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Famars Poseidon shotgun review

Famars Poseidon shotgun review: Famars invokes the god of the sea in naming its innovative drop sidelock.

Famars Poseidon shotgun review.
Famars, also known as Abbiatico & Salvinelli (A&S), is known in Italy for producing higher-quality, visually attractive, guns at competitive prices.

A .410 round body Abbiatico was one of the prettiest guns that I ever owned.

This firm has made guns for other, even more famous Italian makers, and has been one of the great innovators in both computer numerical control and spark erosion production technology.

A&S has made some extraordinary firearms but its most intriguing guns have to be the four-barrelled Rombo (available as a .410 or 28 bore), the hammer ejector side-by-sides and the Zeus side-lever side-by-side (in bores from .410 through to 12).

The solid, tapered sighting rib is impeccably presented, too. And I liked the simple metal bead and the versatility of the Teague thin-wall multi-chokes.

The Poseidon is a sidelock with a new type of detachable trigger plate.

The mechanism ? which is exquisite when removed from the gun ? has a separate lock on either side of a central plate.

Powered by V-springs, each incorporates an intercepting safety sear.

Famars calls this a drop sidelock. It is most unusual.

The Poseidon looks smart. The details of finish ? such as the elegantly curved trigger blade, the extended trigger guard, the push rod fore-end fastener set in steel, the perfectly chequered safety, the grip cap, gold serial number and gold oval ? all befit a de luxe gun.

Action, fore-end iron and trigger guard are all silver polished. The gun does not disappoint when mounted.

The stock shapes are sound. I liked the hand-filling but well-proportioned and relatively open-radiused pistol grip.

The stock comb was not too thin and the rounded, near parallel-sided fore-end offered excellent purchase and was not too big.

The Poseidon seemed quite heavy in the hands, however, though it balanced precisely on the hinge pin.

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Is this as good a gun as a higher-grade Perazzi or Kemen with which it competes price-wise? This question can only be answered after extended use.

I had a problem on the test gun with a pin shifting in the trigger unit (fixed by pushing it in with a fingernail but it prevented me returning the trigger unit into the gun until I realised what had happened).

With regard to finish, style and design, the Poseidon was potentially the equal or, aesthetically speaking, the better of its rivals.

Nevertheless, the sort of small problem mentioned should not afflict an expensive gun.

TECHNICAL DATA
The well-presented monobloc barrels bear Italian proof marks for 2.3⁄4in (70mm) cartridges.

Forcing cones are longer than average and bore diameters typical for Italy at 18.4mm (18.6mm-18.7mm would be my preference).

The barrels on the test gun are 30in and, as such, well suited to high birds. They are equipped with solid side ribs and there are subtle wings for the fore-end and a not-so-subtle, indeed, rather ritzy extended fore-end iron, the top section of which extends back several inches from the knuckle.

The barrels, which are well polished inside and out, are better than average for straightness, too.

They have been hand finished to a good standard and are richly blacked. The action is of Boss type to the front with Boss locking and Boss-style draws and wedges.

To the rear of the standing breech, the unusual detachable trigger lock may be removed by bringing the safety back beyond its normal position.

There is no instant barrel selection option. Most guns with removable trigger locks dispense with this (though there are exceptions).

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The trigger is inertia operated, as with most modern over-unders. The pulls were adequate but had a little creep.

SHOOTING IMPRESSIONS
The Poseidon shot well. I have tested some great guns recently, so I am setting the bar high these days.

From the shooting perspective, this Famars did not disappoint. It performed without significant vices and pointed naturally.

It was a little heavy, as noted, at a whisker over 8lb, but that weight will suit some, notably those who combine high birds with the occasional claybusting outing.

Considering the weight, felt recoil was a little above the average to my face and shoulder, but not unpleasantly so.

This was an exceptionally attractive gun, too, and a straight-shooting one.

It?s cleverly designed but Famars must sort out the little things if it is to achieve its true potential as a great gunmaker.