Aguierre y Aranzabal -- the
MSRP of 's popular Model 4/53 boxlock increased to
$2,795, annual production restricted to 150 units. The
Bill Hanus Birdgun, which had been based on the Model
4/53, has been discontinued. Sidelock prices for 2005
are: Model 2 $4,395, Model 2 Round Action $4,595 and the
Model 53 $5,695.
BSA -- Birmingham
Small Arms -- enjoys an old-line English name, but
offers a variety of shotguns, including a 16 gauge
semi-auto from Turkey and a pair of doubles from Zabala
Hermanos of Spain (who made side-by-sides for Weatherby
last year) which include the Royal Model (a boxlock with
false sideplates) in 12 and 20 gauge with single
selective trigger and 26" or 28" with Beretta-threaded
screw-in chokes at $1,499; plus a double trigger
side-by-side Classic model in 12-16-20-28-410 at $1,299.
Note that Beretta-threading accepts Briley's exciting new
Diffusion™ spreader choke, enhancing the short-range
capabilities of the Royal's 12 and 20 gauge models.
Baschieri & Pellagri
-- B&P, the great Italian ammunition maker, is back
on the US market. And just in the nick of time too. I
used my last two boxes of their F2 Classic 16 gauge
shotshells with No. 8 shot to harvest 30 pheasants and
half-a-dozen quail on my last trip to Nebraska. B&P
is one of the very few makers who offer a No. 9 shot
loading in 16 gauge and their No. 7 (as opposed to No.
7-1/2) shot is big medicine on barn pigeons and the
second barrel on pointed pheasants. The new US
distributor for B&P is Kaltron-Pettibone and you can
order this nifty low pressure (which translates into less
recoil, better patterns with less deformed shot)
ammunition by phone at 630/350-1116 or online at
www.bandpusa.com.
Browning is discontinuing
manufacture of 16 gauge guns. This doesn't mean that
there won't be a special run for some occasion, or
sponsor, but the 16 gauge will not be a catalogued item
in Browning's catalogue. Browning's newly introduced
Cynergy line adds 20 and 28 gauge models; the engraving
embellishments on the Grade VI Citori has been changed;
and several now alloy-receiver (Feather = lightweight)
models appear in the Citori lineup, certain to attract
buyers' eyes. Note that the rule of thumb concerning
recoil is that it takes six pounds of gun to absorb the
recoil generated by putting one ounce out the muzzle.
Citori Feathers are a joy to chase birds with; but
putting fifty rounds through the gun on a sporting clays
range in another story. Since all the weight comes out of
the butt end of the gun, the balance shifts towards the
muzzle. This is a plus for pass shooting on ducks and
doves, but you should try both 26" and 28" barrel weights
before you buy.
CZ-USA -- the world
class Czech Republic maker of pistols and rifles has
added shotguns to their portfolio by becoming the
exclusive US distributor for Huglu, the primary producer
of shotguns in Turkey. But equally important, they've
added the people who are capable of translating the
American birdhunters' needs to the CDC equipment in
Turkey, as this quote from their catalog attests:
. . . upland game in
America is normally taken over a pointing dog at the
flush. Whether ruff grouse from thick New England
cover or bobwhite in the Georgia pine, American upland
game shooting is as often as not the quintessential
snap-shot.
Although the CZ Ringneck model is
priced more like an "entry level" side-by-side (the MSRP
for 12 and 20 gauge guns is only $869, while the 28's and
.410's are $1,045) they possess a degree of design
sophistication not commonly associated with low-cost
doubles. They are built on frames proportionate to the
gauge with a Prince of Wales grip, single trigger and
five chokes tubes: C-IC-M-IM-F in 12, 20 and 28 gauges
(.410 is IC/M fixed). Stock dimensions are 1-1/2" x
2-1/4" x 14-1/2" with about 1/4" cast-off to a rubber
pad. The pad has a hard-plastic horseshoe at the top that
slides on a sweater or hunting jacket instead of hanging
up like a lot of plain rubber pads do.
The specially designed forearm
deserves mention. Most American shooters have a terrible
time coping with a 7" splinter forend. It encourages
shooting with a short left arm, a recipe for missed
birds. CZ put a 9-1/2" modified semi-beavertail with a
little Schnable tip on the Pheasant model, which
positions the left hand to be were it ought to be. Nice
touch. The raised rib does a good job in picking up the
target and it's not ventilated, so you won't have to pick
weed seeds when you get home. Top it all off with 3"
chambers (not on 28 gauge), choice of 26" or 28" barrel
lengths, case-colored and lightly engraved false
sideplates, good wood to metal fit and side clips. These
guns have extractors, not ejectors. Content yourself by
making this small contribution to the environment by
putting those empties back in your pocket.
FABARM has jumped the
traces, leaving Heckler Koch and joining SIG Arms,
replacing the Rizzini line there. Fabarm is well known
for their TRIBORE® system - - which combines the
blessings of back boring with over-boring to produce
superior patterns. Now they've added new ideas is choke
tube design and construction, which appears to be cutting
edge stuff.
Featured this year is
Triwood™ which is a technique for adding ink-drawn
patterns to medium grade walnut so that it looks like it
started out life as a $2,500 stick of Turkish walnut. It
can be finished with either a high gloss or satin finish,
but it is a barn-burner for sure. It is on their new 20
gauge Nobile Grade III side-by-side (with a wood butt
plate) and Axis over/unders (rubber recoil pad), which
have futuristic profiles not unlike the Browning Cynergy
models. The Axis AL is a lightweight model (Titanium
receiver). All feature Tribore® and Triwood® and
long (82 mm) "hyperbolic profile" internal screw-in
chokes.
FABARM's new high-end
side-by-sides are all 12 gauge. The Beta Grade IV, Beta,
Beta Lux Paradox are all boxlocks, some with highly
finished false sideplates, English or pistol grips,
various choke tube choices and showy Triwood®. No
prices were available at the show, but FABARM shotguns
were always moderately priced, but with the Euro/USD rate
of change, anything is possible.
Fiocchi includes in their
Game & Target Multi Sport (Dove Loads) a 1 ounce load
for 16 gauge with a velocity of 1,165 fps and is
available in nos. 7-1/2, 8 and 9 shot sizes. No. 9 shot
is hard to find in factory loaded ammunition. This is a
"promotional" load - - sometimes bargain priced as a loss
leader - - but Fiocchi goes out of their way to say that
they "use the same manufacturing standards for both
premium and promotional loads." Finding factory-loaded
no. 9 shot is no easy task, but getting it at a good
price makes it special.
Kimber -- not well
known for shotguns - - has introduced a highly finished
seven-pin, hand-detachable sidelock 20 gauge Holland
& Holland look-alike with Grade 4 Turkish walnut that
was an absolute show-stopper. The Valier Grade II has all
the bells and whistles, ranging from engine-turning on
the internal lockwork, slender 26 or 28" fixed choke
(IC/M) barrels to a 14-3/4" LOP checkered butt which is
cataloged as "cast-neutral", but appears to the eye to
have some cast-off. Kimber says these guns have "30 coats
of oil" - - which also appears to be the case. Beautiful
Turkish wood with a lot of depth and color. The Valier
Grade II is bargain-priced at $4,480.
Marlin is not the
first name that comes to mind when you think of shotguns,
but for 2005 Marlin has brought back two beauties that
are going to turn your head. Elsie is the first. Yep, the
L.C. Smith nameplate is back on a 12 and 20 gauge
side-by-side and, would you believe, an over/under too!
The new 20 side-by-side is a boxlock with a false
sideplate, built for Marlin by a well-known Italian
maker. It has 26" barrels with IC-M-F chokes, solid rib,
3" chambers, single trigger, nice wood-to-metal fit and a
rubber recoil pad. The wood checkering has a beautifully
executed fleur de lis pattern on both side-by-side and
over/under models. The 20 gauge Elsie, which will be on
everyone's must-have list this year, has a catalog weight
of six pounds and a MSRP of $1,884. The stock dimensions
are pretty standard and the samples at the show had a
nice bit of cast-off.
Also new for 2005, Marlin is
reintroducing their Lever Action Shotgun as an updated
version of the model made in the 1920's. The Model 410
has a 22" cylinder bore barrel and a four-shot (five with
some brands) tubular magazine for 2-1/2" (only) shells,
including rifled slugs.
The LOP is 13-3/4" to a rubber
pad and comes equipped with a green fibre-optic front
sight. Looks like a fun gun, although there is going to
be a whole new learning curve when shooting doubles! MSPB
is $614.
Merkel has a line in their
catalog that says all you need to know about their guns .
. . these fine guns seduce through elegance and
finesse. And so they do. These guys are having so
much fun with their Luxury Wood concept, their small
frame 28 gauge and a 16 gauge gun built on a 20 gauge
frame, that Euro/USD exchange business has to be a
downer. A sign of the times is that the 2004 MSRP of
$4,195 on both the Model 280 Petite Frame and the Model
1620 appears uncertain for 2005. Probably up 5%-6%.
Fitted cases, included with gun purchases in recent
years, have become a casualty in 2005. Fitted cases are
an extra cost accessory for 2005.
Remington's
Spartan™ Gunworks -- working with Russia's
premier gun maker is offering a low-cost line of
side-by-side, over/under, single shot, rifle/shotgun
combination and hammer model cowboy action shotguns. The
basic Spartan SPR210 side-by-side is available in 12 and
20 gauge with C-IC-M-F chokes tubes, 28 gauge with fixed
IC/M and .410 bore with fixed IM/F. All have single
selective triggers, automatic ejectors, chrome-lined
bores, auto safety, ventilated rib and rubber pad. A
similar SPR220 is offered in 12 and 20 gauge with double
triggers.
A 16 gauge is included in their
over/under SPR310 line with a MSRP of $517 with single
selective trigger, auto ejectors, C-IC-M-F choke tubes,
28" ventilated ribbed barrels and a cataloged weight of
7-1/4 pounds. Note that Spartan™ choke tubes are not
interchangeable with Rem© Chokes.
SKB -- with a long history
in side-by-sides dating back to the early Ithaca years in
the 1960's - - has dropped them from their 2005 lineup of
shotguns. SKB continues to offer their line of over/under
sport and target guns in three trim lines.
Weatherby -- this
year Weatherby teamed up with Fausti Stefano - - one of
Italy's finest gunmakers &endash; to produce a
side-by-side shotgun with classic English styling and
made with the latest in production technology. The
Weatherby Athena D'Italia model is available in 12, 20
and 28 gauge with straight English grip, splinter forend,
double triggers and screw-in IC-M-F chokes on the 12 and
20 gauge and fixed IC/M on the 28 gauge. The false
sideplates are fully engraved, screwheads nicely aligned
and the checkering and wood-to-metal fit perfectly
executed. The LOP on these guns is 14" to the front
trigger and 13-5/8" to the rear trigger. MSRP on 12's and
20's is $2,840 and 28 gauge is $2,976.
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