Three guns for women shooters: Becky McKenzie makes an inspection.

I have had the pleasure of testing three Caesar Guerinis – the Syren Tempio Light Sporting, Syren Tempio Sporting and Syren Julia Sporting. The Syren is the Caesar Guerini range of shotguns for ladies. CG have a really good range of lady-styled guns, and Now for something a little different… if you are either new to the sport or have shot for many years, but are looking for a lady-specific gun, then this is one of the best places to start.

The Syren Tempio Light Sporting was created for complete beginners up to the highest level competitors. It has an alloy action to reduce the overall weight while trying to keep the felt recoil as low as possible, and acceptable balance. The barrels on my demo gun were 28″, so it sure was light. I weighed the little gun on my kitchen scales at 6lb 13oz. Length of pull was 14″. The gun comes with a nice Monte Carlo stock, specifically designed for the ladies in length and hand grip. This lightweight version still has all the benefits of its slightly heavier big sister, the Syren Tempio, such as the barrels being over bored, with 5″ forcing cones to reduce recoil and increase ballistic performance. The trigger is adjustable.

Lighter-weight barrels

The Syren Tempio looks identical sitting together in the gunrack, except that the barrel length on the demo was 30″. Again this Syren was built for shooters of all abilities. To make this gun handle well, CG put on lighter-weight barrels, thus keeping the weight distributed more evenly and making the gun feel quite easy to shoot. The Tempio weighed in on my scales at 8lb 1oz, with a length of pull of 14″.

Again it is over bored with 5″ forcing cones. Additionally the barrels and internal sections of the chokes have been chrome hardened for longevity and it also makes maintenance much easier. The trigger is again adjustable trigger and both guns were factory set at a pull of around 3 and 1/4lb. Very crisp indeed! Cosmetically the two Tempio guns are very pleasing to the eye, traditional yet elegant in design. The action features classic scroll engraving with some delicately carved gold roses.

Now onto the bling – the Syren Julia Sporting. This is a sideplated action and it is also case hardened, which I like, with some gold inlay, which I didn’t until it was pointed out to me that it depicted a lady blowing a dandelion clock. The model on loan was a 12 gauge and had 28″ barrels, a length of pull of 14″ and weighed in at a surprising 8lb 5oz, which would suit me down to the ground. All three guns have a Monte Carlo Stock, with some good looking deluxe-grade walnut.

So what were they like to shoot? All three were very nice, and all slightly different. The Tempio Light took me by surprise, when I called pull for the first time. Typically the DTL trap sent out the fast target going off to the left. The Tempio Light gave me a really good field of view, and without thinking the next thing I saw was a smashed clay. I had thought the gun would be way too quick for my style of shooting, as I have often been told that I shoot a man’s gun like a man. However, the little Tempio Light did not disappoint.

On the Sporting layout it proved quite nice. Once I calmed myself down it moved well and the barrels patterned well. I was using 24gm Fiocchi Official Trap, and the felt recoil, as I’m a sensitive soul, was acceptable.

I then tried the Tempio Syren. This 30″ barrelled gun also gave me a great field of view, moved steadier for my style with less felt recoil and was great fun. It truly smashed up some of the DTL targets. Being a little heavier, its swing was smoother and steadier. The guy I was shooting with, admired it sitting in the gun rack and asked if he could have a shot with it. He picked up the gun, said it actually came up pretty well for him too, even though it was short in the stock, and when he mounted it in his shoulder it was all in line. He enjoyed the quick test he had with it.

Total control

The Syren Julia was the one I was really keen to try and it did not disappoint. Even on the DTL layout this 28″ barrelled gun moved with speed and agility and the barrels always felt in total control. Moving on to sporting targets, this is where the Julia felt at her best. Though on the scales this gun rates as ‘heavy’, it really isn’t because it is so well balanced between the hands. That’s not to say that the other two aren’t, because they definitely are. It’s just that the overall feel of the Julia, to me, was utterly superb.

I felt this gun could be used for pretty much any discipline, from the DTL I first tested it on, to Sporting, Skeet… You name it, it would do it.

Differences between the three? Weight was the main factor, and being mildly biased towards a heavier gun, I preferred them in the order Julia, Tempio, Tempio Light. The second difference was felt recoil. I am extremely sensitive to recoil, but in this test the differences were minor. Third difference: price. Both the Tempios RRPs are £3450, and if you require an adjustable comb – always worth having for a perfect gun fit – it will be a further £300. The Julia Syren is £4125.00, again plus £300 for the adjustable comb.

All three guns had crisp clean trigger pulls, all the stocks had a good grade of walnut, and all three were exceptionally well made.

So really it’s down to personal choice. For me it was the Julia Syren, because the weight suited me. I’m always drawn to casehardened actions too, plus it was a cracking gun to shoot. But if you prefer a gun with a little less weight, then definitely test both the Tempio and the Tempio Light, as they really are excellent lady guns too. All three guns are steel proofed, which we may well need in the future, and all Caesar Guerinis have a 10- year mechanical parts warranty.

Tech specs

• Model Caesar Guerini Syren Julia
• Bore 12 gauge
• Action Boss locking style
• Barrel length 28″
• Chamber 2 3/4″
• Chokes Flush
• Rib 10mm to 8mm tapered, vented
• Forend Round
• Weight 8lb 5oz
• Price £3450

Tech specs

• Model Caesar Guerini Syren Tempio
• Bore 12 gauge
• Action Boss locking style
• Barrel length 30″
• Chamber 2 3/4″
• Chokes Extended
• Rib 10mm to 8mm tapered, vented
• Forend Round
• Weight 8lb 1oz
• Price £3450

Tech specs

• Model Caesar Guerini Syren Tempio Light
• Bore 12 gauge
• Action Boss locking style
• Barrel length 28″
• Chamber 2 3/4″
• Chokes Flush
• Rib 10mm to 8mm tapered, vented
• Forend Round
• Weight 6lb 13oz
• Price: £3450