Pick a Game Gun: Practical choices for the season

The Miroku MK70 is a true all‑round game gun, combining Japanese craftsmanship with classic English handling. Its strong, monobloc‑oriented barrels and multichoke options bring flexibility, making it equally at ease on walked‑up partridge or driven pheasants. Built on a boxlock over‑and‑under action derived from the venerable Browning style (below) the MK70 delivers rugged reliability and consistent performance. Moderate in weight, the MK70 balances forward enough for steady pointing without tiring, yet light enough to swing fast on low or rising birds. Available in several grades of walnut and finish, it offers excellent value for someone wanting that traditional game‑gun feel without the premium price.

The ATA SP Black Game is a gun that punches well above its price. With its multichoke 30in barrels, solid black or matt laminate finish and reliable boxlock over‑and‑under action, it combines attractive aesthetics with practical performance. It swings cleanly, offers good balance and carries well throughout a long day in the field. While not as ornate as higher‑end guns, its build quality is surprisingly clean, and its performance earns strong marks in real‑world shooting tests. The SP Black Game is not too heavy, yet sturdy, and the handling is forgiving. For shooters who want a dependable field gun without the premium tag, this ATA model delivers exactly what’s needed.

The Beretta S686 Special is a classic Italian game gun that remains a mainstay in British fields. Understated but elegant, its cold‑hammer‑forged barrels, ventilated 6mm rib, and clean walnut stocks give it all the flair expected of a Beretta, without over‑ornamentation. Built with features such as a single selective trigger, selective ejectors, fixed or multichokes depending on the variant, and chamber lengths of 2¾″, the S686 offers both tradition and utility. Its handling is smooth: point‑and‑shoot friendly. The ergonomics suit a wide range of shooters—semi‑pistol grip stocks, balanced weight that isn’t so heavy as to slow swing on crossing birds but enough to carry steady on driven days.

The Krieghoff K-80 Parcours is built with the game shot in mind, combining German precision engineering with traditional elegance. Its long, beautifully balanced barrels and slim 6mm rib make it an instinctive pointer, equally at home on high pheasants or walked-up partridge. Built on the legendary K-80 action, the Parcours pairs proven strength with lightweight barrels that bring agility and speed on crossing or overhead birds. Available with fixed chokes or Krieghoff Thin Wall flush chokes, it is also future-proofed for steel shots. With crisp barrel regulation and weight that balances steadiness with responsiveness, the Parcours is a superbly crafted field gun.

• Try before you buy. Mount and swing the gun.

• Check weight distribution. A nose-heavy gun points differently.

• Decide barrel length for your typical days: 28in for classic game; 30in for all-round use.

• Balance price with real-world handling, not spec sheets.