Home Gear Five of the best high-end game guns for the driven field

Five of the best high-end game guns for the driven field

When every bird counts, the shotgun in your hands has to deliver time after time. These are five top-of-the-range over-and-unders, priced from £5,915 to £19,500 and chosen for the game Shot who wants craftsmanship as well as performance

The five high-end game guns in this guide, from Browning, Caesar Guerini, Rizzini, Perazzi and Beretta, over a blurred grouse moor

When every bird counts, the shotgun in your hands has to deliver time after time. The five over-and-unders here sit at the top of their makers’ game ranges, and each one blends innovation with craftsmanship, an effortless swing and a degree of aesthetic prestige that a working gun simply does not carry.

They were chosen from what the leading makers and their UK distributors currently offer the game Shot, on editorial knowledge of the market rather than a head-to-head test, and they are presented in ascending price order. All prices are the manufacturers’ or UK distributors’ RRPs at the time of publication and may since have changed.

What should you look for when buying a high-end game gun?

Balance is the first thing to judge, because at this level almost every gun on the shelf is well made and it is how the weight sits between your hands that decides whether the barrels move with you or ahead of you. Pick each gun up, mount it with your eyes shut and see where it settles.

After that, the questions are practical ones. How long are the barrels, and does that length suit the birds you shoot rather than the birds you talk about? Is the action a fixed trigger group or a detachable unit, and does the narrower receiver of the former give you the pointability you want? Are the barrels proofed for steel shot, and how many chokes come with the gun? What grade of walnut is on it, and is the engraving hand-finished or machine-cut, because that is where a great deal of the money in this bracket goes. Finally, weight: a heavier gun soaks up recoil and carries its own momentum on tall birds, but you have to be able to hold it up all day.

Five of the best high-end game guns

Browning 825 Game Prestige 12M

The Browning 825 combines traditional craftsmanship with the latest advancements in over-and-under shotgun design. Built for discerning game shooters, it features elegant game scene engraving, a high-grade walnut stock and Browning’s newly engineered 825 action, delivering exceptional balance, reliability and great shooting comfort.

The redesigned trigger system provides a crisp, consistent pull, while the back-bored barrels and Invector DS choke system ensure outstanding pattern performance across a variety of game loads. Beautifully finished and engineered to perform, the 825 Game Prestige is a refined shotgun for those who demand true excellence in the field.

Newly engineered 825 action
Redesigned trigger system for a crisp, consistent pull
Back-bored barrels with the Invector DS choke system
High-grade walnut stock and game scene engraving

Best for: the game Shot who wants a brand new action design and a modern choke system, at the most accessible price in this company.

RRP: £5,915 – browning.eu

Rizzini Artemis Deluxe

Battista Rizzini has mastered the art of delivering boutique Italian craftsmanship at a price point that makes eminent sense for the discerning UK game Shot, and the Artemis Deluxe represents the pinnacle of that achievement. Featuring hand-selected, highly figured Grade 3 Turkish walnut paired with a silver coin-finished sideplate receiver, it showcases intricate game scene and deep acanthus scroll engraving meticulously hand-finished by master artisans.

In the hands, the 12-bore feels beautifully balanced, hinging directly on the pin for a fluid, natural point of aim. The solid top rib and Prince of Wales stock drive smoothly through fast, curling birds over high topography. Meanwhile, steel shot-proofed barrels and five flush-fit multichokes ensure total versatility for modern cartridge choices. Equally at home on walked-up or driven days, the Artemis Deluxe is a striking, dependable game gun that seamlessly bridges production efficiency and bespoke luxury.

Grade 3 hand-selected Turkish walnut
Silver coin-finished sideplate receiver, hand-finished engraving
Solid top rib and Prince of Wales stock
Steel shot-proofed barrels and five flush-fit multichokes

Best for: the Shot who wants sideplate looks and hand engraving without leaving the middle of the price range, and who shoots walked-up as well as driven days.

RRP: £7,650 – a-s-i.co.uk

Caesar Guerini Forum

If you are looking for a sideplate over-and-under that exudes the grace of a bespoke English game gun without the eye-watering price tag, the Caesar Guerini Forum could be the perfect answer. It stands as the jewel in Guerini’s crown, boasting exquisite hand-finished deep scroll engraving and delicate drop points that highlight its elegant receiver profile.

Out in the field, the Forum is far more than a pretty face. The balance is centred exquisitely between the hands, allowing the 30in barrels to float smoothly on to high, driven birds with effortless control. Paired with select oil-finished Grade 5 Turkish walnut, it feels every bit as luxurious as it looks. With its crisp trigger-pulls, flawless pattern distribution and smooth recoil absorption, the Forum offers the passionate game Shot an irresistible mix of Italian artisan beauty, field reliability and true aesthetic prestige on the peg.

Sideplate action with hand-finished deep scroll engraving and drop points
30in barrels
Select oil-finished Grade 5 Turkish walnut
Crisp trigger-pulls and smooth recoil absorption

Best for: the Shot who wants the look and feel of a bespoke English gun on a driven day, and cannot justify the cost of the real thing.

RRP: £9,850 – angloitalianarms.com

Perazzi MX12

The Perazzi MX12 Game Gun remains the benchmark for modern over-and-unders, particularly when tackling high-driven pheasants over deep Welsh valleys. Built in Brescia with exceptional precision, it combines outstanding mechanical strength with superb balance and a smooth, instinctive swing.

Unlike its competition-focused stablemate the MX8, the MX12 features a fixed trigger group, allowing a narrower receiver and slimmer, stronger stock grip that enhances pointability, making the gun feel like a natural extension of the shooter. Its renowned Boss-style locking system delivers exceptional strength, comfortably handling heavy game loads while reducing felt recoil to improve control and consistency on challenging high birds. Beautifully balanced, expertly choked and finished with understated Italian elegance, the MX12 is more than a game gun – it’s a lifetime investment for discerning game Shots. For those seeking both performance and artistry, the iconic MX12 is also available with optional SC3 engraving, showcasing Perazzi’s exceptional craftsmanship.

Fixed trigger group and a narrower receiver for pointability
Boss-style locking system
Built in Brescia to Perazzi’s own tolerances
Optional SC3 engraving

Best for: the Shot who takes on genuinely high birds week in, week out, and wants a gun built to be kept and used rather than admired.

RRP: £13,500 – perazzi.uk

Beretta DT11 EELL

While Beretta’s DT11 platform earned its formidable reputation on the Olympic clay circuit, the EELL edition transforms this mechanical titan into a refined masterpiece for high-bird shooting. Standing for Extra Extra Lusso, the EELL treatment adorns the wide-body detachable trigger unit receiver with hand-finished, full-coverage game scene and scroll engraving, framed by exceptional figured walnut.

In the hands, it is a gun of supreme purpose. The signature Steelium Pro barrels – boasting an ultra-long internal taper – deliver astonishing pattern density while taming the sharpest recoil from heavy, high driven-game loads. Though the DT11 EELL is heavier than a traditional game gun, that mass translates into effortless momentum and relentless consistency on tall late-season pheasants. The detachable lock mechanism offers target-grade trigger-pulls, making this shotgun an uncompromising powerhouse for the Shot who demands the ultimate in ballistic performance beautifully wrapped in classic Italian luxury.

Wide-body receiver with a detachable trigger unit
Hand-finished, full-coverage game scene and scroll engraving
Steelium Pro barrels with an ultra-long internal taper
Heavier than a traditional game gun

Best for: the Shot who wants competition-grade mechanics and trigger-pulls on a game gun, and does not mind the extra weight on tall late-season birds.

RRP: £19,500 – gmk.co.uk

How the five high-end game guns compare

Gun	Price (RRP)	Best for
Browning 825 Game Prestige 12M	£5,915	A brand new action design and modern chokes at the accessible end of the bracket
Rizzini Artemis Deluxe	£7,650	Sideplate looks and hand engraving, and steel shot versatility for mixed days
Caesar Guerini Forum	£9,850	The grace of a bespoke English game gun for a fraction of the money
Perazzi MX12	£13,500	Consistent high birds, and a gun bought to be kept for life
Beretta DT11 EELL	£19,500	Competition-grade mechanics and the most engraving of the five

Frequently asked questions

How much do you need to spend on a high-end game gun?

The five guns in this guide run from £5,915 for the Browning 825 Game Prestige 12M to £19,500 for the Beretta DT11 EELL, with the Rizzini Artemis Deluxe at £7,650, the Caesar Guerini Forum at £9,850 and the Perazzi MX12 at £13,500. All are RRPs at the time of publication. The step up in price at this level buys hand-finished engraving, higher grades of walnut and, in some cases, a different action design rather than simply a better-looking version of the same gun.

Are high-end game guns proofed for steel shot?

Not automatically, and it is worth checking gun by gun rather than assuming. Of the five here, Rizzini states that the Artemis Deluxe has steel shot-proofed barrels and supplies five flush-fit multichokes for modern cartridge choices. For any of the others, confirm the proof marks and the maker’s guidance on steel with the UK distributor before you buy.

What is the difference between a game gun and a competition gun?

Two of the guns here started life on the competition side and show how the two differ. The Perazzi MX12 uses a fixed trigger group rather than the detachable unit of its competition stablemate the MX8, which allows a narrower receiver and a slimmer, stronger stock grip and improves pointability in the field. Beretta’s DT11, by contrast, earned its reputation on the Olympic clay circuit, and the EELL edition keeps the wide-body detachable trigger unit and target-grade trigger-pulls while adding game scene engraving and figured walnut.

Does a heavier gun help on high birds?

It can. The Beretta DT11 EELL is heavier than a traditional game gun, and that mass translates into effortless momentum and consistency on tall late-season pheasants, as well as taming recoil from heavy driven-game loads. The trade-off is that you have to carry and hold up that weight for a full day, so it suits a Shot standing on a peg more than one walking up.

Where can you buy these guns in the UK?

All five are handled by UK distributors, who will point you at a stocking dealer. Beretta comes through GMK, Caesar Guerini through Anglo Italian Arms, Rizzini through Anglo Spanish Imports (ASI) and Perazzi through Perazzi UK, while Browning has its own UK dealer network. At this level it is worth handling the gun and talking about fit before committing.

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Five of the best high-end game guns for the driven field

What should you look for when buying a high-end game gun?