Side by side shotguns are loved by traditionalists. Many Guns start shooting with a side-by-side shotgun (which they have possibly inherited) and then switch to an over-and-under. But why? (More on switching from a side-by-side to an over-and-under.) Side-by-side or over-and-under? It is much easier shooting with an over-and-under. For…
Over-and-under shotguns
Benelli 828U Field Silver 20-bore
The Benelli 20-bore 828U Field really is blue-sky thinking in its design. The established, reliable and respected systems of designing lock, stock and barrel have been shelved and the designers at Benelli have approached the challenges of gunmaking in a totally different way. The elephant in the room is why…
ATA Sporter
This review was first published in 2018 and has been updated. Prices shown are as when gun was originally reviewed and may have altered. ATA Sporter tech specs Weight: 7lb 10oz Barrel length: 30in Rib: 10mm Overall length: 47¾in Length of pull: 14¾in Drop at comb: 35mm to 60mm (standard…
Bettinsoli Evolution
The Bettinsoli Evolution represents a lot of gun at a mid-range price. Although it no longer features in the Bettinsoli catalogues, a few new guns still appear to be offered on the UK market, although most examples encountered now will be pre-owned. It comes in two versions, the Evolution Black…
Caesar Guerini Invictus V Ascent
My first impressions were it is a good looking gun with lovely wood and fancy engraving. The Invictus V Ascent has a fine looking action, which I understand to be hand engraved in part. Whatever, it is rather nice, a pheasant on one side and a partridge on the other…
Beretta DT11L
I had been wanting to test a DT11 for some time now, particularly the DT11L – the Lux version. A trip to my favourite gun dealer (J. F. Neville of Alfreton) revealed a second-hand DT11L to be available, which they were happy for me to borrow for a few days.…
Purdey Sporter
The renowned English gunmaker, Purdey, is known for its high quality, high performance and… high prices. You will be looking around the £150,000 mark for a London best gun made to your precise requirements. However, the famous gunmaker does have a gun called the Sporter which, at £39,500 plus VAT…
Browning 525 Game Laminate
Back in 2019, Browning released a new gun to the market, which caused a great stir in the shooting community. The Browning 525SL (Sporter Laminate) was a fresh take on the firm’s much-loved sporting shotguns. It had stylish looks and a distinctive grey laminate stock. It was innovative, bold and…
Purdey 20-bore Trigger Plate
James Purdey & Sons is to shotguns what Stradivarius is to violins and Rolls-Royce is to luxury cars. Even if you know nothing about shooting you will have heard of Purdey, such is its reputation. You couldn’t be blamed for thinking this quintessential gunmaker would rest on its laurels and…
Blaser F16 – an all-round winner
There is no doubt that Blaser caters for a higher end of the market and there was considerable excitement when its new shotgun, the Blaser F16, was launched in this country in 2016. Innovative The F16 is different to the earlier F3 – itself a highly regarded shotgun with a…
Blaser F3 Competition Custom Sideplate
Our verdict on the Blaser F3 Competition Custom Sideplate The Blaser F3 is an exceptional example of German engineering, design and technology coming together to create a contemporary over-and-under competition shotgun. Its whole design is about maximising the key shooting characteristics required to give competitors the edge. From an aesthetic…
Used guns – the Marocchi Evo Black
Why a used Marocchi Evo Black is a good buy The Marocchi Evo Black is a gun intended to appeal to the clay shooting market and available in both trap and sporting formats. The Trap gun is available with 30in barrels and has a beavertail fore-end, and there is also…
Is the side-by-side shotgun history?
“Snobbery and inheritance are the only reasons why people use a side-by-side.” So said one keen Shot, once described as the best of his generation. “But I’m not that bothered. I just like to shoot straight.” So is a side-by-side old fashioned? Turn up for a day’s shooting in some neighbourhoods…
Browning B15 Beauchamp
Our verdict on the Browning B15 Beauchamp In the world of gunmaking, you have to accept that the breechloading shotgun design was perfected at the turn of the past century. Very little is new or groundbreaking in mechanical design. The biggest change has been the way in which guns are…
Are English guns the best?
The famous makers of English guns – Holland & Holland, Boss, Purdey, William Evans, Westley Richards. These names are revered as the finest examples of the gunmaker’s art around the world. Or is that really true? Inherited English guns You’ll see plenty of people turning up at a smart driven…
The Breda Zenith L Game Gun
The new Breda Zenith L is set up to be a game gun. As such, it has a solid sighting rib that tapers from 11mm to 7mm, as well as a solid joining rib. The action has restrained foliate engraving and is polished, with parts of it being brushed steel.…
What’s the best cartridge load for standard driven pheasants?
How should you tackle standard driven pheasants when you’re out in the field? The sort you’re likely to come across earlier in the season. What would be the best cartridge load for driven pheasants? Speaking from my experience as a shooting instructor I think that the cartridges a shooter uses…
What would be the best all-round shotgun for you?
How to choose your best all-round shotgun If you had to have one gun that would work for you in all your shooting, what would it be? This would not necessarily be your dream gun and some tough choices would have to be made. We are talking here about someone…
Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III Field
Our Verdict on the 687 Silver Pigeon III Field The original Beretta 687 was an all-round gun — is there a place for an updated version in game shooting today? The success of Beretta’s 690 series of guns, both Field and Competition, means you would be forgiven for thinking that…
Fausti XF4 .410
This review of an Italian shotgun is something slightly different — the Fausti XF4 .410 with 32in barrels. We do use .410s at the shooting school in both over-and-under and side-by-side format for young shooters, to get them started, particularly if their upper body strength cannot deal with a larger…