Hunting shotguns: New products, tests, experience reports

Equipped with the latest Benelli technologies and a more ergonomic and dynamic design to provide the hunter with more speed and accuracy in point shooting, here comes the new Montefeltro Beccaccia available in 12-gauge and 20-gauge. We tested the shotgun in the field with pointing dogs.

We discover on the sporting course one of the most famous and iconic models of Benelli semi-automatics, the Duca di Montefeltro, in its new version revised in look and technology.

F.A.I.R. responds to the different market demands with as many versions of the Iside side-by-side shotgun, available with both smoothbore barrels and as Express guns with rifled barrels. In this video we tested one of the most elegant and popular models on the international market, the Iside Tartaruga Gold in 20-gauge, on the sporting course.

At the dawn of the new season, let's talk about the latest version of the Beretta Ultraleggero over-and-under shotgun, presented in this 2024, the first over-and-under equipped with the Kick-Off system to reduce felt recoil by more than 40%. A version that gives up a few grams of lightness to allow the hunter a more versatile use even with heavier cartridge loads.

Straight from the shooting range during the test, we talk about two F.A.I.R. shotgun models that are particularly popular with the international hunting public: the Classic Deluxe .410 bore over-and-under and the Iside Prestige side-by-side in the Tartaruga Gold 20-gauge version.

In both the Silver 20-gauge and Black 12-gauge versions, we show you the Benelli 828 S over-and-under shotgun in action, field-testing the performance of the new Advanced Impact barrel and choke technology.

The Fausti Dea SLX is the gun of choice for hunters looking for a compromise between tradition and modernity, an elegant shotgun that can be customised in details and is made from cutting-edge materials and construction techniques. Available in all gauges, we talk about it after testing it in the field.

We tested the Benelli Raffaello semi-automatics and the 828 S over-and-under in 20 gauge equipped with the new Advanced impact barrels. We tell you through imagese from the field and explanations from the Benelli staff what the innovative technical aspects are.

Thanks to ground-breaking innovations and materials, the Ultraleggero is an incredibly light steel shotgun. The 20 gauge version offers the same features of the 12-ga, but with an even lighter weight – about 2.5 kg with 24”/61 cm barrels. 

We show you a day spent in the field with bird dogs using the Tartaruga Gold 12-ga version of the F.A.I.R. Jubilee Prestige over-and-under, a classic and elegant shotgun available in all the main gauges commonly used for hunting, down to the smallest .410 bore.

Over the years, the inertia-driven semi-automatic from the Italian company has become a real flagship, manufactured in several variants. Now the range of options available to hunters is further expanded with two 20-gauge versions designed for the Queen of the Woods and the King of the Bush, respectively.

The Dea side-by-side is one of the most popular Fausti shotguns, designed for those who love hunting in an elegant and traditional way. It is available in all popular gauges, of which we field-tested the 20-gauge version. Watch our video to discover its features.

Crafted in Italy, the Sorix shotgun line based on the inertia recoil system is available in both 12- and 20 gauge, both with 28”/71 mm barrel. Three camo stock patterns are available, all hand-painted. The oversized charging handle and the safety can be easily swapped for left-handed users.

Optic-Ready and with Cerakote finishes on barrel and receiver, the pump-action Thunder Ranch 590 and the semi-automatic 940 Pro shotguns are designed in collaboration with Clint Smith, current President/Director of the well-known Thunder Ranch training facility.

A beautiful day in the Umbrian hills, in Italy, hunting pheasants with our hounds and the 28-ga Iside side-by-side shotgun on the shoulder. Featuring a round-body receiver, the Iside is available in all popular hunting gauges, from 12-ga to the smallest .410 bore. We tested it on the Italian hunting grounds during a very pleasant morning: enjoy our video.

At the Italian Valle Duppo shooting range we are in the company of Luca and Rebecca Rizzini to have fun and try out on the sporting course the Jubilee Prestige Tartaruga Gold over-and-under, in this case in the 28-gauge version.