By Jason Harris
Wednesday, 04 August 2010
Rottweil 580 Sporter shotgun: It might be a plain Jane in terms of looks but it represents value for money.
Rottweil 580 Sporter shotgun.
Rottweil is a name more associated with quality shotgun cartridges than it is gun production.
The company has had a presence for many years in the UK with its ammunition range but it is only comparatively recently that its moniker has appeared on shotguns as well.
Yet getting an established gunmaker to produce a gun with the Rottweil name on it is a useful marketing ploy and clever bit of brand extension.
The 580 Sporter is made as an entry-level gun by one of Italy’s leading mass producers.
Let me say straight away that this plain but elegant gun has been built with the emphasis very much on giving its buyers value for money.
This it does very well without sacrificing or skimping on good gun making principles – in fact the gun has been built to a sound, strong and reliable design.
The action body sports a fairly plain silver finish with a little bit of scroll and border engraving while the furniture - top lever, non-auto safety catch, trigger, guard and fore-end iron – have been done in a nice contrasting black.
The same simple, clean design extends to the internal workings where both hammers, complete with intercepting safety bents, pivot from the trigger plate with the sears above.
Thanks to the captive held coil mainsprings the hammers also rebound during firing which prevents striker drag when the gun is opened.
The mechanism works on inertia for the second barrel reset and this is lightly set so that it will select very easily.
The bores have been chromed for durability and easy cleaning and the forcing cone linking the chamber to the bores has been extended to reduce recoil and improve pattern quality.
Outside, the barrels have been treated to a gloss black and finished to a high level.
The lacquer-finished woodwork is very plain - but acceptable bearing in mind the value element – and built to fairly standard dimensions that will suit most people.
Stock length including the recoil pad) is 14.3/4in with drops at comb and heel of 1.1/2in and 2.1/4in respectively. It carries a right hand cast of 1/4in.
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