The Beretta 682 Gold E was a fantastic competition gun.

And with the gun's successor, the Beretta 692, it has definitely raised its game.

What it looks like

The new gun has a contemporary appeal but enthusiasts will still notice similarities with the original 682. A bright silver action frame sports raised side panels that flow into the belly of the action and the carved fences are matted silver to eliminate glare.

Highly polished hinge pins impress that this really is a clay gun built for serious business.

A slight extra width has improved the gun’s balance and the action frame has been made 3 mm wider to put more weight between a shooter’s hands and also make the gun more stable during firing.

Design changes

The Beretta 692 Sporter’s trigger group is the same as the previous mode. However design changes in other areas include more deeply curved locking shoulders which provide draw by engaging into the action wall when the gun is closed. The curve enables the monoblock to sit deeper in the action and is a feature taken straight from Beretta’s SV10 range.

The extractor legs have been beefed up with more material throughout their length and they can easily be switched to non-ejector mode as and when required. Another feature ‘pinched’ from the SV10 is the new spring tensioner fitted to the fore-end iron which ensures smooth and consistent opening of the gun. This is important as it gets older and has more work under its belt. The Beretta 692 Sporter is fitted with Steelium Plus barrels first developed by Beretta for its DT11 and which feature a forcing cone that extends a massive 14 inches down the bore – 5.1/2 times longer than those found in the Gold E. The Optima high performance chokes print superb patterns with both lead, or steel, shot.

The figure is very pretty

Five chokes come with each gun but the usual full choke tube has instead been replaced by one for skeet – a thoughtful move when you consider the open choke is far more likely to be used than full on a Sporting course. The wood quality reflects the price of the gun and a subtle oil finish shows it off to its best. The figure is very pretty.  The Schnabel fore-end of the Gold E has now been replaced by a slim beaver tail which tapers slightly and finishes with a rounded nose. It is extremely elegant in shape and comfortable to hold. As it is almost parallel you get the same feel wherever you place your hand. New on the the Beretta 692 Sporter is the B-FAST system, an acronym for “Beretta Fast Adjustment System Technology”, a name that applies to a number of features not necessarily present on all guns, such as an adjustable stock.
Another feature you will probably appreciate is the clever balance system comprising a series of weights that you can adjust to alter the balance of the gun to suit you personally.

In summary

Beretta has made many positive changes with this gun that make it a better gun than the Beretta 682 Sporter. This hasn’t been an easy thing to pull off because the good old 682 has been a very important model to Beretta over the years. The 682 set the bar high originally but the Beretta 692 Sporter has raised it farther still.

Lewis Potter relives his youth as he tests a new, economically priced hammergun with exciting features.

I make no secret of the fact that I have always had a fondness for hammerguns. Fifty years ago or more, they were the cheap, old-fashioned alternative and an economic buy for us young nimrods who believed the next step up the ladder would be a hammerless gun. When it happened I felt at a bit of a loss because I had grown used to a gun with tall, proud hammers, so I went back to what I knew and liked.

Who would then have believed that in the early years of the 21st century there would be the choice of a new hammergun? It is true that in recent times Purdey has made a few and AYA has dabbled with the idea, but with the Huglu we have an economically priced version. In fact, it is rather reminiscent of those old pre-war Birmingham hammerguns I used as a youngster, but with features I would never have dreamed could exist.

First impressions

The full description of this gun is the Huglu Model 201HRZ, which translates into a 12-bore bar-lock hammergun with novel features including screw-in chokes. It is a fairly substantial-looking gun with its 30in barrels, long fore-end and pistol grip stock. The appearance is not deceiving, as on my scales it weighed in at a little over 7’⁄”lb. However, considering it is proofed for 3in (76mm) steel shot cartridges, some weight is a blessing to tame the recoil of such fairly “hot” loads.

The actual balance point is nearly 1in in front of the action bar cross-pin (barrel pivot point) so the weight is biased forward. It is the kind of gun that one has to take charge of and make it work for you but, my word, doesn’t it swing well!  It brought back memories of being out on the salt-marsh, crouched in a gulley, with windstung eyes and the old dog lying beside me shivering with anticipation.

Decoration and finish

The decoration of the steelwork is simply executed, the engraving limited to single borderline with a few embellishments here and there in the form of scrollwork. The colours of the case hardening are, it seems, enhanced by a chemical dip. It certainly catches the eye, covering not just the action body and locks, but also the top-lever, trigger-guard, fore-end iron and fore-end catch. On this gun, in sunlight, the colours are quite bright and remind me a little of the enthusiasm with which showmen used to decorate their traction engines.

The woodwork has a hard varnish finish which, to a certain extent, hides some of the variations in the grain, but it suits what, to my mind, is an honest, practical gun rather than a posing piece. As for the chequering, this follows a neat and traditional pattern — I would suspect by its uniformity that it is applied by laser. To finish off, the butt-pad incorporates a hard plastic heelpiece, so there should not be any tendency to drag against the shoulder. The 14¾in length of pull should suit any potential users.

Action and lockwork

This gun is a non-ejector, like most of the older generation of hammerguns. The lock-up of barrels to action is particularly strong, with big lumps under the barrel flats that fit well into the slots in the action bar. As well as the two bites on the lumps, there is a tiny bite on the barrel extension that fits under a projection on the spindle of the top-lever. The locks are of the single cocking, rebounding type. The advantage of this is that, when in the “at rest” position, they are in the half-cock or safe position and cannot be nudged forward to contact the strikers (firing pins).

A real novelty on a hammergun is the safety button on the top strap or tang, which in this case means the hammers can be cocked with the non-automatic safety either off or on. One feature that would be appreciated by many hammergun enthusiasts is the ability to open the gun with the hammers cocked. On many old top-lever models the right-hand hammer in the cocked position fouls the full movement of the top-lever, so it has to be carefully let down before it could be opened for unloading. This Huglu can be opened with the hammers cocked and the safety either off or ideally in the on position.

I had quite expected the bar-locks to contain some sort of computer-designed simplified assembly powered by helical springs. Instead, I found the kind of traditional layout of lockwork that harks back generations. True, it is a comparatively simply made five-pin lock, but it was a pleasure to find something made in the form they used to be.

The Huglu does have new technology in the shape of the screw-in chokes for the immaculately blacked barrels with their tapered, raised top rib. The five chokes are notch marked and the instruction booklet coyly informs us that full choke is not recommended for steel shot, while cylinder is useful for rifled slug.

Huglu hammergun on test

As usual, I tried out a variety of cartridges, which included Lyalvale Max Game Steel, Eley First, Gamebore Clear Pigeon and Hull Steel Game. The two cartridges I used for the final testing were Eley Olympics with 28g No. 7—⁄˜ shot and plastic wad, and the Winchester Blind Side with 40g of No. 3 cubic shot and, of course, a plastic wad. These two were chosen on the basis that I thought the Huglu would make a good clay gun for the side-by-side class, also a useful wildfowling gun.

The Huglu shot to point of aim with lead shot cartridges, a little lower with steel and dropped off a bit more with the cubic shot, which was only to be expected. Trigger pulls proved to have a reasonable break, but set a little on the hard side — nothing, though, that could not be “tuned” to the user’s liking. Needless to say, on one occasion I cocked the hammers and forgot the safety was on. Too many years of habit, I’m afraid.

How does Browning's latest gun fare in small bore form? Alex Flint investigates.

The Browning B725 had a lot to live up to in replacing Browning‘s ageing but extremely successful B525. Thankfully, the Belgium-based company produced a gun which has proved popular  with the public and critics alike since its launch in the first half of 2013. I was suitably impressed when I tested the 12 bore Hunter (game) model, finding a gun with excellent handling and recoil characteristics together with one of the best off-the-shelf grip and stock shapes you can find at an excellent, highly competitive price.

We find ourselves looking at the B725 once again, this time as a 20 bore. Over the last few years 20 bores have become an increasingly popular and important part of the shotgun market, thanks to their lighter weight and generally superb handling. Most sportsmen and women would agree a 20 bore is tremendous fun to shoot, particularly for those of us who shoot in a more instinctive manner. Similarly, those looking for an extra test are more and more turning towards 20 bore guns as a means of providing a challenge on shoot day. However, as tested, it is the latter group who are likely to get the greatest pleasure from this gun.

Unusually heavy

Those used to 20 bores being considerably lighter, easier handling variants on their larger siblings in the style of Beretta will be surprised by the B725 which, as tested, weighed in at 6lbs. 15½oz. This surprisingly high figure is most likely down to our test gun’s 32″ barrels, but it is difficult to ignore since this seems perilously close to a standard 12 bore fitted with 28″ barrels. Beretta 20 bores, for example, are appreciably lighter than the 12 bore variants, coming in generally around three quarters of a pound lighter. This is part of the reason for their popularity, so one wonders what Browning is hoping to gain with this unusually heavy 20 bore within its ranks.

As one looks more closely at the details it becomes increasingly clear this gun has not been made with ladies or younger shots in mind, rather it is a serious gun. There are 3″ chambers which are proved for steel shot, meaning the gun can take very heavy loads. The barrels have the same back boring seen in the 12 bore B725, extending the forcing cones and giving increased speed and better penetration of shot together with improved shot pattern. The balance point is well forward, being in front of the fore-end iron, meaning plenty of weight in the front hand. All of this means the gun is capable of handling quite deliberately and shooting the heaviest loads required for high birds.

A couple of visual problems

Moreover, the gun simply looks large;  though the depth of the action has been reduced from the old B525, Browning has been somewhat limited by the need to retain the full body pin. The long 32″ barrels do, in fact, suit the 20 bore gun, but when viewed with the 12 bore model the difference is not immediately apparent. This in no way suggests the gun is unattractive – indeed the lines of the gun are very good, thanks to a nice shape to the fore-end and the excellent Prince of Wales style pistol grip stock. The wood, though somewhat plain as you would expect at this price point, has been well selected and finished. Chequering has been well executed and provides plenty of grip but surprisingly is not too rough as is often a problem on new guns.

The engraving design is shared across the B725 range, in Grade I as tested here taking the form of game scenes surrounded by a pattern ofexpanding rays. The bottom plate of the gun has a totally  different style of engraving; a strange, rather anaemic bit of scroll work together with the name of the manufacturer and model number. Well executed and on the whole tasteful, the engraving is of the standard you would expect at this price, though it is a little bland.

There are a couple of visual problems to my eyes, however. I would prefer a steel trigger and though the Browning sticker on the bottom barrel is easily removed I do wish they would include it in the box for those that want it rather than putting it on as standard. Of course, preconceptions are often blown aside when one finally shoots the gun and this 20 bore B725 was no exception. It felt an excellent gun to shoot, moving smoothly and dealing with recoil remarkably. While not significantly different from its bigger brother it has an undeniable appeal in the hand and is sure to win admirers on the clay ground and in the field.

Browning B725 in the field

It would be fair to say I was expecting this gun to handle like a bit of a lump. The excitement that usually comes with the prospect of shooting a 20 bore with that light, snappy, instinctive style faded away almost as soon as I picked it up – the weight of the gun really is obvious.

However, I am pleased to report my early judgment proved somewhat rash. The gun comes up into the shoulder in a positive manner, and is delightfully pointable. It stays on line with no effort and swings beautifully, proving adept at longer crossing targets along with high driven birds. Where the gun really surprised me, however, was its ability to tackle more instinctive shooting – it is so positive
and moves so well that any concerns over weight are completely forgotten. Visibility down those long barrels is excellent and the gun feels very secure in the hand.

Recoil is dealt with superbly well, essentially being completely negligible with lighter loads, and trigger pulls are very satisfying indeed. The recoil pad is smooth and hard and so slides into the shoulder easily unlike other, softer, more textured products which can catch on clothing. Also worthy of note is the excellent grip which is nicely swept back and has a lovely swell into the palm of the hand.

All in all, this gun proved a real, positive surprise for both myself and instructor Bruce Marks at Grange Farm Shooting School. I imagine a 20 bore B725 with 28″ barrels would be an absolute riot to shoot.

View from the gun shop. By Bill Elderkin.

This is a very serious gun indeed and is probably not for the feint hearted! At nearly 7lbs. it is quite heavy for a 20 bore but when considered as a gun for a serious shot in need of a challenge it seems quite good value.

The back bored barrels and long Invector DS multichokes will give a good pattern and help to reduce recoil along with Browning’s clever Infl ex II recoil pad. You will be glad of that if you choose to put heavier loads through this gun – I would say you could quite happily use loads right up to 1¼oz.

The new B725 action is the result of a vast amount of time and money spent on research and development and it shows – it is rock solid and will doubtless be extremely reliable, just as the B525 is. Ejection is excellent and the gun opens very positively. Though the action is smaller than the 12 bore model, there is not a massive difference due to a need to retain space for the bottom lumps. Nevertheless, the sleeker lines do suit the gun and bring it more in line with its Italian competitors.

This gun will be good for shooting longer targets, the extra weight being felt in the front hand allowing for a deliberate swing that should be easy to keep on line. The balance being quite far forward will mean you certainly won’t struggle with your follow through either.

This gun sits at an interesting price point alongside the Beretta Silver Pigeon Deluxe or Caesar Guerini Tempio both of which offer the lighter 20 bore experience many will be looking for. As such the Browning, certainly in this guise with 32″ barrels, sits somewhat apart as a serious gun for clay or game shooting. Those looking for the challenge and satisfaction of shooting the toughest targets well with a 20 bore would be well served by looking at this gun.

Gunmakers trying to break into the UK face an increasingly crowded and competitive marketplace. Alex Flint casts an eye over the latest Turkish gun to reach British shores.

You would be forgiven if, like me, you had never heard of Armed Guns, the Turkish manufacturer whose wares are the latest to reach the UK thanks to importer Edgar Brothers. Based in the city of Izmir on the western edge of Anatolia, Armed Guns produces a range of shotguns and air rifles for sporting uses, as well as rather more fearsome firearms such as pumpaction and tactical shotguns.

The only gun currently available in the UK, however, is the .410 SPE reviewed here. It is an over-under shotgun of fairly basic design, with a single selective trigger and ejectors. The design of the gun is straightforward, being based on a simple action relying purely on mechanical movement to fire both barrels, rather than an inertia-based system seen more commonly in mass-produced European guns.

Visually the gun is similarly basic, as you might expect for something available for significantly under £1,000. All the metalwork from the fore-end release lever to the trigger guard is black and is actually rather smart. The lines of the gun are reasonably attractive thanks to the small frame afforded by the bore size, only really being let down by the ventilated middle rib.

Engraving is basic, thin, shallow and lacking any particular style. Though not ugly and executed proficiently, the engraving adds nothing and the gun might look better if it wasn’t there at all.Wood to metal fit is fine if a little variable, with some quite large jumps and gaps being visible in places. As such, in terms of finishing this gun doesn’t compare terribly well with a product from the likes of Beretta, but then it is also less than a third of the price of a .410 Silver Pigeon I.

Attractive stock

One area where the SPE can quite happily stand up to the competition, however, is in its wooden parts. The stock really is very attractive, being well figured with a lovely, deep, honey-coloured finish. A good straight grain runs right through the stock and semi-pistol grip and the checkering is superb, lacking any of the coarseness you might expect from a new gun, whilst feeling very secure in the hand. The wooden parts would not look out of place on a much more expensive gun and are impressive at this price point.

Largely, then, the gun works well on a basic visual level in spite of the problems in detailing and finish. Being brutally honest, however, it lacks a little something in the way of personality. There is no place on the gun, for example, for the company logo – a rather remarkable swooping eagle over the top of stylised wings and a banner proclaiming the “Eagle of Anatolia”. Though it might not look out of place on the chest of a member of the US armed forces, it would lend the gun a bit of character.

The basic nature of the SPE .410 also comes through in operation, with the top lever being a little inconsistent and needing to be pushed over almost as far as the travel will allow before opening, and occasionally requiring quite a hefty shove to close again. The foreend too does not locate itself in a satisfying way and the release lever moves out slightly when closed, leaving a raw edge that is quite easy to catch your hand on when shooting. All that being said, the gun does feel solid in use and does not rattle or wobble in the way other rather cheap guns can.

Our test model weighed just a shade under six pounds and two ounces, which while perhaps is a little heavy for a .410, still meant it was an intoxicating pleasure to use in the way almost all small-bore guns are.

As well as being light and quick to mount and move, the SPE is also impressively stable and rewards accurate shooting. The gun is so much fun to shoot, in fact, that any complaints you might have about its appearance are quickly forgotten – particularly when you consider the low price.

The only real black mark for me comes because the gun is not autosafe – something I would not be comfortable with in the field and which rules it out of contention as a first gun for a youngster.

As a tool for controlling vermin, pigeon shooting and a bit of fun on the clay ground, this little Turkish gun fits the bill quite nicely at a price that seems about right.

Armed Guns SPE .410 in the field

Although underwhelming visually and slightly unrefined in operation, in the hand and in the field this gun is delightful to use. Given its relatively lightweight, you would be forgiven for expecting the SPE to be a rather flighty thing, but it actually proved surprisingly neutral and stayed on line easily. This is likely thanks to the excellent weight distribution, with the balance point just forward of the hinge pin.

It mounts and moves positively and there is absolutely no recoil to be felt, making shooting with this gun a very pleasurable experience indeed. While the trigger pulls were perhaps a little unremarkable, ejection was very good.

Initially I struggled a little with correct head positioning because the diminutive stock dimensions meant my head was prone to falling over slightly. This was soon corrected by my instructor Bruce Marks before I was let loose on a challenging variety of targets at Grange Farm including crossers, incomers and some long driven targets, which the SPE .410 dealt with well.

The light weight of the gun means most shots could quite happily use it all day with few problems, and given the straightforward mechanical design, it is likely to be reliable. With the correct stock adjustments – as with any gun – this should be a great addition to your cabinet.

View from the gun shop. By Bill Elderkin

This is a rather odd gun, but then the small bore market can be a little eccentric. There are some lovely touches, such as the ribs being properly brazed onto the barrels and the attractive wood, but then the fit and finish are quite rough overall and the gun has clearly been largely machined. Of course, we are talking about a £500 gun, but this raises more questions rather than answering them.

The weight and the lack of an automatic safety catch make it an unlikely option for a youngster learning the sport. And the rough fit and finish mean some buyers may not want to take it out into the field on that odd special .410 day, and they will probably be looking to spend more money.

That being said, it is by no means a bad gun. Mechanically it is a typical Italian-style design with the cocking levers at the base of the action. The ejectors work well and given the basic nature of the action and the small loads being used, the SPE is highly unlikely to break down. If it does, any repairs are almost certain to be straightforward and the importer Edgar Brothers provides an excellent three-year warranty as standard.

It also occupies quite an interesting position in the market as a new .410 for such a low price. Above you have both the Beretta Silver Pigeon I, which you can probably find for about £1,400, and the slightly cheaper .410 from Lincoln – both of which are significantly more expensive than this Turkish gun. As a tool for controlling rabbits or taking on a few clays it looks well priced, but perhaps not quite good enough for those looking to use a .410 for all their shooting.

Jason Harris puts the Bettinsoli X Trail Sporter through its paces.

The so called ‘entry level’ or ‘first time buyers’ market has always been a competitive place in which to pitch and sell guns. It’s the same today. Well, not quite – one change in recent years has been the general overall quality of the guns being sold. Almost without exception standards have improved thanks to the now widespread use of sophisticated computer controlled machinery. And one of the many makers to embrace this cutting edge technology is Bettinsoli based in the bustling gunmaking Val Trompia valley above Brescia, Italy.

Their investment is such that we thought it worth looking at their second, updated, version of the so-called X Trail which now comes with a silver finished action rather than the earlier colour hardened model.

Mechanically the gun incorporates the many tried and tested features found on previous Bettinsolis including a somewhat unusual – but effective – top lever spring mechanism. The design takes the form of a torsion type spring housed under the top lever and one that’s tensioned via a screw through the action frame. Inside you will see that the design follows the Italian norm for hammers pivoting from the trigger plate and sears suspended from the top strap.

The hammers are also powered by captive coil mainsprings to ensure they rebound on firing to prevent striker drag when the gun is opened. The sear lifter is directly connected to the trigger and reset for the second shot by the recoil from the first. Though this is lightly set so the mechanism is almost mechanical.

Lock up is achieved via a full width bottom locking bolt housed in the bottom of the action engaging with bites in the bottom of the barrel lump. In turn the lumps engage into the action frame for greater strength and the barrels hinge on stub pins set into the action side walls.

One noticeable feature is the tapered top rib (10mm down to 7mm), which really does give a lovely sight picture and makes the gun point extremely well.

It’s matted to minimise glare and finished with a small red day-glow sight at the muzzle.

There’s no such thing of course as the perfect all-round shotgun but with its 30in barrels, special steel shot proof, 3in chambers and the way it balances this one ought to make a fair fist at clays, pigeons, wildfowling and general game shooting duties.

With a stock length of 14.3/4in the Bettinsoli X Trail will prove a reasonable fit for most folk and its slightly lower comb height is also more user-friendly than one of greater height.

Bettinsoli X Trail Sporter verdict

All things considered this is a very good gun for the price – it’s well made, looks the part and represents decent value for money.

It points and balances nicely, moves easily and comes with a useful ABS travel case containing choke tubes and key.

Build quality – 20/25

Handling –  21/25

Styling – 20/25

Value for money – 22/25

For more information visit www.ruag.co.uk

Flexibility is key for those who use their guns all year round. Alex Flint asks if a sporting variant on the classic Silver Pigeon can be the gun for all seasons.

Beretta Silver Pigeon I Sport 20 bore on test

View from the gun shop. By Bill Elderkin

Once scorned, the semi-automatic is now seen as an acceptable tool and this Italian model proves itself to be a gun for all seasons, says Lewis Potter

It is odd how ideas and values influence fashion, or are influenced by fashion. Take the semi-automatic shotgun: not so long ago it was welcome in shooting company as a dog with mange. Even otherwise enthusiastic firearms historians were wont to look askance at the semi-auto or self-loading shotgun.

Technically, it is, of course, the ultimate development of the shotgun. Such was the initial impact that years ago at least one British maker dabbled with upgrading bought-in guns to make them more palatable to the British market.

It was not to be — prejudice reigned. But times change and attitudes, especially over the past 20 or so years, have softened so that the semi-auto is now seen in a new light, an acceptable tool that is excellent for certain jobs. This is in part due to Italian flair, marching hand in hand with technical developments to produce guns that are stylish, light and fast-handling.

First impressions

The Marocchi, even with a 28in barrel, appears fairly long and measures 49in overall. However, the impression of length is just the visual effect because it is only about 2½in longer than many doubles with 30in barrels. The aluminium alloy receiver, though, is long, which it has to be to accommodate the length of the bolt or breechblock on full recoil and have sufficient room in the ejection port to eject 3in cartridge cases cleanly.

The styling qualifies as “restrained Italian” on the basis that there are some features that are shapely but plain, such as the receiver, while the stock and fore-end have clean lines with only the grip panels adding a modest extravagance.

Of course, the matt silk black finish adds to the restrained look, and what is described in the instruction manual as a forearm nut — the screw-on piece on the end of the fore-end that holds everything together — is an inadequate description because it is pleasingly shaped as well as practical to use. The XTR is supplied with the barrel detached to reduce the overall length of the packaging.

There are a couple of small matters to take into account. With the barrel and the bolt in the “at rest” forward position, the end of the arm or link that engages with the recoil spring situated in the stock can slide out of place.

By holding the gun vertical and rocking it backwards and forwards while pressing on the cocking lever, it will easily slip back into place. This is fairly normal practice with some types of semi-autos. The other thing is that it is necessary to clip the fore-end on to the barrel, then slide both the barrel into the receiver and fore-end over the magazine as one operation.

Handling

At 7lb on my scales, this is not a heavy shotgun for a semi-auto 12-bore, though the balance point is a little farther forward than on a double, giving a positive feel to the barrel.

This would increase with the optional 30in and 32in barrels, which could make it quite an attractive proposition to some clay pigeon shooters.

With a length of pull of 14¾in, this qualifies very much nowadays as the industry standard and spacers are provided to alter the cast of the stock. The butt-pad is quite soft, giving the impression that it will do its job well. The fore-end provides ample grip and follows a slim and pleasing style that was in vogue more than a century ago.

Taken all together, the feel, balance and handling are good enough to inspire confidence in use, especially for someone fairly new to shoo ting, while at the same time its characteristics would be appreciated by “older hands”.

As for the sling swivels, the XTR is likely to get put to some rugged use and, whether traipsing across a saltmarsh or carrying a sack of feed, a sling can be beneficial with a working tool such as this Marocchi.

Technicalities

The cycling of the XTR is, according to the advertising literature, achieved by “inertial kinetic energy caused by the recoil of the cartridge” — actually it says “shell” rather than cartridge but I cannot bring myself to use American slang.

Anyway, in basic terms it means that recoil unlocks the bolt head, so there are no gas ports in the barrel, no piston and link arms to operate the breech mechanism. The recoil spring is housed in the hollow butt and the cartridge feed mechanism has been refined and simplified compared with older designs. This is all welcome because in gun design simplicity is often the key to reliability, as long as the basic design is right.

Most of the operation will be familiar to anyone who has previously used a semi-auto. There is the bolt release on the right side of the receiver and the usual trigger-lock safety button situated in the rear of the trigger-guard. In the front of the guard is a small catch that is depressed to hold the bolt back in the open position.

Marocchi XTR on test

One snag that can occur with inertia- operated semi-autos is unreliable feeding of lighter loaded cartridges. On test I tried everything from 28g loaded cartridges to 46g and the XTR never failed to operate correctly. Cartridges included Lyalvale Express 30g Pigeon Special, Eley 30g Pigeon and 32g Hi-Flyer, Gamebore 32g Black Gold and the two extremes, NSI Diamond Sporting 28g and Eley Alphamax Magnum 46g.

With the larger loads, recoil was noticeable but not especially unpleasant, and used “for real”, rather than deliberate test shooting, the effect to the user would seem much less.

As with most — if not all — semi-autos, the trigger-pull is a little long but on this gun it was nice and smooth. When rapid-fire testing using a mixed bag of cartridges, the XTR never missed a beat, though the synthetic stock seemed to magnify, just a bit, the sound of the mechanism at work. It was still a great improvement on the older generation of semi-autos with their distinctive “ker-chunk” rattle next to the ear.

The XTR proved to be an easy gun to get on with. My only small criticism was that the rather soft recoil pad could drag a little on the shoulder if not mounted correctly.

Otherwise, it placed the shot patterns fairly much to point of aim but just high enough to see the “bird” right on top of the foresight.

A shotgun is an essential tool for any gamekeeper but can one gun do it all? Alex Flint takes a look at Browning’s global semi-auto success story.

Q: I’m new to shooting, and about to buy my first gun. But I still don’t understand the main differences between a Sporter and a trap gun, so can you help?

A: To understand the differences, it can be helpful first to look at the different types of targets presented in the two disciplines.

Trap targets

Trap targets are always going away from you and, at the point you shoot them, they are rising.

They are also projected within an arc of about 60 degrees in front. Targets in the different trap disciplines vary slightly, but that’s the general picture.

To tackle rising targets, a trap gun is configured so that it shoots slightly high. This enables the shooter to fire with the target in view just above the muzzle end of the rib, and hit it right in the middle of the pattern.

As the target is retreating from the shooter at quite a rapid rate, choking is usually quite tight: 3/4in the lower barrel (which is fired first), and full in the top.

Also, when tackling trap targets you don’t have to swing the gun as quickly or as far as you do in Sporting, so the gun can be heavier (which helps to soak up recoil), and also steadier in its handling.

Many trap guns weigh over 8lb.

As you can see, it is a tool designed to do a job, and it isn’t much use for anything other than trap.

Sporting targets

Sporting, however, is designed to be a simulation of field shooting, and the variety of targets is limited only by the course setter’s imagination and, of course, safety considerations.

Targets can be incoming, outgoing, crossing, quartering, rising, falling, curling – in fact doing almost anything a wild bird can do.

The Sporter, therefore, needs to be designed as a sort of ‘compromise’ gun.

It shoots closer to point of aim than a trap gun, is less tightly choked (1/4 and 1/4 being the norm in a fixed-choke), and its handling and balance are designed for fast swinging.

Sporters usually weigh between 7.1/2lb and 7.3/4lb.

Being a compromise gun in the way it handles, balances and shoots, you can also use a Sporter for skeet as well as pigeon and game shooting.

That’s why we usually advise newcomers to pick a Sporter as their first gun.

A cross between a technical Sporter and a classic game gun makes Lewis Potter sit up and take notice

Beretta have managed to improve on an already remarkable gun, with the Pro version of their SV10 Prevail 1 clay-shooter, writes Jason Harris

Beretta’s SV10 Prevail 1 Pro is the natural evolution of a tried-and-tested design. It is now roughly five years since these new SV10 models were introduced.

First came the Perennia, the field version of the gun, which was followed by the Prevail, used for competition shooting. The Prevail 1 was introduced in 2012 and is part of a comprehensive range of sporting guns including the Evo, 692, and the DT11. This is its update, the Prevail 1 Pro.

Manufacturers are always looking to improve on existing designs and that was the purpose of these new guns. The trouble is, with some guns, the wheel is about as round as it can get, so there is little room for improvement. But that doesn’t stop them trying.

Features that came with the advent of the Beretta SV10 Prevail 1 Pro are:

•  A new top lever design with a larger thumb piece, making it more comfortable.
•  A new safety catch and trigger-guard. The trigger itself is made of titanium.
•  The whole trigger group can be dropped out relatively easily, having first removed the stock.
•  Built into the safe is an improved selection button that is more positive and with a clearer indication of barrel selection.
•  The safe itself has fewer, but deeper serrations, making it feel more positive.
•  The trunnions on which the gun hinges have been made larger, which are, of course, replaceable.
•  The whole trigger plate is held in place by a cam system at the back end and can be removed quite quickly when working on the gun.

The action frame of the Beretta SV10 Prevail 1 Pro is finished silver, while the main body is satin silver with discreet laser engraving of small squares on the fences, belly and front of the frame. The raised side plates are polished bright and give a good contrast to the rest of the frame. The action frame has been sculptured more than the standard Silver Pigeon frame, the stock flows more into the frame on the sides, which does add some strength to the wood to metal fit at the head.

The barrel shoulders that provide “draw” of the barrels on to the frame are more rounded as well. In essence most straight lines have been rounded to give the metal work more of a flowing look. Although the principles on which the Beretta SV10 Prevail 1 Pro works are the same as the Silver Pigeon range, almost every part has been altered slightly in an effort to improve a tried-and-tested design.

The fore-end has a spring mechanism so that it will maintain constant opening pressure. There are also adjustments built into the fore-end, making it easier to tighten in years to come. The fore-end iron itself has a ceramic coating designed to be very hard wearing. The release lever has also been made longer for easier release. The Beretta SV10 Prevail 1 Pro has the Optima bored barrel system and is only available as a 30in, which is the best overall length.

Chambers are 3in with magnum and special steel shot proof. The barrels are bored with an Optima hi-performance profile, including an 18.6mm diameter. The hi-performance choke tubes are extended for easier changing and are colour coded. The top rib is a slightly wider 10x8mm, with a tapered design for sporting. The side ribs have been ventilated to make barrels lighter and faster cooling.

The ejectors have been redesigned to make them stronger. They are deeper in the section and are retained with a keeper at the front, allowing them to have a uniform thickness throughout their section and so make them stronger. They can also be switched off for hand extraction if necessary. The keeper at the front end has a slot that looks like a screw and can be turned to disable the ejectors.

The stock is finished with Beretta’s micro-core recoil pad. It is a very smooth pad so shoulders easily without snagging, and is also a very effective recoil reducer. Different thicknesses can be bought, making it easy to fine-tune the gun for length.

There is also a kick-off version of the Beretta SV10 Prevail 1 Pro making for even smoother shooting. The woodwork itself is nicely figured with slightly larger proportions than what you would expect to see with a Sporter. The pistol grip of the gun also has a much slimmer feel than most other Beretta models.

Drops at comb and heel are approximately 35mm and 55mm respectively. The fore-end shape is slim with a rounded nose. Chequer patterns are distinctive and practical. The chequering itself is a traditional diamond form rather than a laser cut shape. There is an eye-catching design on the base of the pistol grip, with the Beretta ‘trident’ logo laser cut into it.

The weight is approximately 3.5kg, which is good for a sporting gun, neither too light or heavy. It means that the Beretta SV10 Prevail 1 Pro could be used for gameshooting, although the more contemporary look is far more suited to clayshooting.

Mike George looks at three secondhand Sporters in three different price brackets - by Beretta, Zoli and Miroku

Miroku Universal MK60 – target price £1,500

Miroku MK60 Universal Grade 5

In the 1980s a type of gun for the Sporting disciplines was just evolving. All too many Continental manufacturers were trying to palm us off with slightly modified trap guns, while their game guns were too light and often too tightly choked, and skeet guns were too open-choked and not nearly steady enough for the more distant targets.

Nowadays the skeet gun has all but disappeared, while every gunmaker’s range seems to include a Sporter. One of the very best Sporters of the 1980s was the Winchester 6500, available in fixed choke or multichoke format. Both guns handled brilliantly well, with the 30-inch fixed choke gun just having the edge.

Sadly, the 6500 – made by Kodensha in Japan – was not destined to be with us for long; it was a victim of gun trade financial games rather than poor engineering. But another Japanese company, Miroku, had just the gun for the fixed-choke Sporter fans.

The fixed-choke Mirokus first came out as the 6000 series, which had chopper-lump barrels, then evolved into the MK60 guns, which had the more modern monobloc barrels that are still with us today. And one of the best of the breed is the MK60 Universal, which is particularly elegant in the Grade 5 format illustrated.

The guns you will find on the new and second-hand racks are almost the same mechanically as they were 30 years ago, and only the engraving styles have really evolved. It’s not so much as Miroku have let the grass grow under their feet as the fact that the designers got things right in the first place.

And when you consider that a new Grade 5, with pleasant engraving and well-figured walnut woodwork, will cost you a little over £2,400, that’s what I call real value-for-money.

One of my few criticisms is that the gun is choked ¼ and ¾. I feel that ¼ and ½ would be better, particularly for the average club shooter, and certainly for the person who likes to use a Sporter to double as a game or pigeon shooting gun. Mind you, the ¾-choked top barrel would be mustard for really high pheasants.

On the plus side, the weight is just about right at a bit over 7½lb, with variations for barrel length and wood density.

More information: From any Browning/Miroku dealer, or visit Browning

Zoli Ambassador EL Z Sporters – target price £8,500

Zoli Ambassador EL Z Sporter

I can remember testing Zoli Sporters and game guns for Sporting Gun 30 years ago, and I have good memories of the excellence of their construction. So impressed was I with one of their game guns that I bought one for myself.

It seemed, however, that excellent as the guns were, the make never seemed to stay long with an importer, and supply became erratic. Those days are, fortunately, now over, and the Italian maker is with the capable and long-established agency of Edgar Brothers of Macclesfield.

There have been changes within Zoli, too. In the late 1990s they completely redesigned their range so that they could compete internationally against top companies such as Beretta and Browning. For instance, their action bodies are now forged from a single piece of steel and fi nished with computer controlled machine tools. They are so strong they can be used on double rifles.

Zoli Ambassador EL Z Sporter action

The bolts Zoli fit to this frame are deeper than average, and engage with bites in the barrel monobloc just below the spring-loaded ejectors. The barrels hinge on stub pins and, on the Ambassador, the trigger mechanism is a drop-out unit retained by a small locking screw.

This type of trigger mechanism has two main uses: firstly it is a good security measure in that it can be easily removed and stored in a separate lock box to the gun. Secondly, it can be easily taken out for cleaning and maintenance. It looks as if the replacement of a broken mainspring would take only minutes.

Some parts of the action, notably the hammers, look as if they have been gold plated, just like the finish employed on the mechanism of some very fine sidelocks. In fact, the finish is titanium nitrate, just the same as is used to impart high wear resistance to some drill bits and lathe tools.

The barrels are particularly well made – a matter of pride to Zoli, who bore the tubes in their own factory.

A new gun like the one illustrated costs anything from £11,000 upwards, depending on the discount the retailer is prepared give you – but do watch this point in the light of exchange rate irregularities due to Britain’s vote to quit the European Union.

More information: From the importers, Edgar Brothers of Macclesfield, Cheshire, tel 01625 613177, or visit Edgar Brothers

Beretta SO5 – target price £10,000

Beretta SO5

I remember just how impressed I was when I first fired an SO-series Beretta. When loaded, it closed with a satisfying “clonk” reminiscent of the closing of a Rolls Royce door, it swung with an elegant precision, and the trigger pull was the crispest I had ever experienced.

The only criticism I had was that it seemed a bit heavy, and I note that the present-day SO5 Sporter weighs a robust 8¼lb. Good balance, however, does much to compensate for the extra half-pound it carries over what is generally accepted for an ideal Sporter.

All of the SO series are hand-built sidelocks and all follow the principles laid down by Beretta’s famous designer, Tullio Marengoni, who had started work as an apprentice with the company in 1894. He became chief designer in 1904 and, like his American opposite number, John Moses Browning, a string of Sporting, military and law enforcement arms were soon rolling off his drawing board.

The first SO sidelock came on the market in 1933. Like all successful Beretta shotguns, the first SO was a shallow-actioned gun with barrels hinged on stub pins. Apparently, he had seen Browning’s famous B25 boxlock, and it didn’t appeal to his Italian sense of elegant engineering design. It was perhaps a bit like comparing a classic Ferrari to an American Chevvy Corvette.

Marengoni’s early SOs had double triggers, but, like the modern series, were built for both clay shooting and field use. Production ceased during World War II, but resumed afterwards. Marengoni died in the mid-1960s, in the same era that the SO2 and competition versions of the SO3 were introduced. The SO5 in trap, skeet and Sporting variants came in 1989. All modern SOs have single triggers.

Nowadays versions go up to SO10, but the SO5 is still in production as a Sporter. At a cost of around £20,000 it is nowhere near the top of the tree. The SOO, designed for field shooting, has a RRP of more than £62,000, and that of the EELL version is more than £72,000. That’s still nowhere near that of a “London Best” gun, but it’s getting on that way!

More information: From the importers, GMK of Fareham, Hants, tel 01489 579999, or visit GMK

Three second-hand over-and-under Sporters

This selection of second-hand over-and-under Sporters can be found on the second-hard market from £600. Bettinsoli X-Trail Sporter Target Price £600…

Gun reviews: Zoli Ambassador EL Z Sporter shotgun

Gun reviews: Zoli Ambassador EL Z Sporter shotgun: Jason looks at a top of the range Sporter that’s well made…

Buyer’s brief: “I started club clayshooting last year with an old AYA No.3 side-by-side, which was given to me by my grandad. To be competitive I need an over-and-under, but, being a student, I have a very limited budget.”

Mike George’s tips on buying a first clay gun

I can understand you wanting something better than the old AYA. It’s not that there was anything wrong with it in its day, but it’s a non-ejector and it is many years since AYA stopped making non-ejector guns. So, not only is it getting a bit long in the tooth, but it is also a gun for field shooting, and you need a proven claybuster.

As a field-shooting gun it will also be lighter than the average Sporter and therefore – if you haven’t noticed it already – the recoil will get a bit tiring over long strings of shots, such as you might encounter over a 50 or 100-target competition.

Make no mistake, the old AYA No.3 was a tough gun, but all were fixed chokes and most that I have seen have been choked ½ and full, which is far too tight for club clays. So, you are right in wanting an O/U, and, despite my personal quirk of preferring fixed-choke guns, a multichoke is the way for you to go.

That said, if the AYA is in good condition, I’d keep it. One in reasonable condition now costs around £190 in a gun shop, and you would get much less than that on a trade-in. You could have a lot of fun with it if you are offered any pigeon shooting or pest-control duties, and over-tight chokes can always be bored out. The gun must have some sentimental value to you, too.

Finally, don’t worry over the fact that you have such a limited budget. There are plenty of guns you can afford on the second-hand racks. All I would say is; don’t fall for the first gun you fancy and, if you are concerned about your lack of experience, persuade one of the experienced members of your club to accompany you on your shopping expeditions.

Lanber Sporter

Option 1 – Mike’s top choice

Lanber Sporter

In 1977, Britain’s Beretta importers were Gunmark – a company which re-styled itself as GMK in 1998. They realised that all of the Beretta break-action O/Us were beyond the means of shooters with a tight budget, so they searched Europe for a reliable gun that would fill the gap.

Unlike many importers looking for a reliable, well-priced O/U, they went to Spain rather than Italy and struck a deal with Lanber. It was an excellent partnership because Lanber was prepared to listen to Gunmark’s ideas for a British-market gun. And when clay-shooting champion Barry Simpson joined the Gunmark team, the Lanber Sporter became just about the best gun of its type in its price range.

The gun had come a long way from earlier importing attempts by smaller rival companies, who hadn’t done themselves any favours by giving the guns weird names such as Eibargun (after the city of Eibar in Spain’s Basque Country) and, if you can believe it, Animo Express!

Under Gunmark’s guidance, 20,000 guns were sold in the first 20 years of importing, and sales of new guns continued to go well until a few years ago, when the Lanber suddenly went out of production. Whatever caused the company’s failure, it certainly wasn’t the quality or design of the gun, and GMK were quick to point out that their spares stock was such that there wouldn’t be a problem for many years to come.

Spares such as firing pins are still available from GMK

The general advice is to avoid guns from the early 1980s. The first multichokes came out in 1983, and the first Sporters, with the Simpson-designed woodwork, came on the scene in 1987.

All guns have low-profile actions with barrels hinged on stub pins. Hammers are driven by coil springs on guide rods and are hinged from the bottom of the action, while sears hinge from the top strap. All guns have single selective triggers, with the barrel selector incorporated in the safety thumbpiece.

Lanber Sporters have low-profile actions. Hammers are driven by coil springs on guide rods

Woodwork is either varnished or oil finished, depending on the age of the gun. Most newer guns have 14.in stocks, with drops at comb and heel of 1.in and 2⅜in respectively. Later guns also have 76mm (3in) chambers and magnum proof. There’s a choice of 28in or 30in barrels, and there are a few guns with left-handed woodwork if you search around.

Bettinsoli Diamond Line shotgun review

Bettinsoli Diamond Line shotgun review: You don't have to dig too deep for the impressive Bettinsoli Diamond Line Deluxe shotgun…

Franchi Harrier Sport shotgun review

Franchi Harrier Sport shotgun: What does this sporting over-under shotgun from Franchi have to offer?

Franchi Alcione shotgun review

Franchi Alcione shotgun: Here we review a fresh-looking Franchi field gun out of Italy. Has the wait for this shotgun…

£750.00

Our rating:  80%

Secondhand gun review: Lanber Sporter

Secondhand Lanber Sporter: The craftsmen of northern Spain have been producing fine guns for 500 years.

Option 2

Franchi Harrier

Thirty and more years ago Sporting Gun received quite a number of calls from readers seeking spares for Franchi semi-automatics. The old Franchi auto was quite a tough gun, but, as with all autos, occasionally it needed small spares such as springs, firing pins and extractor claws, and none were available. There were a few Franchi O/Us around, too, and spares for them were equally hard to find.

The guns had been imported by ASI of Snape, the AYA importers, but the arrangement seemed to fizzle out and the Franchi company seemed to be in trouble.

Then, in the 1990s, Franchi’s fortunes took a turn for the better when they were taken over by Beretta. This gave them not only financial stability, but access to world markets and, in the UK, put the guns in the hands of Beretta importers GMK.

Second-hand Franchi O/Us in the £500 range include the Harrier, and its successor, the Alcione. Guns to avoid are any made before the Beretta take-over.

Bettinsoli Diamond Line

Option 3

Bettinsoli Diamond Line

The Bettinsoli Diamond Line Sporter, despite a name suggesting top quality, is very much an entry-level clayshooting gun. But it’s none the worse for that. In fact, the gun is quite a good looker and many examples have the best wood you are going to get at the price. The same goes for the engraving pattern.

The gun is a multichoke with no unsightly bulges at the muzzles. Chambers are three inches, and the tubes have been subjected to steel shot proof. Typical of most Italian guns, the Diamond Line’s barrels are hinged on stub pins, allowing for a shallow action, and ejectors are spring-loaded.

Internally, the mechanism is about as simple as you can get, with hammers hinged at the bottom and the sears hanging from the top strap. Coil mainsprings run on guide rods, while an inertia-driven system resets the single trigger to the second barrel.

The weight is just about right for a Sporter, and it could be used for occasional game, pigeon and wildfowl forays.

A well-made, stylish gun, the Marocchi Evo is definitely worth looking at if you're searching for a new clay gun for the coming months

With the extra hour of daylight and the sun starting to show itself more regularly, my thoughts slowly turn to clayshooting.

Since leaving the Navy I don’t do as much competing as I used to. But now the family is of the age where we can all get involved it is becoming a more regular occurrence.

Because this is the clayshooting issue, I feel it’s only fair I put the wildfowling guns away and break out some clay guns to take a look at. I had asked around a few importers if anything new was available for review but had came up a little disappointed – that was until Viking Arms picked up the phone. “Can I have a gun to review please?” “No,” said Holly, “you can have four! They’ll be boxed up and with you tomorrow.“

Continued below …

Expand Secrets of successful clayshooting

Secrets of successful clayshooting

Expand Have you tried this clayshooting method?

Have you tried this clayshooting method?

Marocchi history

Viking Arms has been importing products since 1965, from a small family business to a leading European distributor for many manufacturers including Leupold, Breda, Meopta, Merkel and, of course, Marocchi. So if it’s in stock, it’s with you promptly and professionally. And having worked alongside the company for a number of years, it is one of the best in the trade to deal with.

Like Viking, Marocchi is also a family-run business. Founded by Stefano Marocchi, the company has been making guns since 1922 in the Brescia gunmaking region of northern Italy and is still run by the Marocchi family today.

Of the four guns I had been sent to review, one was a clay gun and I wasn’t disappointed. The Marocchi Evo comes in two formats – trap and sporting. The differences being the fore-end, barrel length, weight and butt pad. The trap has a beavertail fore-end and 30in barrels whereas the sporter comes with a schnabel fore-end and barrel lengths in 28in, 30in or 32in. The action comes in either nickel or black with hand laid blue ink inlay.

Quality

There is a lot to be said by not saying a lot, and Marocchi has done this well with the Marocchi Evo Black. Nice simple lines, well balanced Italian-style, backed up with quality materials and engineering.

The barrels are nicely struck with a 100mm rib and no sharp edges or cut corners

The barrels were nicely struck with a 10mm rib you could land a light aircraft on. I’m a big fan of a wide rib, it helps me line up straight, and the fibre optic red dot sat nicely where it should in my sight picture. A set of 3in chambers and the Marocchi fast system ejectors, alongside five Marocchi Maxi chokes set everything off well. No sharp edges or cut corners, as you’d expect from hand-finished and polished ventilated barrels. Just really well-made and stylish engineering throughout.

The gun complete with 3in chambers and five Marocchi Maxi chokes and adjustable key

The fore-end sat nicely in the hand 
with a well-executed wood to metal finish. No sharp edges, burrs or overhanging timber that you sometimes find in some cheaper guns.

The stock and action really impressed Shane and the work around the metal and wood is done well

Marocchi Evo Black stock and action

The stock and action was what really impressed me the most. The action was a solid Boss system in black – no over elaborate engraving, just a nice simple and stylish blue inlay. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I liked it a lot. The butt pad was 15mm deep and made of rubber, on the trap version it’s 20mm in depth.

The action is a solid Boss system in black – not everyone’s cup of tea but Shane liked it a lot

The adjustable cheek piece was nicely thought out and well-made. Simple adjustment with the supplied hex key gives you the height you want with any extra pitch to the cheek piece. Again, the work around the metal and wood was done well.

The adjustable cheek is nicely thought out and the gold trigger has three adjustable positions

Gold trigger with three adjustable positions

The gold trigger has three adjustable positions and works on an inertia system, as do most Marocchi shotguns, including their semi-automatics.

The test

I went to Ivythorn Sporting to give it a test. I have to say it didn’t disappoint and for once neither did I! I was more than happy with the handling and fit of the gun. I put approximately 3mm of lift on the cheek piece and a little pitch to compensate for the right-hand cast, but I was gobsmacked at how very easy it was to shoot. Without being all cliché, it just shot boringly well and the only fault with the gun was the handler. In fact, the only gun that I have shot better with out of the box was a left-handed Blaser F3 that I had on client demonstration two years ago.

 

Tech spec

Weight: 7lb 7oz
Overall length: 47¾in
Chamber: 3in Multi extendable choke
Barrel: 30in
Rib: 10mm
Length Of Pull: 14¼in
Drop at comb: 40mm to 55mm
Heel to toe: 125mm

The action comes in either nickel or black with a simple blue ink inlay

Scores on the doors

Build Quality: 23/25
Functionality: 23/25
Styling: 23/25
Value for money: 23/25

For more information, contact importers Viking Arms

Overall

I think this is a well-made stylish gun that is good value for money. It is definitely worth looking at if you’re after a new clay gun for the coming months. In the price bracket of some of the bigger names, Marocchi has got a real contender and I hope it does well with this gun.

For the price the Breda 930i is a serious contender to join the bigger Italian brands

As we are still in summer season clay shooting mode, this month I thought I would try the Breda 930i to take a look at. I have to say I wasn’t sure what to expect at all because I hadn’t seen one in the flesh before. And, again, like the last few guns I’ve looked at I was pleasantly surprised.

Breda is a multi-faceted company not just making Sporting and competition shotguns, it also is involved in maritime engines, thermal power plants, locomotive construction as well as special steel construction. In 1953 the Breda company was sub-divided into smaller more manageable and specialised companies. From this, Breda Meccanica Bresciana was born.

A fiber optic bead finishes off the tapered rib and the gun comes with a selection of chokes

New Italian

When most people think of Italian semi-automatic guns they tend to go with the big two of Benelli or Beretta, but after looking at this Breda I would now add it to that list. The typical Italian style was plain to see. Long slim lines, polished gloss blued barrels with extended chokes and the nickel action work really well. The maker’s hard case, with soft foam cut to fit the exact profiles of stock, barrel and extras (chokes/shims/adjustable stock spacers) stands it above the norm.

Shims, provided with the gun, allow the shooter to adjust the stock to suit them

The gun fitted together easily and came to the shoulder nicely. I wasn’t sure about the shiny action to start with because I’m not a big bling fan, but the more I looked at it, the more it grew on me. It is available in red or blue (trigger guard/bolt release and cocking handle) and I think either look good. The selected wooden furniture finished it all off beautifully. Available in 12-bore only, with a barrel configuration in 28in or 30in, Breda has kept things simple by avoiding the over complication of too many choices.

Workmanship

As you would expect from a company with its heritage in quality engineering, the workmanship on the metal work was really well-executed. The receiver was made from something called Ergal, which is a lightweight alloy and you really could feel just how light it was. I was also impressed with the accessibility through the top of the action with the removeable top cover. It made everything so much easier to clean – you know how essential cleaning is for semi-automatics! As most of the internals were a nickel finish there’s no hiding bits of dirt.

The trigger is adjustable by the user, making this gun really good value for money

This gun has some very nice touches that make it well worthy of joining the more well-known brands. Wood-to-metal finish was of an excellent standard all round, as was the external and internal metal surfaces. The fore-end looked a little longer than usual but it held well and fitted the hand nicely.

The magazine comes in either four-shot plus one or two-shot plus one with the crimp on the tube. The barrel was well struck with blued gloss finish and a 3in chamber suitable for magnum cartridges – not that I would take it on the marsh because the gun is way to good for that. The tapered rib and High luminosity fibre optic site and extended custom made competition chokes finish the job well.

You can choose a blue or red finish to your 930i

Customisation

The user adjustable trigger and the ability to customise the gun to fit the user’s needs for the price you pay puts the 930i above the bigger brands in my opinion. The adjustable stock is very similar to the Marocchi Evo. The allen key height and pitch adjustment keeps things simple as long as you don’t lose the key! The large cocking handle and bolt release make for easy loading which is essential for competition or hide shooting. The adjustable 2oz weights that can be added to the fore-end or to the stock to change the balance point are a clever little touch.

Test

When it came to testing the 930i I used a variety of cartridges from 2¾in 21g 7.5 right up to 3in Gamebore Mammoth 36g no.3 shot. The gun cycled flawlessly as you would expect from the inertia recycling system, which generally has fewer cycling issues than the gas recoil systems, and shot well. It was let down only by the user! Although, I would have liked a left-handed version to avoid the cartridge ejecting across my face, but you can’t have it all. 
I tried it from the right shoulder which was less off putting but not my natural side, 
so we had mixed results of success!

Overall

I really like the 930i. It has the look and feel of a gun that should cost a lot more than it does. It’s a serious contender with the other Italian brands and should not be overlooked if you are in the market for a quality semi-automatic shotgun.

Tech Spec

Weight: 6lb to 7lb, depending on 28in or 30in barrel and weight configuration

Chamber: 3in Magnum multi-extendable choke

Barrel: 28in or 30in

Overall length: 50 in (28in barrel fitted with extended choke)

Scores on the doors

Build quality: 24/25

Handling: 24/25

Styling: 24/25

Value for money: 24/25

Total 96/100

Roger Glover is impressed by Fabarm's new sporting shotgun, which takes the Sporter to a higher level and offers big bang for your buck

Fabarm seems to have a knack — whether by accident or with purpose 
I can’t decide — to find 
a way to design and build guns that fulfil their purpose so that it becomes difficult to pin down the reason why that particular gun suits so well.

Floating barrel system

The Axis action has been seen across Fabarm’s range as game guns, Sporters and trap guns. Now the RS12 is taking the Sporter to a higher technical level with the new floating barrel system.

Fabarm has isolated the RS12’s barrels so that they are independent of one another

Any piece of steel will expand when heated. If you fire several consecutive shots through a single barrel it will get hot enough that you cannot touch it. At that temperature it will have enlarged its diameter ever so slightly, but the length will have changed considerably. Now imagine that you have two barrels in a double gun, one hot, one cold. Heat will eventually travel into the colder one, but there will always be a temperature difference between them. While 
one is expanded in length, the result will be that the barrels will bend 
in the direction of the cold one as it 
is shorter, thus changing your point 
of impact from your point of aim.

True to your point of aim

Fabarm has considered this 
factor important enough to isolate 
the barrels from each other and let 
them expand without disturbing 
one another. To achieve this, the 
top barrel has mountings attached to it; the bottom barrel then slides back and forth in these dependent upon which barrel is hottest and longest, thus keeping the point of impact 
true to your point of aim.

The gun on test was the 30in version — there is also a 32in one — and, as with all Fabarm guns, the barrels are proofed to 1,630 bar, substantially above the pressure 
of any cartridge currently available, but clearly a statement about the durability and quality of the barrels. Featuring the Tribore internal taper and 97mm hyperbolic choke tubes, there is a sufficient level of technology to produce a competent gun for competition. Fitted with a tapering rib of 10mm down to 8mm at the muzzle, the barrels are finished in satin black with the choke tubes 14mm proud 
of the muzzles.

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Extremely robust

The Axis action has proven itself over the past 15 or so years. Though there is a lightweight aluminium version on some models, the Axis RS12 is furnished with the heavy-duty steel version. An extremely robust and simple piece of engineering, there are few components to its construction, therefore few to go wrong. There have been a few tweaks to this action for competition use.

The heavy duty steel action is an extremely robust yet simple piece of engineering

The trigger system has been revised with light pulls at 2lb 13oz and a quicker lock time, marketed by Fabarm as “Racing triggers” and it is a sweet system to use. Barrel selection is by a rocker in the safety catch. Positive movement of both the catch and selector are assured with a generously proportioned and chequered safety catch and a deeply straight-knurled selector.

Sufficient force

The ejectors are simple in design, too, with rods thrown forward by the hammers tripping the ejectors via one simple lever in the fore-end iron. The ejectors perform well with sufficient force to clear the cases from the chambers, yet not so forceful as to send them several paces behind you.

The stock is of Turkish walnut, 
a grain pattern with subtle tones and flecks commensurate with the pricing of this gun. The finish is a flat smooth oil type; not too glossy, just functional to seal the wood. As with all the Axis range, the swell on the cheeks of the action is followed on to the stock, completing a crescent. Chequered 
in a traditional pattern at 22 lines 
per inch, both pistol grip and fore-
end offer good grip.

What does help set this gun up 
to your personal requirements is 
the adjustable comb. Adjustments are made by releasing the comb from the stock via two Allen-keyed grub screws; height is then adjusted by two nuts that lock position once the comb is refitted. Movement left and right 
is performed by slackening the studs with an Allen key and sliding them across to the desired position. There are reference indexes to make your increments accurate and repeatable.

The adjustable comb is a boon and reference indexes to make increments accurate

Both front and rear are adjustable independently, up and down, left and right. It is quite a broad comb and 
I needed to adjust it over to the right slightly to get in line with the bead, though there is an ⅛in cast already on the stock. What I should have done was raise it a little more than the position I chose; I kept shooting low on the second barrel as a result, but there was plenty more adjustment there if 
I had chosen to use it.

Need to know

• Maker Fabarm SpA, Italy
• Barrels 30in (32in)
• Action O/U all black finish, manual safety catch.
• Weight 8lb 6oz
• Features: Floating barrels, racing trigger, adjustable comb, tribore barrels, hyperbolic chokes
• Importer Anglo Italian Arms. tel 01564 742477

Conclusion

My first question was, have I got the price right? This is a lot of gun for the money without 
a doubt. Fabarm has put the value where it is needed most; no gimmicks, just logic and good engineering. A well-proven action at the root of a gun that is capable of punching above its weight and certainly above its price tag.

Action/barrels: A strong/heavy-duty action capable of high shot counts married with the floating barrel concept should produce a very good competition combination

Stock: Adjustable comb and thick recoil pad aid both fit and comfort. Though a little plain, it is an honest piece of wood that hasn’t been embellished. Good for the money.

Trigger: Delightful. Significantly lighter pull than most guns, with a clean break, and adjustable back and forth.

Handling: At a shade under 8½lb it is in the range of most Sporters, giving a stable platform with sufficient mass to absorb recoil. Swing and response are both there in fine balance.

Value: You will struggle to find much on the market with this level of features for equivalent money. You might want something with smarter wood, or more accessories, but this gun doesn’t need those – it has more than enough to give it a high rating on any clay ground.

Our expert describes how they differ to a reader who's just starting shooting

Q: I’m new to shooting, and about to buy my first gun. However I don’t understand the main differences between a Sporter and a trap gun. Could you explain please?

Sporters and trap guns

A: Let’s start by looking at the different types of targets presented in the sporting and trap disciplines.

Trap targets

• Trap targets are always going away from you.
• At the point you shoot them they are rising.
• They are projected within an arc of about 60 degrees in front. Targets in the different trap disciplines vary slightly, but that’s the general picture.

To tackle rising targets, a trap gun is configured so that it shoots slightly high. This enables the shooter to fire with the target in view just above the muzzle end of the rib, and hit it right in the middle of the pattern.

As the target is retreating from the shooter at quite a rapid rate, choking is usually quite tight: 3/4in the lower barrel (which is fired first), and full in the top.

When tackling trap targets you don’t have to swing the gun as quickly or as far as you do in Sporting, so the gun can be heavier (which helps to soak up recoil), and also steadier in its handling.

Trap guns are designed for trap shooting and not much use for anything else. Many weight over 8lb.

Can I use a trap gun for pigeon/game shooting?

A: There is a common misconception that trap guns can’t be used for other forms of shooting, I disagree. A…

Sporting targets

Sporting is designed to simulate field shooting.

Targets can be incoming, outgoing, crossing, quartering, rising, falling, curling – mimicing just about  anything a wild bird can do..

A Sporter shoots closer to point of aim than a trap gun, is less tightly choked (1/4 and 1/4 being the norm in a fixed-choke), and its handling and balance are designed for fast swinging.

Sporters usually weigh between 7.1/2lb and 7.3/4lb.

Being a compromise gun in the way it handles, balances and shoots, you can also use a Sporter for skeet as well as pigeon and game shooting.

So we usually advise newcomers to pick a Sporter as their first gun.

A reader has a budget of £1000 to £1500. What does Mike George recommend?

Buyer’s brief:  “I have been shooting clays for the past six months with guns hired from the shooting ground. Most of these have been various versions of Beretta Silver Pigeons, which I do like, though I have no experience of other guns. I have a budget of £1,000 to £1,500, so what do you recommend?”

Mike George’s buying advice for second-hand clayshooting guns

In a way, Michael has almost answered his own question because he clearly gets on well with the Beretta 686/Silver Pigeon range, and plenty of second-hand examples fall well within his budget. However, he is wise to consider other 
types and makes because there may be another gun that suits him even better 
than the Beretta Silver Pigeon.

One thing I do suggest, because of his lack of experience, is that he goes to 
a gunshop attached to a shooting ground 
so that he can try guns before parting with any money.

Michael also appreciates the value of finding a gun that fits him tolerably well, and a good gunshop will check that the 
gun fits him before he is asked to confirm the gun’s purchase.

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A further suggestion I would make is that, when he gets his gun, he pays for 
a few sessions with a good coach so 
that he gets the very best out of his new-to-him gun.

I somehow think that Michael is going to finish up with one of the Silver Pigeon variants, but if he doesn’t, here are three other guns he might like to consider:

The Hunter Sporting Cross-over is intended to be a gun for every job, from game shooting to clays, and for Roger Glover it ticks all the boxes

The Lincoln Vogue HSX is 
the latest development of the Vogue game gun.

The HSX, or Hunter Sporting Cross-over, is designed for clays as much as for game or rough shooting and is Lincoln’s attempt to please all parties and create a single gun for every job.

The 30in barrel length is pretty much standard for most guns these days — long enough for a good swing and a bit of reach, yet not ungainly 
in a pigeon hide. Chambered at 3in and chromed right through, you can use it with steel shot or any other 
non-toxic load.

The side ribs are vented, both as a weight reduction and to aid barrel cooling in repetitive firing situations. The top rib is at the typical Sporter width of 11mm, parallel along its length and heavily ventilated to retain a clear sight picture. A machined triple groove track draws your eye 
to the red optical foresight element.

Should you back a solid all-rounder or a specialist bolter? Alex Flint investigates

Superb guns for taking on clays

Krieghoff is perhaps not a name well-known to many of our readers, with a lineage far more closely related to hunting rifles and shotguns built for competition. Founded as Sempert & Krieghoff, the firm has been building hunting guns at its home on the River Danube in the southern German city of Ulm since 1886. In the late 1950s and early 1960s the firm began to add competition shotguns to its lineup and has since built up a fearsome reputation for producing superb guns for taking on clays. Given the bespoke nature of both premium hunting guns and competition shotguns, it should perhaps not come as a complete surprise this Teutonic gunmaker likes to offer a buyer the opportunity to add a few extras to their purchases.

K-20 for field and clay ground

The K-20 on test this month is a 20 bore gun Krieghoff suggests could be used both in the field and on the clay ground and has much in common with its big brother, the K-80. Visually, the gun is quite arresting thanks to several unusual aspects of Krieghoff’s action.

The gun is shallow in the body, however the eye is immediately drawn to the highly unusual breech, where on top of the action a sliding latch keeps the gun’s barrel block engaged with the action face. The result of this clever engineering is a rather disconcerting gap where one would normally expect to see a flush fit. The gun does feel, however, absolutely solid and secure at all times, as well as being oddly pleasurable to watch in operation.

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