-mounted and 2-7⁄8″ long. I always have felt that longer screw chokes like these were better, as they more gradually compress the shot to avoid deformation. The “DS” stands for “double seal,” referring to the choke’s brass-banded seal at the rear and front threading at the muzzle. Usually I don’t like screw chokes threaded at the muzzle, because they can allow carbon to build up between the choke and the bore. The Invector DS brass rear seal nicely precludes this.

Gun Review

The chokes came in Improved Cylinder, Modified and Full. At least that’s what they were stamped. The IC measured .007″ constriction (almost right), the M was .011″ (too open) and the F was a whopping .045″. That would be very tight in a 12-bore, much less a 16.

The barrel rib was low, ventilated and flat. It was ¼” wide and untapered breech to muzzle. It had a red plastic bead up front and a white target-style bead in the middle.

Browning lists the wood on the Sweet Sixteen as “Grade 1.” The wood on our gun had a little bit of figure, but more important, it was nicely stained and finished in a high-gloss synthetic. Checkering was machine-cut but well executed in an attractive 18-lines-per-inch pattern.

The forend on this gun is extremely slender. It is perfect in lending the gun an air of light handling and mobility. The stock has a competition-style, large, vertical pistol grip, but something more relaxed might be appropriate in the field.

In theory the stock can be adjusted to fit the shooter. It has ¼” and ½” spacers that fit between the recoil pad and the butt. This permits lengths of 14-1⁄8″ to 14-7⁄8″, which should accommodate most people. The recoil pad is Browning’s Inflex II. It is just slippery enough to avoid hanging up on your hunting jacket.

The stock is adjustable for height and cast with six shims that fit between the head of the stock and the rear of the receiver. Three adjust only height, and three adjust height and cast. This would be great if it worked, but it didn’t. With a neutral shim, the stock height is a pretty standard 2¼” at the heel and an abnormally low 1¾” at the nose. The original Auto-5 also had a low stock, so this isn’t new. A fairly typical off-the-shelf shotgun stock measures 1½” at the nose today. Believe me, that ¼” makes a huge difference in whether you can look down the rib or simply stare into the back of that humpback receiver.

But it has height-adjustment shims, so there shouldn’t be any problem, right? Nope. The supplied shims didn’t move the barrel up enough to measure. Even when I stacked two stock-raising shims together, the effect wasn’t noticeable.

The cosmetics of the gun are quite nice. It is definitely good looking, once you accept the signature humpback. The aluminum receiver is a dignified gloss black with no engraving and just a little dark lettering, with “A5 Sweet Sixteen” on the right side and “Browning Sweet Sixteen” on the left. The original Auto-5 was beautifully hand engraved, which would add a prohibitive cost today. The Sweet Sixteen’s barrel is nicely gloss-blued, while the rib is appropriately matte. The medium stain of the walnut and gloss finish fit in perfectly.

Shooting the Sweet Sixteen

Shooting the gun was interesting. As usual, it was a pain to get 16-gauge shells. I found some Fiocchi 1-oz No. 8s at 1,165 fps. Sixteens can take up to 1¼ oz, so these were on the light side. I shot the gun clean and dry, as it came from the box. Too dry. After a bit it started to fail to fully cycle these light shells until I gave it a few squirts of oil. That solved that, and it was flawless from then on. Ejected hulls flew five feet, about perfect. Loading the gun was convenient using the Speed Loading Plus feature. Recoil was about what you would expect of a gun of this weight if it were an over/under. A gas gun would kick less.

The trigger pull was heavy at 6¼ pounds. It’s never good to have the trigger-pull weight exceed the weight of the gun, but it wasn’t unbearable. The trigger also had a bit of creep. Normally that’s bad, as one wants things crisp. But in this case, with such a heavy pull, the creep actually made the trigger feel softer. A crisp trigger of that weight somehow feels heavier to me. None of the others who shot the gun commented on the pull.

What people did comment on was the stock fit. A drop of 1¾” at the nose may fit those with full faces and short necks, but it forces the rest of the world to lift their heads off of the stock to see over the hump. Browning definitely needs to supply this gun with more-aggressive shims, so that it can realize the claimed “Humpback Acquisition Advantage” of a longer sighting plane.

Fit aside, the gun handled beautifully. It was nicely balanced and, in spite of being delightfully light for field carry, didn’t whip about when being shot, thanks to the longish barrel.

The retail price of Browning’s Sweet Sixteen is $1,699. This puts it in with other good-quality semi-autos like Berettas and Benellis, were those companies to make 16s today. Which they don’t. The Sweet Sixteen comes in a black ABS takedown case that is OK for the car but not for serious travel. It contains the two extra chokes and wrench, the two stock-length spacers, the six height shims, a cable trigger lock and the manual. Unlike most gun manuals, this one is quite informative and definitely worth a read on assembly and disassembly, which is not intuitive.

For those who like to carry an autoloader in the field and have been smitten by 16-gauge lust, the Browning Sweet Sixteen delivers. It really does carry like a 20 and shoot like a 12.

For more information, contact Browning Arms, 800-333-3288.

The post Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck

In spite of the best efforts of our esteemed brethren in the medical community, the cure for gun lust has escaped discovery. The problem is certainly widespread among the shotgun cognoscenti who comprise our gentle readers. Though our preferences vary, beats there a heart so rational as to not crave a little 28-gauge side-by-side—one complete with double triggers, English stock, charming cosmetics and perfect balance at a most attractive price . . . with a lifetime guarantee? Such a gun is the subject of this review. Enter the Dickinson Arms Estate.

It all starts at the AKUS factory, in the town of Huglu, in southwestern Turkey. From previous reviews you may remember that name as the maker of the Smith & Wesson Elite Gold side-by-side, the Kimber Valier side-by-side and the Kimber Marias over/under (reviewed in Sept/Oct ’07, Sept/Oct ’05 and Sept/Oct ’06.) All are now defunct, as their importers saw more profit in the pistol craze. These were excellent guns and certainly showed that AKUS was capable of making good stuff.

Fortunately, it didn’t end there. Dickinson Arms, SKB and others now are importing various models of the AKUS shotgun line into the US. Dickinson brings in side-by-sides, over/unders, autoloaders and pumps. Our review gun is the AKUS-made Dickinson Estate side-by-side triggerplate rounded-action in 28 gauge. The current major retailers for Dickinson’s side-by-sides are Cabela’s and Pacific Sporting Arms. Estates come in 12, 16, 20, 28 and .410, with single or double triggers; English, round-knob or pistol-grip stocks; and in barrel lengths of 24″, 26″, 28″ or 30″. Prices run up to $1,700, but I have seen them new for less on GunsInternational.com. Two-barrel 20/28 or 28/.410 sets are about $2,400. The Plantation model is the same gun with engraved sideplates and nicer wood for around $2,100. The Dickinson Estate is very much like the Smith & Wesson Elite Gold except that the S&W listed for $2,350, came only in a fixed-choke 20-gauge and had slightly different engraving.

The Estate has a true rounded triggerplate action, not the typically square Anson & Deeley boxlock. The hammers, sears and leaf springs are fixed on the triggerplate rather than on cross pins as used on the A&D. This results in a wider triggerplate than the A&D but permits a nicely rounded action bottom for a comfortable field carry. The Germans and Austrians would call it a Blitz action. The Scots would find it somewhat similar in design to a MacNaughton, Dickson or McKay Brown. The actions are sized to the gauge, so the 28 actions are petite.

The action is properly case colored using bone and charcoal, not a cyanide dip. There is about 20-percent coverage of scroll engraving, which appears to be mechanically applied. More heavily engraved Estate models in French gray with gold inlays are available at a higher cost. Internal parts are polished steel and very clean. The interior is easily accessible by removing the stock’s drawbolt and the long-tang trigger guard. The safety is manual.

Our two sample 28-gauge guns had double triggers, but a single non-selective trigger is available. On one gun trigger pulls were each 4¼ pounds, while the other’s were initially a good bit heavier at 6½ and 7¼. On both guns the triggers were very crisp, with little to no take-up or creep. When I called Dickinson about the heavier trigger pulls, I was told that since they were functional, they were not eligible for readjustment per the warranty. On the plus side, after a couple of flats of shells they softened up to 5½ and 6¼ pounds. That’s not ideal, but it is usable.

Action lockup is by the usual Purdey double underbolt. The automatic ejectors are of the standard Southgate design with the hammers and springs in the forend. These designs are proven beyond question.

One of our test guns had 30″ barrels and the other 28″, but they were identical otherwise. The difference in barrel weight was 2.2 oz and was quite noticeable when shooting. The total weight of the 28″ gun was almost 5 pounds 8 ounces, while the 30″ gun was a hair more than 5 pounds 11 ounces. The shorter gun was much faster handling, verging on being whippy, while the longer gun was more stable.

The barrels had screw chokes, which were short and flush-mounted. Having no wrench notches, they were virtually invisible when mounted. The downside is that they require a tapered Teague-style conical wrench, which is less convenient to use than a notched one.

The shorter gun was much faster handling, verging on being whippy, while the longer gun was more stable.

Five chokes come with each gun. They are labeled Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full. Don’t believe everything you read. On the 30″ barrels with their .545″ bores (.550″ is nominal for 28 gauge, but .545″ is close enough), the chokes measured considerably more open than the labels indicated. The Modified was like Skeet, the Improved Modified like Improved Cylinder and the Full like Modified. The screw chokes did vary from gun to gun, as the 28″ barrels’ Improved Cylinder and Modified were a little tighter but still too open. Clearly there is a consistency issue here. On the plus side fixed chokes can be specially ordered.

The barrels’ top ribs are the prominent tapered and slightly raised flat ribs popular on earlier American and today’s Italian side-by-side guns. They are not the elegant swamped ribs used on English guns and their Spanish copies, which disappear between the barrels. The top of the rib is mechanically scribed to reduce glare, and there is a classic brass bead up front. Barrel bluing is high gloss, and the solder seams were flawless. Barrels are chrome lined and safe for steel shot, though No. 2 and larger steel should not be used through anything tighter than Modified choke. They have normal forcing-cone lengths and 2 ¾” chambers.

The wood on our two samples varied between slightly and modestly figured. The 28″ gun was a couple of years old and had a high-gloss synthetic finish. The 30″ gun was newly purchased and had an attractive oil finish. High-gloss synthetic is great until you get some dings in it. Then it’s hard to repair. Linseed oil is the classic. It looks good and is easily repaired. Unfortunately, AKUS applied only a thin coat, which quickly wore through to expose bare wood. The importers said that they were aware of this problem. I gave the gun a half-dozen coats of Tru-Oil, and all was well.

Both of our guns were English stocked—measured by my Combo Gauge at 14 ¾” length of pull, with 1 3⁄8″ drop at comb, 2 1⁄8″ drop at heel, a touch of right-hand cast and the usual 4° of pitch. Other Dickinson Estate stocks I’ve tried have been up to 1⁄8″ lower, but that is pretty consistent considering how walnut can move as it ages. Checkering is a traditional pattern and appears machine-cut at 24 lines per inch. The stocks have checkered butts for a classic look and a little weight savings. The forends have a slight lip at the front, and they attach with a Deeley latch rather than the usual Anson pushbutton.

Estates come in a faux-suede takedown zippered case suitable for the car. It contains the gun in cloth sleeves, a small plastic box for the chokes and wrench, and a very basic manual that contains an always helpful exploded view. The included warranty states that defects in material or workmanship are covered for two years, but when I called Dickinson Arms, I was told that that was incorrect and that the warranty was for life. Well done!

Shooting the guns was an education. The 28″ gun performed correctly in all mechanical respects. The 30″ gun’s heavy triggers caused issues at first but lightened up with use. This gun functioned perfectly with shells using Winchester primers, but initially it failed to fire about 10 percent of the time with shells using Cheddite, Fiocchi or Nobel Sport primers. After a couple of flats of ammo the gun improved to only occasionally fail to ignite the imported primers.

Handling of the 28″ gun was very quick. It would be nice for close-cover work on grouse or woodcock, but its weight of 5½ pounds made it jumpy for longer work. The 30″ gun was easier to handle and shoot in most situations. It was still light, yet the greater forward bias made it swing better. My general rule of thumb is that the lighter the gun, the more of its weight I want up front—and the 30″ gun bore this out.

I used the 30” gun on Georgia plantation quail during a Shooting Sportsman Readers & Writers hunt. Twenty-eight is the quail gauge, and the Estate was a delight. The rounded receiver was comfortable to carry. The 30″ barrels were no handicap on short shots, because the gun was so light, yet they greatly aided longer shots when trying for the second bird of a double.

In all the Dickinson Estate side-by-sides are very nice guns. They are extremely attractive and look like far more expensive guns. There are enough optional configurations to please just about anyone, and at less than $1,700 the price is certainly right. While there might be occasional flaws, they aren’t major ones. And of course there is that lifetime guarantee. 10326.png

For more information, contact Dickinson Arms, 805-978-8565

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The post Dickinson Arms Estate appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

There is a big difference between cheap guns and inexpensive guns. With modern computerized machinery, especially when used in a country with moderate wages like Turkey, it now is possible to produce low-cost shotguns of a quality level impossible just a decade or two ago. The Stevens 555 over/under is a perfect example. It is made by KOFS, Ltd., in Isparta, Turkey, and imported by Savage Arms.

The 555 comes in two grades: the basic grade, which costs $692, and the 555 Enhanced, which is $863. The basic gun has extractors, plain walnut and an unengraved black receiver, while the 555 Enhanced has upgraded wood, an engraved silver receiver and ejectors. The basic gun was introduced in 2014; the 555 Enhanced is new. Our review gun is the Enhanced model, which is mechanically identical to the basic gun except for the extractors/ejectors.

Savage Arms

Minimalist by design and in materials, the aluminum receiver weighs about 1 pound less than one built of steel. The hammers hinge on the bottom tang, and the sears hang from the top. Though basic, it functions just fine. Photograph by Bruce Buck

The 555 replaces the weighty Savage 512. Like the previous gun, the 555 comes in 12, 20, 28 and .410. Intended as an upland gun, the 555 avoids the common problem of inexpensive guns being overweight by using an aluminum receiver and forend metal. Our 28″ 12-gauge Enhanced was listed as weighing 6 pounds even but actually weighed a hair more than 6 pounds 5 ounces. Like compulsive dieters, manufacturers almost always fib on weight. For a 12-gauge O/U to carry in the field, that weight is very nice indeed.

The aluminum receiver is the reason for the gun’s light weight. The receiver design is typical of many Italian guns in that it has replaceable steel hinge stubs, like Berettas, and a single, broad sliding lock engaging a slot at the bottom of the monoblock, like Brownings. The monoblock also has two fixed lugs that engage cutouts in the bottom of the receiver, though that is steel against aluminum, so it will wear. As with most other aluminum-receiver shotguns, there is a reinforcing steel strip inletted vertically into the standing breech that encompasses the firing-pin holes. Other than a removable floorplate, the receiver is one solid piece of metal, ensuring that there is no flex between the top and bottom receiver tangs. The entire receiver weighs 1 pound 1 ounce, about a pound less than one made of steel.

The interior of the action is basic but a little different. The hammers hinge on the bottom tang, while the sears hang from the top. The trigger is mechanical, and there is no inertia block. The selective connector between the aluminum trigger blade and the steel sears is held in place by an oddly curved coil spring, but it works and reliably engages the second sear. The barrel selector/safety on the top tang is similar to Browning’s. The selective ejectors on the Enhanced model are standard stuff and cock on closing.

The forend iron isn’t iron. It’s aluminum. That means the wear joint between the receiver and forend is soft metal on soft metal. But the forend cocking stud is steel, as is the forend latch. Also, what really counts is that the monoblock is solid cast steel, as are the receiver hinge stubs that engage it.

The barrels themselves are pretty conventional—which is a good thing—and 28″ is the only length offered in 12 gauge. There are vented side ribs and a vented top rib that is an untapered ¼” wide, flat and unobtrusive, as the rib on a game gun should be. There is a small brass bead up front and nothing cluttering up the middle. The barrel exterior finish is a matte black—again not out of place on a field gun.

The barrels are 4140 chrome-moly steel, and the bores are chrome-lined. The chambers are 3″, to satisfy the masochists out there who want to shoot heavy shells in a lightweight gun. Bore diameters were .723″ on the bottom and .726″ on the top. Yes, it would be nice to have them both the same, but .003″ difference doesn’t matter in the real world.

Courtesy of Savage Arms

The gun comes with five 2″, flush-mounted screw chokes. They are in the style of Beretta MobilChokes but are not interchangeable with them. The dimensions on our set of chokes were Cylinder, .722″; Improved Cylinder, .723″; Modified, .714″; Improved Modified, .695″; and Full, .684″. Note that the IC and M are considerably more open than is customary. Choke designations are marked by notches on the front lip, so that you can see what you have installed without removing them. The choke wrench is one of those flat stamped bits that you would expect on a gun of this price.

The walnut is one of the things for which you pay the extra $171. Compared to the plain wood on the standard 555, our Enhanced test gun had wood with interesting figure. I’d give it a three out of five stars. Not bad at all. The finish was low-luster-oil-like and, as with many current European guns, did not fully fill the grain. Still, it looked fine. Checkering was laser-cut in a very-fine-lines-per-inch pattern. Slightly coarser checkering would give a better grip. Stock dimensions on our gun were: 14½” length of pull, 1¼” drop at comb and 21⁄8″ drop at heel with slight right-hand cast and 7° of pitch. This is both a touch higher and a little more pitch than most mass-produced guns. The pistol grip was relatively full, not relaxed. The stock had a ¾”-thick, black rubber recoil pad with snaggy, unrounded edges and one of those pointy toes that pokes into the pectorals of muscular shooters. Wood-to-metal fit was a little too proud, but it was adequate and gap-free.

In addition to the ejectors and prettier wood, the 555 Enhanced comes with a laser-engraved silver receiver instead of a plain blued one. The full-coverage acanthus scroll engraving was OK if you don’t mind the shiny silver receiver in the field, but the simple black receiver of the plain-grade 555 would have achieved a more classic look. The bottom of the receiver was slightly rounded for a comfortable field carry.

Snap Shot

Make & Model: Stevens 555 Enhanced.

Gauge: 12.

Action: Over/under boxlock.

Metal Finish: Silver receiver with 100% engraving, matte-black barrels.

Barrel length: 28”.

Weight: 6 pounds 5 ounces.

Chokes: Five screw-in, flush-mounted tubes.

Stock: Pistol grip, oil finish, 14½” x 1¼” x 21/8”.

Accessories: Chokes, choke wrench, choke case, owner’s manual.

Price as tested: $863.

The gun comes in a cardboard box complete with the chokes and wrench. That’s about it. The only other accessory is the particularly uninformative manual, which lacks even a parts diagram. The included warranty is for one year.

If I have been a little hard on the gun so far, it’s because I’m comparing it to the much more expensive guns normally reviewed here. I also try to point out where some money has been saved to meet the price. But when it comes to shooting, nothing counts except performance. Not price. Not looks. Not quality.

The Stevens 555 Enhanced is flat out a shooter. I can’t comment on its long-term reliability, because I don’t keep a review gun that long. But while I tested it, it was mechanically correct in all respects. Everything worked. Nothing broke. The chokes stayed snug. Barrel convergence was good. The ejector timing was a touch off at first, but it corrected itself as the gun wore in. The trigger had perfectly nice 5¾-pound pulls on both sears, which is just fine for the field. It did have a good bit of slop and creep. I’d care more about that in a target gun, but in field conditions it wouldn’t be noticeable.

What really stood out when shooting the gun was the balance and handling. Shotguns with alloy receivers and standard steel barrels generally are nose-heavy. With a light gun, a bit of weight up front is a good thing as long as it isn’t too much. The 555’s balance was very nice. The balance point was about ½” in front of the hinge. The more important moment of inertia was delightfully moderate. The barrels were quick to move but had a certain steadiness. While I was able to shoot the gun only at clays, I believe it would be marvelous in the field. It certainly handled well for both near and far shots in sporting clays and FITASC. That said, with that aluminum receiver, it is not primarily a high-volume clay-target gun. It’s a hunter.

The light carry weight would be most welcome toward the end of a long day’s pheasant hunt. Recoil shouldn’t be an issue, if you are sensible in selecting the ammo. The gun will function with heavy 3″ loads, but you might not. A full-tilt 3″ shell will have about three times the recoil of a moderate target load in this gun. Not fun at all. But more realistic upland loads should be no problem. My usual pheasant 12-gauge weighs 7 pounds and is comfortable enough for a day’s hunt with 3¼-dram, 1¼-oz loads of No. 5s. The 555 is 10% lighter and should be just fine.

In all, I was very impressed with the performance of the Stevens 555 Enhanced. The balance was surprisingly good and made the gun easy to shoot well. The light weight was noticeable when carrying but not when shooting. The gun functioned properly in all respects. It’s not at all bad looking with the upgraded wood. And then there is that $863 retail price. Even though it is inexpensive, it is definitely not cheap.

For more information, contact Savage Arms, 413-568-7001.

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The post Stevens 555 Enhanced appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

Rizzini is an important family name in the gunmaking area of Italy. The F.lli Rizzini (“Rizzini Brothers”) shop is known for making top-shelf guns like the R1 sidelock, which sells for well north of $50,000. Those Rizzini brothers are the uncles of Battista, Isidoro and Emilio Rizzini, all of whom have separate gunmaking operations. Emilio’s son married one of the Fausti sisters, and his gun business joined with theirs. Isidoro still runs FAIR (Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini) and produces a middle range of over/unders and side-by-sides. Battista Rizzini, sold in this country under Rizzini USA and distributed by Fierce Arms, has a line of slightly more upscale O/Us and side-by-sides. Battista’s nephews Antonio and Giorgio Guerini helped start Caesar Guerini after working for their uncle. Gunmaking does, indeed, run in the blood.

This issue’s review gun is the Rizzini BR110 O/U, a product of Battista Rizzini. Usually B. Rizzini O/Us sell for $4,000 to $8,000, but this BR110 field gun is intended to be a price leader and retails for $1,999. It is listed as coming in 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge as well as .410, with 26½”, 28″ and 30″ barrels. It also is available as a BR110 Light with an aluminum receiver for $2,149. A 12-gauge sporting clays version is possible for next year. Our test gun was a 28-gauge BR110 with 28″ tubes and the steel receiver.

The first thing you notice about the gun, other than its low price, is the classic simplicity of its appearance. Modestly priced guns so often get tarted up with tasteless engraving meant to make them seem more expensive but really achieving exactly the opposite. Our BR110 had a matte-black receiver with sculpted side cheeks, almost no engraving and “Rizzini” in small gold letters on the sides. The barrels were bright blued, and the pistol-grip stock had decently figured wood. “Modestly elegant” might well describe it.

Rizzini lists the BR110 as coming in three receiver sizes for the 12, 20 and 28. Our 28-gauge receiver had exactly the same height and width as my wife’s 25-year-old Beretta 28. Indeed, I would think that the current Beretta Silver Pigeon I 28-gauge would be the main competition for the BR110. The prices are quite similar.

The BR110 is “modestly elegant,” with minimal engraving, bright-blued barrels and decently figured wood. Crisp machining and chemically blued parts make the interior of the time-tested action attractive, as well.

The BR110 action is mechanically the same as those on Rizzini’s more expensive O/U field guns. The difference in price is just the exterior cosmetics. The design is typical for Italy, with its Browning-style, wide, low, locking latch engaging a lateral notch in the bottom of the monoblock. Passive locking is by two substantial lugs on the bottom of the monoblock engaging slots on the bottom of the receiver. The slots do not pass through the bottom of the receiver as they do on Brownings. This keeps things cleaner. It is interesting to note that the indestructible sainted Browning Superposed uses four such lugs, while the very durable and well-proven Beretta 680 series uses none at all. Both hold up just fine. Hinging is by the now almost-universal (except Browning) replaceable hinge stubs. In all, the action is quite similar to those of Franchi, Fausti, Caesar Guerini, FAIR and most other Italian (and Turkish) makers, with the notable exceptions of Beretta, Perazzi and some boutique guns.

The insides of the action are chemically blued and not polished, but the crisp CNC machining keeps the interior as attractive as it is functional. The trigger is mounted on a separate triggerplate, with the sears hinging on the top strap and the hammers anchored to the plate. Hammer springs are coils set up horizontally for greatest efficiency. The trigger is mechanical, and pulls were a crisp 4 pounds under and 4¼ over—about perfect. The safety is manual, with the barrel selector built into it as a Beretta-style lateral toggle.

As with most modern guns built for the popular market, the barrels are joined by a monoblock. In this case the sides of the monoblock are jeweled, really the only shiny bit on the gun other than the bores. The ejectors and their springs and trips are built into the monoblock in the usual way. The gun does not break any new ground mechanically, but it uses systems that are well proven. It should be very reliable.

The barrels are chrome lined for easy cleaning and proofed for steel. Forcing cones were a standard ¾” in length. Bores were both just about the nominal .550″ 28-gauge diameter. That they both were the same size is rarer than you might think and gives credit to Rizzini’s machining. The company also makes double rifles, so there is a lot of experience with barrels and their regulation.

Five thin-wall screw chokes come with the gun in Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full. All measured what they should. Again, you’d be surprised at how often factory screw chokes are woefully off the accepted constrictions. The screw chokes are mounted flush, as is appropriate for a field gun. They are rim-notched for convenient identification when in place. The choke wrench was a step up in that it did the job and also was threaded at one end to be used as a thread cleaner for the barrels. Nice touch.

Snap Shot

Make & Model: Rizzini BR110

Gauge: 28

Action: Over/under boxlock

Metal Finish: Matte-black receiver with minimal engraving, gloss-blued barrels

Barrel length: 28″

Weight: 5 pounds 14.3 ounces

Chokes: Five screw-in, flush-mounted tubes

Stock: Pistol grip, oil finish, 14¾” x 1½” x 2½”

Accessories: Takedown ABS gun case, chokes, choke wrench, choke case, owner’s manual, three-year warranty

Price as tested: $1,999

The barrel exteriors were nicely gloss blued. The side ribs were full length right back to the monoblock. The top rib was an untapered ¼” wide with anti-glare scribing on top and a small brass bead up front.

Even though our BR110 is at the modest end of Rizzini’s price range, the wood figure was an attractive straight grain and nicely finished. The website says that it is a hand-rubbed oil. It certainly looked good with its medium-brown stain and black-figure striping. The finish almost completely filled the grain but not quite. The stock head and forend were coated nicely, with finish on the inside to forestall oil-seepage damage. Checkering was borderless, machine-cut at 26 lpi. Like the rest of the gun, it was simple, classical and effective. The flat-bottomed pistol grip was relaxed, as is appropriate on a field gun. The butt of the gun featured a sticky ½” rubber pad guaranteed to hang up on your hunting jacket when new. A wood or plastic buttplate would have been better on this subgauge field gun.

Stock dimensions are given on the Rizzini website as 14¾” x 1½” x 2¼”, although our actual test-gun dimensions were a little lower at 2½” at the heel. The guns are listed as having a bit of right-hand cast and 5° down pitch. On our gun wood-to-metal fit at the head of the stock was gap-free but overly proud.

The forend was petite, as befits a 28-gauge. Unlike the other Rizzini field O/Us that use Anson pushbutton forend latches up front, the BR110 latch is Deeley style in the middle of the forearm. This is normally good, as it permits a smooth, uncluttered forend tip. Or it would have if Rizzini hadn’t inflicted a Schnabel beak on this classy little gun. Looks aside, that sharp lip will be easy to chip if you hunt where the going is tough and the grouse abound.

The BR110 comes in a serviceable black ABS-plastic takedown case that should manage for the airlines. In addition to the gun, chokes, wrench, generic manual and parts diagram, there is a three-year mechanical warranty.

Nice as this little gun is, of course, it’s all about the shooting. Our steel-receiver gun weighed 5 pounds 14.3 ounces. This gun was centrally balanced right on the hinge pin. Centrally balanced lightweight guns are lightning on the close stuff but require more control on longer shots. Everything is a tradeoff. Generally, the lighter the gun, the more of its weight I want up front. Personally, I might consider getting the 30″ barrels to add just a touch more stability while still maintaining the light carry weight. But that is just my take, and better shooters might disagree and prefer the balance as is. If carry weight is a concern, note that our BR110 28 came in almost a half-pound lighter than the Beretta Silver Pigeon I 28 and three-quarters of a pound less than the Browning Lightning 28. For a minimal carry weight, the aluminum receiver BR110 Light weighs in at 5.2 pounds.

The gun was mechanically correct in all respects. Everything worked and worked well. The trigger was perfect, the chokes stayed put, the ejectors were well timed and barrel convergence was correct. As expected, with its light weight and central balance, the gun was very fast. On an explosive quail covey, that would be a real plus. A 30-yard pheasant might require a little more concentration. As usual, I loaned the gun to many different shooters, and we shot skeet, 5 Stand and FITASC. Everyone enjoyed shooting the BR110, but that’s a 28 for you. Opinions on the gun’s looks were universally favorable, as was the perception of value for price.

In all, Rizzini USA has a winner in the BR110. The gun is well built, good looking, priced right, light to carry and quick to shoot. Sales of this gun have been very strong since its introduction earlier this year. The company knows it has a winner, and when you see the gun, you will agree.

For more information, contact Rizzini USA, 435-528-5080.

The post Rizzini BR110 appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck
Photographs Courtesy of Savage Arms

What’s in a name? Sometimes it matters; sometimes it’s just marketing fluff; sometimes it’s a little bit of both. Savage has just introduced a new Fox A Grade side-by-side. Let’s see where it stands for that famous name.

Along with Parker and L.C. Smith, Fox was one of the great American gunmakers of the past. Ansley H. Fox started making boxlock side-by-sides under his own name in 1896, but then he went to work on two other shotgun ventures before starting the A.H. Fox Gun company in Philadelphia in 1906. Fox initially offered his guns in five grades, adding the basic Sterlingworth in 1910. He left the company that carried his name in 1912 to pursue automobile production, but the company continued without him. In 1929 Savage bought the Fox company and moved shotgun production from Philadelphia to Utica, New York. There Foxes continued to be made until production tapered off in the early ’40s and the line ended. Savage switched the Fox name to an upgrade of its Stevens 311 side-by-side, calling it the Fox Model B. This plain, durable Anson & Deeley boxlock remained in the Savage lineup until the company’s reorganization in 1988. After that the Fox name was unused until 1994, when the Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company, under an agreement with Savage, began making and selling A.H. Fox guns of very high quality and along the lines of the Philadelphia guns. They remain in production today and can cost $25,000 and more, depending on the grade and extras.

In 2017 Savage decided to market but not manufacture a Fox A Grade shotgun. Savage struck a deal whereby Connecticut Shotgun would build cosmetically altered versions of its RBL side-by-side for Savage to sell as the Fox A Grade. Connecticut Shotgun has been making the RBL since 2005, and almost 8,000 have been made to date. The RBL was, and is, an excellent gun. (See a review of the RBL Launch edition in May/June ’07.)

The most wear-prone components inside the Fox’s action receive a hard coating of titanium nitride.

The Fox A Grade, née RBL, is a gun that Savage should be proud of. Mechanically, it is a different gun than Connecticut Shotgun’s high-end Foxes, but it is no slouch. List price for the Fox A Grade is $4,999. (Not surprisingly, that’s about what some RBLs are going for today, depending on options.) Our review gun was a 28″ 20-gauge. Savage also will market the gun in a 26″ 20-gauge and a 12-gauge with 26″ or 28″ barrels.

The RBL/Fox A action is an Anson & Deeley boxlock. The A&D has been by far the most popular design for side-by-side boxlocks for the past century, because it has minimal parts and maximum efficiency and has proven extremely reliable. At first glance inside the A Grade’s action you will notice the gold-colored titanium-nitride coating on the triggers, hammers, horizontal sears and ejector cocking arms. This is the same hard coating used on drill bits. The firing pins are built into the hammers as a single unit and are operated by leaf springs. Today’s leaf springs use modern metal alloys and are quite durable. Interior machining is visually precise, which is no surprise, considering the modern CNC and EDM machines that Connecticut Shotgun uses. Lockup is by the Purdey double underbolt—which, like the A&D action, is proven beyond a doubt and used by most side-by-side makers. The Fox hinge is replaceable, if that should ever be necessary.

Double triggers are standard on the gun. The trigger pulls were both 5½ pounds. That may be just a little heavy for some tastes, but there was absolutely no creep or overtravel. A single trigger is not an option, though it is on the RBL. The safety is automatic, and the safety lever has a nice bump on it for good thumb engagement. It was easy to click on and off, a feature quite important on a field gun where safety use precedes each shot.

While the Fox A Grade’s and RBL’s receivers are mechanically identical, they differ cosmetically in a number of ways. The rear of the Fox A Grade receiver where it meets the sides of the stock head is flat, while on the RBL it is curved. The sides of the receiver sport a shallow example of the distinctive Fox sharp cheek. Stamped into that on each side in tiny letters is “Fox.” The perfectly nice scroll laser engraving is minimal and mostly hidden by the marvelous bone-and-charcoal case coloring. The bottom edges of the receiver are slightly rounded for a more comfortable carry.

Fox A Grade

The barrels are made completely in-house and are joined at the rear, not by the common monoblock or classic chopper lumps but by a brazed dovetail plate that incorporates the barrel hooks. The automatic ejectors are the proven and popular Southgate type.

The barrels are chrome lined for ease of maintenance and cryogenically frozen to relieve stress and warpage. Our review gun had chambers that were only 2¾” long, not the usual 3″ as on most 20s, and this was marked on the barrels. While some 3″ 20-gauge lead shells don’t pattern well, 3″ is very handy when steel shot is being used, as it allows a larger payload. Bore dimensions were both .615″, exactly the nominal diameter for 20 gauge. Forcing cones were standard length, not the currently trendy extended ones.

Five screw chokes come with the Fox Grade A: Cylinder, Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified and Full. The chokes are made by Trulock, and those from Cylinder to Modified are approved for steel. They are flush mounted at the muzzle and of thin construction, so there is no muzzle swell. They also are notched for efficient choke-wrench engagement.

On the outside, the barrels’ ribs are silver soldered for longer life than the usual soft solder provides. The top rib is a low, swamped classic English game style, which is so attractive and minimalist. The finish of the barrels on our test gun was a matte blue, but production guns will be the traditional polished blue.

The wood on the gun is also in the classic tradition of an English straight stock and splinter forend. Stock dimensions were 14½” length of pull, 1½” drop at comb and 2½” drop at heel. This will please those who are of shorter stature with fuller faces. Double-trigger side-by-sides often are stocked a little longer than this, to accommodate rear-trigger usage, and a bit higher, to deal with barrel flip. There was zero cast, so lefties will feel at home. No other stock dimensions are currently offered.

Snap Shot

Make & Model: Savage Fox A Grade

Gauge: 20

Action: Anson & Deeley boxlock

Chambering: 2¾”

Finish: Case-colored receiver with 20% engraving, blued barrels

Barrel length: 28″

Weight: 6 pounds 2 ounces

Chokes: Five screw-in flush-mounted tubes/p>

Stock: English, oil finish, 14½” x 1½” x 2½”

Accessories: Choke wrench, takedown ABS case, cable gun lock, owner’s manual, one-year warranty

Price as tested: $4,999

The American black walnut stock on our gun had decent but not outstanding figure. Other Fox A Grades I’ve seen in photos have had more attractive wood. Checkering in a minimalist pattern had been nicely done by laser. Savage says the finish is oil. It was high gloss, flawlessly applied and completely filled the wood grain. Wood-to-metal fit was well done and uniform. The rear of the stock sported a smooth, functional plastic buttplate. The Fox had a short trigger tang, not the elegant long tang of the RBL. Up front the nose of the splinter forend was slightly deeper and less graceful than those on nice English guns. The forend latch was the usual self-adjusting Anson push-button.

The Fox A Grade comes in a decent-quality ABS takedown case that should survive airline travel. Included with the gun are the five chokes and wrench, a pointless steel-cable gun lock and a very basic manual. The warranty is for one year.

Shooting the gun was trouble-free. Everything worked as it should. For me, the stock fit was low and short, but I fixed that with a slip-on recoil pad and some moleskin on the comb. Depending on size, some other shooters felt that the gun fit them quite nicely. The gun’s 6-pound 2-ounce weight and central balance made it quick and handy, while the longer 28″ barrels added just enough stability. This gun would be a pleasure to carry and shoot on a long day afield.

Fox fans will not be disappointed in this gun. It lends honor to the name. It is designed and made with American quality and handles well. Mechanically, it is not akin to previous Foxes, but it easily can stand on its own merits. This Savage Fox Grade A would have made A.H. proud.

For more information, contact Savage Arms, 800-370-0708 or 413-568-7001.

The post Savage Fox A Grade appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck

Since 2009 I have reviewed Fausti shotguns five times and never been disappointed. In the past it always has been side-by-side or over/under game guns, but Fausti also imports some very interesting clay-target O/Us. The new XF4 Sport is just such a target gun. It is said to be a multi-discipline gun suitable for trap, skeet, sporting clays and FITASC.

Currently Fausti USA markets three target O/Us: the L4, at $2,999; the XF4 Sport, at $4,900; and the sideplated and heavily engraved Magnificent Sport, at $5,999. Those are 12- and 20-gauge prices. These guns also come in 28 and .410 at a $560 premium. The mechanics on all of the guns are the same, but the receiver profiles, cosmetics, engraving and wood quality differ with price. Our test gun was a 12-gauge XF4 Sport.

The XF4 Sport comes in three versions, but they differ only in whether the “XF4” lettering on the otherwise unengraved blued receiver is in black, gold or platinum. Our gun was the Gold model.
The action on the XF4 is attractive on the outside and purposeful inside. The exterior is nicely rounded on the bottom edges and quite slender for a target gun. Everything in the action, inside and out, is blued. The action body is machined from a single forging, as is the trigger group. Inside things are basic and proven. Hammers pivot from the bottom; sears are suspended from the top. The hammer springs are substantial horizontal coils surrounding strong guide rods. An inertia block sets the trigger, and the safety is manual as befits a target gun. The barrel selector is a lateral toggle in the safety like Beretta’s. It really couldn’t be simpler—and simple is good.

Fausti XF4 Sport

Action lockup is pretty standard, with the usual Val Trompia-style broad, locking tongue engaging a lateral notch in the bottom of the monoblock a la Browning. The passive locks on this Fausti are a little different. The company’s patented Four Lock system consists of two lugs at the rear of the monoblock engaging recesses in the bottom of the receiver. The sides of the monoblock also have recesses that engage lugs on both sides of the receiver, somewhat like on a Perazzi. This may be overkill. Beretta 680s lock up with two conical locks and no passive lugs at all, and they hold up fine. But it is for sure that Fausti’s “belt and suspenders” approach will ensure a tight gun for a very long time.

The blued inertia trigger on our gun was not adjustable for length. This means that the trigger blade won’t come loose at some inconvenient time, but those with small hands might have to stretch. Unfortunately, there was a good bit of take-up before the trigger engaged. Then there was a fair amount of creep on the lower sear but a bit less on the top. Measured pulls were 5 pounds on the under sear and 5½ on the over.

Barrels on our gun were 30″, but 28″ and 32″ are available. The triple-alloy steel tubes are joined at the monoblock. Barrels hinge on the now almost universal (except for Browning) hinge stubs engaging notches in the monoblock. The blessedly flat vented top rib tapers from 10mm (.4″) to 7mm (.275″) at the muzzle. The top of the rib is scribed, to eliminate pesky glare. There is no center bead, and the front bead sports a red inchworm. The side ribs of the gun are vented for heat dispersion and extend to the monoblock. The ribs are said to be silver soldered, not soft soldered, so they should stay put.

The barrel interiors are chrome lined for ease of maintenance, and they are high-pressure proofed to 1,320 Bars. For comparison, common British proof is 950 Bars. The Fausti is sturdy, indeed. Chambers were 3″ with longish forcing cones of just more than 1″. Bores were .725″, a bit tighter than the nominal 12-bore .729″ and definitely not part of the current overbore trend.

Snapshot

Make & Model: Fausti XF4 Sport

Gauge: 12

Action: Over/under boxlock

Chambering: 3”

Finish: Black receiver with gold lettering, no engraving

Barrel length: 30”

Weight: 8 pounds 2 ounces

Chokes: Five screw-in extended chokes

Stock: Pistol, palm swell, 14¾” LOP, adjustable comb

Accessories: Takedown ABS case, choke wrench, comb spacers, owner’s manual, two-year
warranty

Price as tested: $4,900

The gun can be ordered with fixed chokes, but ours came with five Xpro extended screw chokes. All of the chokes measured surprisingly close to the generally accepted nominal 12-bore constrictions. This is rarer than you might think. The chokes were 2 7⁄8″ long with 1 1⁄8″ of that extending beyond the muzzle. The interiors were tapered, with the last ½” parallel, to stabilize the shot. The choke designation was printed on each choke tube and also designated by notches on the rim for easy identification while installed. The extended portion was knurled for a good grip. Fausti did a great job in that there was no visible jugging of the muzzles to accommodate the chokes. On the downside, it took 42 full turns to remove a choke and insert a new one. But they stayed put, which is crucial.

The wood on our XF4 Sport was a step up but not what you would call fancy or highly figured. Fausti rates it an ambiguous “3A.” The walnut grain ran fore and aft in relatively straight lines but with good contrast. Straight grain is most appropriate on a competition gun intended for heavy use, as it is stronger than more heavily figured wood. Still, it was quite attractive with the contrasting dark grain against the reddish-walnut background.

The high-gloss oil finish on our sample was excellent. Unlike on many Italian guns, the finish fully filled the grain. The insides of the head of the stock and forend also were coated with finish, to forestall oil-seepage damage. That’s a nice touch that many makers omit. Checkering was in a simple pattern and applied by laser in a relatively high-lines-per-inch count. It covered the majority of the forend and pistol grip.

The forend configuration was a nicely rounded competition style. It wasn’t bulky, but it did fill the hand. It was also attractive. Fausti literature says that the forends can be had in rounded, semi-beavertail and Schnabel configurations. The forend latch is the common Deeley type in the center of the forearm, not the Anson button at the nose of the forearm. The Deeley latch allows a smoother forend front on an O/U than the Anson button does.

Our gun’s stock had a 14¾” length of pull and an adjustable comb. It would go as low as 1½” at the comb and 2 3⁄8″ at the heel and up to just about any height you wish with spacers inserted. You also can adjust the angle of the top of the comb by placing more washers in the front or rear. Cast is adjustable by loosening and moving the pillars that hold the washers to one side or the other. A downside of the adjustable comb is the sharp edges that can get caught on things. The stock also had slight built-in cast for a righty, and it had a right-hand palm swell on the moderate pistol grip. Left-handed stocks are available on request. At the butt is a ½” hard-rubber recoil pad. It probably doesn’t do much for recoil, but it has more grab to stay on your shoulder than a plastic buttplate. The edges were left sharp, and some shooters no doubt would prefer them rounded. Pitch on the stock seemed to be the usual 4°, or 2″ stand-off.

Guns that fit and balance properly, like this XF4, always shoot well.

The XF4 comes in a nice ABS takedown case that is silver on the outside and black inside. It should survive the airlines. The gun comes swathed in cloth socks. The five chokes, adequate choke wrench and comb spacers are packed in a useful plastic box that will go neatly into your shooting kit. The instruction manual is basic. The warranty is for two years from the date of purchase.

Since the gun is advertised as being meant for sporting clays, trap and skeet, I went a little overboard and shot it at sporting, 5 Stand, FITASC, trap, skeet and Olympic trap. It had a nice target weight of 8 pounds 2 ounces. To my taste, the 30″ barrels were ideal, and the gun was well balanced. Teeter-totter was on the front edge of the hinge pins, but the barrels had enough weight so that the gun wasn’t at all whippy. If you want to adjust the balance slightly, simply select longer or shorter barrels. O/U 12-gauge barrels weigh roughly an ounce per inch, so changing 2 oz at the muzzle definitely will alter the feel of the gun.

The XF4’s inertia trigger functioned correctly with standard factory 1 1⁄8- and 1-oz target loads. Chokes stayed put and didn’t need retightening. Barrel convergence appeared to be correct—not surprising, as Fausti also makes double rifles, which require perfect convergence. Shell ejection was flawless, and hulls were tossed about five feet.

Thanks to the stock’s adjustable comb, I was able to make the gun fit perfectly, and it shot accordingly. Guns that fit and balance properly, like this XF4, always shoot well. Fausti should be commended. The company clearly has made a real clays gun that is not only a serious shooter and built for the long haul but also quite attractive.

For more information, contact Fausti USA, 540-371-3287.

The post Fausti XF4 Sport appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck
Photographs Courtesy of Heka by Giulio Bernardelli

Giulio Bernardelli’s family has been in the Italian gunmaking business in the Gardone, Val Trompia, area for 200 years. Other makers under the Bernardelli family name who have exported to the US have included Vincenzo, Pietro and L. Santina.

Giulio has been making fine guns in his shop since 2010. Like many small makers, he outsources some of his work to local artisans, of which there are many in his area of Italy. His shop, Heka by Giulio Bernardelli (Heka was the ancient Egyptian god of magic), produces 15 to 25 custom-made double-barreled guns each year. The range includes over/unders, express rifles, side-by-sides and hammerguns.

Double Guns of Nashville imports these excellent guns, and co-founder Barry Rich was kind enough to loan us a Giulio Bernardelli 28-gauge hammergun to review. This particular gun retails for $22,900, but since virtually everything about it is custom, the price can vary depending on the preferences of the buyer. This hammergun, like the other guns the shop makes, is available in most gauges. But face it: If you want cute and cool and can start with a handmade side-by-side hammergun, a 28-gauge is about as classy a boutique gun as you can get.

The action starts out as a solid chunk of steel that is then CNC’d to proper dimensions. There are no cast parts. The hardware on the gun comes from the same steel as the receiver. After that it is all skilled handfitting. As a hammergun, it is a true sidelock configuration, and it is a bar action, because the mainsprings are located forward of the locks in the bar of the action. The action itself is tiny and truly sized for the 28 gauge. The exterior hammers catch your eye and give the action more visual width, but there is no question that this is a sub-gauge.

The 28-gauge shell may be small, but the lockup treats it seriously. Our gun had the usual side-by-side Purdey double lumps, with the square-notch underbites engaging the sliding bolt. The double lumps also go through the bottom of the receiver, to provide additional passive lockup. And then, just to make sure, they added a Greener crossbolt and its rib extension. This gun will not be shooting loose anytime soon.

The scaled 28-gauge is a conventional sidelock, with the mainsprings located forward of the locks in the bar of the action.

Our gun had conventional double triggers, but a single trigger or “single/double” trigger is available. Giulio describes his single/double trigger as a double trigger where the front trigger fires the right barrel on the first pull and the left barrel on the second pull. The rear trigger fires only the left barrel. Trigger pulls on the test gun were 5 pounds on the right barrel and 4 pounds on the left. Of course, the buyer can stipulate whatever he wants. The pulls were extraordinarily crisp, with absolutely zero creep or take-up.

Since this is a modern hammergun, it comes with a conventional top tang safety. Old hammerguns usually had no safeties. The theory was that you simply cocked the hammers when you were ready to shoot. That’s fine for the controlled environment of driven shooting where you have time to get ready but more difficult when dealing with fast-flushing upland birds for which the 28 gauge is intended. This modern safety makes the little Bernardelli as quick to shoot as any gun made. The safety is manual, not automatic, so it must be intentionally engaged, but it won’t drive you crazy when shooting clay targets either.

A few modern hammerguns are self-cocking on opening, but this one is strictly manual. The gun is fitted with manual extractors as standard, not automatic ejectors. They certainly make the action less complicated. These extractors did lift the hulls well clear of the breech face, so pulling them out was easy. If you prefer automatic ejectors, just order your gun that way. The gun can be safely opened with the hammers in cocked or fired position.

The barrels on our test gun were 30″, but you can have what you wish. Personally, I thought this length was ideal for the balance and handling of the gun. Even though the gun weighed only 5 pounds 5.6 ounces, it wasn’t whippy, thanks to the stabilizing weight of the barrels. It did balance on the hinge pin, but the longish barrels gave it the feel of a bit more forward bias when swinging on a target. A classic hand-filed flat rib tops the barrels but does not rise above them.

Handsome is as handsome does certainly applies to this 28.

The barrels are joined by the “demi-bloc” method, which is Euro-speak for chopper-lump. Morris Hallowell’s most excellent firearms dictionary notes that, compared to monoblock or dove-tailing, this jointure is the strongest in relation to its weight and permits the rear of the barrels to be fitted slightly closer together to facilitate proper barrel regulation.

Our gun’s barrels had chromed bores of .553″, close to the 28-gauge nominal inside diameter of .550″. Both barrels measured the same, which isn’t always the case. The chokes on this gun were fixed. They measured .009″ (about Improved Cylinder) on the right barrel and .018″ (about Improved Modified) on the left. This is a typically European ¼- and ¾-choke setup and would be very effective at 25 and 35 yards. The chokes were about 2½” long with a 1″ parallel, to stabilize the shot. Screw chokes are available.

Giulio Bernardelli 28-Gauge Hammergun
Our test gun’s stock had a 14¾” length of pull, with 1-3/8″ drop at comb and 2½” drop at heel. Of course, you can order what you wish. The gun came with a classic English stock and splinter forearm, as befits a little jewel of this quality. Mr. Bernardelli obviously has access to some killer walnut, as our gun’s stock and forend both were heavily figured in matching grains.

As you would expect on a gun of this quality, the hand checkering and oil finish were flawless. The inside of the forend was finished to the same exceptional level as the outside. The wood-to-metal inletting was correct, being flush where it should be and a little proud where that was required. I particularly liked the checkered butt, so suitable on a little gun. There was also an absolutely gorgeous inletted trigger tang that went halfway down the underside of the stock.

Snapshot

Make & Model: Giulio Bernardelli Hammergun

Gauge: 28

Action: Sidelock hammergun

Chambering: 2¾”

Finish: Silver receiver with 50-percent engraving, blued barrels

Barrel length: 30″

Weight: 5 pounds 5 ounces

Chokes: Fixed IC & IM

Stock: English, oil finish, 14¾” LOP, 13/8″ DAC, 2½” DAH

Accessories: Takedown leather case, cleaning rod, chamber brush, three screwdrivers, oil bottle, five-year warranty

Price as tested: $22,900

The receiver, top and bottom tangs and hammers were left a muted silver that went perfectly with the slightly matte bluing of the barrels. The engraving of the action was what you might expect on a gun of this price. There was about 50-percent coverage in a perfectly executed rose & scroll pattern signed by engraver L. Bertella. Of course, the engraver and engraving are personal choices.

The gun came packed in one of the nicest gun cases I have seen. The takedown case was made by Emmebi using a premium leather on a hardwood frame, with solid-brass fittings and a dark-blue baize interior. The case contained a stainless-steel oil bottle; stainless snap caps; and a cleaning rod, chamber brush and three fitted screwdrivers all made from rosewood, brass and steel. The case also had a leather-and-canvas protective outer cover.

Handsome is as handsome does certainly applies to this 28. When shooting, it was mechanically correct in all respects. That’s no surprise, because after each gun is made it is disassembled and reassembled twice to check that every detail is finished correctly. This care shows in the gun’s performance. But just to make sure, Double Guns of Nashville warrants the gun for five years.

That said, shooting a gun this light can be challenging until you become accustomed to its facile swing and lack of inertia. The light weight made it a breeze to carry, but that characteristic also requires some attention when shooting. Quick shots at short range were instinctive. Intermediate shots where a continuous swing and follow-through were needed required a bit more concentration, but the long barrels helped. At first I found the hammers in my sight picture disconcerting, but, as I became used to the gun, that cleared up. This is the kind of gun that you quickly will learn to shoot and appreciate.

You certainly can buy a gun as efficient as this for much less money. But that’s not the point. You want this gun not only for what it does, but also for what it is: a truly functional work of art.

For more information, contact Double Guns of Nashville.

The post Giulio Bernardelli 28-Gauge Hammergun appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck
Photographs Courtesy of Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.

Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company continues to pleasantly surprise me. The firm’s shotguns are proudly 100 percent made in America and are highly thought of. With some prices for its custom Galazan sidelocks exceeding $100,000, they ought to be. But CSMC also makes less-expensive guns that, while less ornate, are very nicely done. The popular Inverness over/under rounded-action boxlock starts around $9,000 today, while the mechanically identical Model 21 O/U runs from $3,995 to $16,000, depending on grade. Although worth it, these prices are not inexpensive. So you can imagine my surprise when at the beginning of this year CSMC introduced the extremely attractive Revelation rounded-action O/U with a list price of $2,995 but a temporary introductory price of $1,995.

The Revelation is mechanically identical to the current Inverness and Model 21 O/U but lacks many of the styling additions that those guns have. There is no engraving, laser or otherwise; no long trigger tang; no grip cap; no glossy barrel bluing. That said, it is not the worse at all for its simplicity. Its appearance is cleanly classic and all the better for it. It is flat-out gorgeous. Connecticut Shotgun

One of the ways that the price was kept down was by limiting the options. The Revelation currently comes only in 20 gauge. Barrel lengths are 26″, 28″ and 30″, and the stock is either English or pistol grip. There is also the option of upgraded wood for $350. That’s it. It certainly makes choosing less confusing and inventory more manageable. Our test 20-gauge Revelation came with 30″ barrels and upgraded wood.

The action hinging and lockup of the Revelation/Inverness/Model 21 O/U follows the typical Italian paradigm as seen in B. Rizzinis, Caesar Guerinis, Faustis, Franchis and others, with the exception of Berettas and Perazzis. Main lockup is by a wide locking tongue located in the bottom of the receiver, much like on Brownings. Hinging is on replaceable hinge stubs built into the sides of the receiver that engage cutouts in the sides of the monoblock. Passive lockup is by two lugs on the bottom of the monoblock that fit into cutouts in the bottom of the receiver. The lugs do not penetrate the receiver as they do on Brownings, which keeps things cleaner.

The 20-gauge action is proven and well executed, properly sized, nicely rounded underneath, and beautifully case colored.

The tempered steel action is basically two pieces. There is the main action body with top tang, and then there is the separate triggerplate with vertical rear riser. Inside, the hammers pivot on the bottom plate while the sears are suspended from the top. Hammers are driven by horizontal coil springs. The trigger is inertial, not mechanical, so the first shot must go off to set up the second. The safety is automatic, engaging each time the gun is opened, but this is easily altered to manual by removing a connecting wire. The safety switch on the top tang includes a lateral toggle to select the barrel, much like on Berettas. For increased durability, all the pins used in the interior action are solid, not hollow roll pins. The hammers are hard coated in gold titanium nitride. In all, the action design is standard, proven and well executed. Cosmetically, the action is properly sized to the 20 gauge and has a nicely rounded underside for an attractive appearance and comfortable field carry. The action is beautifully case colored too. And this isn’t the chemical cyanide case coloring often used in Europe. It’s the good stuff: the real bone-and-charcoal process.

The barrel tubes are joined at the rear by the monoblock and in front by solid side ribs extending back 19″ from the muzzles, leaving the barrels under the forearm without side ribs and transferring a bit of weight forward. The top rib is vented and blessedly flat, with no humps, ramps or center beads to get in the way of a clean sight picture. Up front there is a single Bradley bead with a red dot. The barrels are matte blued and the top rib machine scribed, both of which will reduce glare. The ribs are soldered, not lasered as on the CSMC A-10 American, but on our gun the work was neatly done and the seams were correct. Lasering is more durable than soldering and does not subject the barrels to potential heat warpage.

I measured the insides of the barrels at .612″, a tiny bit snugger than the 20-gauge nominal .615″. The barrels were chambered for 3″ shells and proofed for steel shot. Chamber forcing cones were standard length, not the trendy elongated ones. Five 1½”-long, flush-mounted screw chokes with standard conical/parallel interior designs were supplied: Skeet (.615″), Improved Cylinder (.610″), Modified (.600″), Improved Modified (.595″) and Full (.590″). The chokes were stamped with the dimensions but did not have notches on the rims to indicate the constriction while in the barrel. There was the slightest barrel bulging for the chokes at the muzzles; however, you had to look really hard to see it. It is interesting that the 30″ barrels of the Revelation 20-gauge weighed 4.4 oz more than the 30″ barrels of the A-10 20-gauge. Then again, the A-10 was not chambered for 3″ shells.

Connecticut Shotgun The wood on the gun was very nice indeed. CSMC has a supply of great wood, and the $350 upgrade on our Revelation was reflected in a nicely grained stock. It was well worth the money. Our review gun had a relaxed pistol grip stock (not shown). It was nicely done and quite suitable on a field gun. The laser-cut checkering is 24 lines per inch and done in a conservative pattern. The finish is high-gloss oil. Stock dimensions are listed on CSMC’s website as 14½” length of pull, 1½” drop at comb and 23⁄8″ drop at heel—and that’s exactly what our stock measured. And because it has no cast, it would be suitable for a righty or lefty. The stock ends in a hard rubber buttplate, so appropriate on a field gun.

SNAPSHOT

Make & Model: Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co. Revelation

Gauge: 20

Action: Over/under boxlock

Chambering: 3″

Finish: Case-colored receiver, no engraving, matte-blue barrels

Barrel length: 30″

Weight: 5 pounds 5 ounces

Chokes: Five screw-in flush-mount chokes

Stock: Pistol grip, oil finish, 14½” LOP, 1½” DAC, 23/8″ DAH

Accessories: Choke wrench, one-year warranty

Price as tested: $2,995 ($1,995 introductory)

The forend is a slender classic field design. It is attached with an Anson pushbutton rather than the usual Deeley latch. This makes the tip of the forend just a little deeper than necessary. The insides of both the forend and the head of the stock were coated with finish. This is a nice touch to forestall future oil damage. The Revelation was shipped with limited extras, to keep the price down. It arrived in a simple cardboard box and came with the five chokes, a choke wrench and a one-year warranty.

Shooting the gun had its problems. Good problems. It was hard to get it away from fellow shooters who were handling it. Everyone thought the gun looked absolutely smashing and that the price was wonderful. It really is a gorgeous gun, made even more so by its classic proportions. The fancy wood didn’t hurt either.

I found the 30″ barrels to be a little heavier up front than I would like for walk-up hunting. The balance point was a full 1½” in front of the hinge center. That’s a long way from neutral. My preference would be for the quicker handling of 26″ barrels for quail, grouse and woodcock, while the 28″ tubes would be fine for more open field work on pheasants. I’d save the 30″ barrels for doves and clays. But I was outvoted. Most of those I loaned the gun to loved the weight-forward feel of the 30″ barrels and wouldn’t have changed it. Many felt it would have been ideal for sub-gauge sporting clays too. There you go. Shows what I know. But if you do consider the gun, try to handle the different barrel lengths to find your own preference. Let me emphasize here that barrel length isn’t a sighting plane thing as much as it is a balance issue.

When shot, the Revelation functioned well mechanically in all respects. The trigger pulls were extremely crisp, with virtually no take-up or slop. That was just as well, as the under barrel was 3½ pounds while the upper was pretty light at only 3. The Revelation had a good 20-gauge carry weight of 6 pounds 5 ounces—exactly what is listed on the website.

In all, I think that Connecticut Shotgun has done a heck of a job with the Revelation. It is nicely made, mechanically correct, flat-out gorgeous and priced very well. The line forms to my right.

For more information, contact Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.

The post Connecticut Shotgun Revelation appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

By Bruce Buck
Photograph Courtesy Of Fabarm USA

At first glance, the new Fabarm Elos D2 over/under may seem similar to previous Fabarm Elos models, but it has undergone a number of changes—one of which makes a world of difference.

In the September/October 2013 issue I reviewed Fabarm’s Elos Deluxe AL. It was a very nice 20-gauge aluminum-action O/U. It is still in the Fabarm line along with its plainer sibling, the Elos B AL, but both are slowly being replaced by the Elos D2. The D2 comes in 12, 20 and 28 gauge and is priced at $2,595. This is very close to the current $2,520 price of the Elos B AL and substantially less than the $3,055 of the Deluxe AL. Our review D2 was a 20-gauge.

The new Elos D2 comes only with an aluminum receiver, while the Deluxe and B were available with steel or aluminum. The D2’s receiver has rounded underside edges, whereas the earlier guns had more fully rounded receivers. Inside, the action appears unchanged, but there are some important improvements. Our gun’s action interior also appeared cleaner and more finely finished than that of the Deluxe I reviewed.

The action design is the Italian triggerplate design used by many makers. Sears hang down from the top strap; hammers hinge on the triggerplate. Active lockup is by a broad low tongue that engages the monoblock bottom. Passive locking is courtesy of four lugs on the underside of the monoblock that engage cutouts in the receiver floor. Hinging is by trunnion stubs. It is not original, but it works and is proven beyond a doubt.

The trigger is inertial and needs recoil from the first shot to set the second sear. It worked correctly during my tests and never malfunctioned. That’s thanks to the D2’s improved sear springs and redesigned hammers. Trigger pulls were both 5¼ pounds with a bit of free travel before engagement. This is acceptable in a field gun, where a very light trigger might be a safety issue. The tang safety is manual, and barrel selection is by the Beretta-style lateral toggle built into it.

While the triggerplate is steel, the main part of the action is aluminum. Actually, it’s Ergal 55, a high-strength aluminum alloy. The action does not have the common vertical steel reinforcement in the standing breech face, so that Ergal 55 must be able to do its job. The aluminum action is laser engraved and then nickel plated. The engraving shows a pheasant on one side and two quail on the other—all surrounded by acanthus leaves.

The D2’s aluminum receiver is rounded at the bottom, and the action interior features improved sear springs and redesigned hammers. Author’s Photo.

The D2’s 20-gauge barrel is 28″, the only length offered. The deep-drilled bores are cut to Fabarm’s unique Tribore HP dimensions. They started with 3″ chambers and moderate 1″-long forcing cones. For the next 13″ they were an overbore of .638″, a good bit larger than the nominal 20-gauge .615″. Over the next 7¾” the bores tapered to .625″ where the screw chokes began. Basically, the Tribore HP gives you a long overbore section and then another long taper before choking. According to Fabarm literature, the overbore section lowers friction and deforms less shot, while the tapered bore increases shot speed.

The five included screw chokes are flush mounted and 3¼” long. The chokes are called Inner HP and are referred to as being “hyperbolic.” The interior tapers aren’t straight conical. They actually arch before reaching maximum constriction, and then curve out again to a short flare. Fabarm claims that the curving constriction causes less shot distortion than the sharper constriction of standard chokes. This is the reason that, unlike most makers, Fabarm OKs the use of steel shot in its tightest chokes.

SNAPSHOT

Make & Model: Fabarm Elos D2

Gauge: 20

Action: Over/under boxlock

Chambering: 3”

Finish: Nickel-plated receiver, laser engraved, matte-blue barrels

Barrel length: 28”

Weight: 5 pounds 12.5 ounces

Chokes: Five screw-in flush-mount chokes

Stock: Pistol grip, oil finish, 1411/16” LOP, 15/16” DAC, 2¼” DAH

Accessories: Choke wrench, two Allen keys, five-year warranty

Price as tested: $2,595

The choke tubes are each marked as to distance and constriction: “Cylinder”, “Short ~2⁄10″”, “Medium ~5⁄10″”, “Long ~7⁄10″” and “Xtreme ~9⁄10″”. The chokes are conveniently notched on the front rim for easy identification when in the gun. They come in a plastic box with a proper wrench.

On the outside the barrels are matte blued, not gloss. There is a ¼”-wide flat vent top rib with non-reflective engraving and a single brass bead up front. The side ribs are solid but go back only 18″ from the muzzle, leaving the part under the forend without side ribs and thus a little lighter. The solder joints were flawless. I was told that the solder process used was relatively high heat and that the ribs are firmly attached with no history of coming loose. Many much fancier guns cannot make this claim.

The screw chokes do cause slight barrel bulges at the muzzles, but you don’t notice it when shooting. What is key is that the barrels are a bit thinner—and thus lighter—than on earlier models. They are still over-proofed at 1,630 BAR, where a typical Italian nitro-proof shotgun is rated for steel at 1,320 BAR. Lighter certainly doesn’t mean weaker.

But it’s the barrels’ weight and balance that are the keys to the Elos D2. O/Us with aluminum receivers are notorious for having comparatively heavy barrels that produce an excessive forward balance and impede handling. The Elos B and Deluxe are quite good, but this gun has taken the next step. The D2 is probably the best-balanced aluminum-frame 20-gauge O/U I have handled.

And by balance, I don’t mean the teeter-totter point. I am referring to the moment of inertia. I have mentioned this before, but perhaps I should touch on it again. Take a broomstick with a brick on each end. It balances in the middle but has a high moment of inertia and, if it were a shotgun, would be hard to swing quickly and hard to stop. Now take the same broomstick and put the same two bricks together in the middle. Weight doesn’t change. The balance point is still in the center. But the moment of inertia has gone way down, and the “gun” now handles too quickly and is whippy.

So balance point really doesn’t mean much. It’s the moment of inertia, or the effort to move the gun, that matters. Wes Lang, who runs Fabarm USA (as well as Caesar Guerini USA), is very much concerned with gun handling. He is an excellent shot and knows how to set up a gun. The Elos D2 has benefited from his expertise. The all-important handling of the D2 is truly exceptional, especially considering its aluminum receiver and light weight. Our gun weighed only 5 pounds 12.5 ounces, a great upland carry weight and the reason you buy a gun with an aluminum receiver.

Fabarm Elos D2

The walnut on our gun would best be described as “mid-range” as far as grain. Not bad, but not too fancy either. The pistol-grip stock had a length of pull of 1411/16″, a drop at comb of 15⁄16″ and a drop at heel of 2¼”. There were about 3° of standoff and a bit of right-hand cast. The LOP was fairly standard, but the stock height was a bit more than on many other guns, including the Elos Deluxe tested previously. At the back of the stock is a ½”-thick black recoil pad, but other pads are available to alter length.

Unlike the Elos Deluxe, the D2 has a Schnabel forend. The forend is attached with an abbreviated Deeley latch. The forend metal where it mates with the front of the receiver is also aluminum, so the action-hinge surface is aluminum on aluminum, to even out wear. The forend also has a unique adjustment feature where it easily can be snugged up to the receiver if it becomes worn.

Checkering was cleanly laser-cut in a traditional and effective pattern. The wood finish is described as being matte and hand-oiled.

The D2 comes in a serviceable cloth-covered plastic case, which contains the box of five chokes, the choke wrench and two Allen wrenches for adjustments. The manual is one of those eight-language generic deals that covers many models. The warranty is for five years.

Shooting the gun was a real eye-opener. It was mechanically correct in all respects. Thanks to the gun’s perfect balance, the delightfully light carry weight did not cause whippiness or difficulty shooting.

Because it was summer and I like to stay on good terms with the game warden, I elected to shoot clays. Skeet originally was designed as grouse practice and, when shot low gun, is a great test for an upland gun. The Elos D2 moved quickly and allowed me to take Station 8 birds quite close to the house.

Fabarm Elos D2

Crossers on Station 4 could be taken well before the center stake or well after it. In the latter case I would delay mounting the gun so that the mount/swing/shot would be at the same tempo, just later. The barrel balance had just enough inertia to help the follow-through but not enough to slow it down. The crisp trigger was also an aid.

To simulate quail flushes (after clearing it with the range officer), I shot trap with a low gun from just behind the trap house. Depending on my luck with the first shot, I took a second shot at the clay or a piece thereof to check the recoil and muzzle rise. Neither was significant, and the gun continued to shoot exceptionally well.

Those to whom I loaned the gun all felt that its light weight and pleasant handling were ideal for upland work. There were also comments about it being quite attractive and a good value.

The Elos D2 is a real shooter. It is beautifully balanced, a joy to carry and fairly priced. Well done, Fabarm.

For more information, contact Fabarm USA.

The post Fabarm Elos D2 appeared first on Shooting Sportsman.

Gun Review: Remington Model 870 Express Super Mag Waterfowl

Gun Review: Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO

Gun Review: Remington Model 870 Express Super Mag Waterfowl

Gun Review: Caesar Guerini Ellipse EVO

BRUCE BUCK

The Year’s Lineup of New Scatterguns

By Brad Fitzpatrick

Benelli USA

Beretta USA

Blaser USA

Browning

Caesar Guerini USA

CZ-USA

Fabarm USA

FAIR

Fausti USA

Franchi USA

Krieghoff

Mossberg

Remington

SKB

Syren USA

Winchester

By Bruce Buck

Bruce Buck’s most recent book, Shotguns on Review, is available for $30 (plus shipping) from www.rowman.com.

The F16 is a new gun with a new action at a favorable price.

By Bruce Buck

By Bruce Buck

By Bruce Buck

Shooting the Sweet Sixteen

By Bruce Buck

Snap Shot

Snap Shot

For more information, contact Rizzini USA, 435-528-5080.

By Bruce Buck Photographs Courtesy of Savage Arms

Snap Shot

For more information, contact Savage Arms, 800-370-0708 or 413-568-7001.

By Bruce Buck

Snapshot

For more information, contact Fausti USA, 540-371-3287.

By Bruce Buck Photographs Courtesy of Heka by Giulio Bernardelli

Snapshot

For more information, contact Double Guns of Nashville.

By Bruce Buck Photographs Courtesy of Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.

SNAPSHOT

For more information, contact Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.

By Bruce Buck Photograph Courtesy Of Fabarm USA

For more information, contact Fabarm USA.

By Bruce Buck
Photographs Courtesy of Savage Arms

By Bruce Buck
Photographs Courtesy of Heka by Giulio Bernardelli

By Bruce Buck
Photographs Courtesy of Connecticut Shotgun Mfg. Co.

By Bruce Buck
Photograph Courtesy Of Fabarm USA