Once again a semi-automatic shotgun with a box magazine in AR-15 design, and of course it also comes from Turkey. New wine in old wineskins, albeit from a manufacturer that has been less well-known up to now. You might think so, and tester Frank Flumm initially thought along the same lines. However, he quickly changed his mind. The Huglu XR-8 Pro is a thoroughbred and really good competition shotgun, ideal for dynamic use such as IPSC and, of course, for falling plate shooting. After the two Huglu Victor P-Tac Tactical and P-Tac Home Defence pump-action shotguns and the Huglu HT-14 Sporting over/under, we tested the XR-8 Pro model, a very interesting semi-automatic shotgun with box magazine.
Huglu XR-8 Pro: a reliable ambidextrous shotgun
The Huglu XR-8 is a gas-operated gun, but is clearly different from many other shotguns with AR-15-style box magazines, even though most of the shotguns with box magazines available in Europe now probably also come from Turkey, which is not least proof of the innovative spirit of the manufacturers there. However, all that glitters is not gold. Quick magazine changes are a frequent problem. Almost all of the test guns we got our hands on in recent years required a lot of help to remove the magazine, sometimes with a great deal of force. Only on one single shotgun in AR design did the magazine fall freely out when the release was pressed, whereby this is a basic requirement for promising participation in IPSC competitions.
The previous test candidates were also able to guarantee reliable cycling with short 12/60 and 12/63.5 sport slugs to a limited extent only. However, this was often not only due to their weak load, but also to the fact that feeding from the magazines simply did not harmonise properly with the short cartridges. We have not yet been able to attest to genuine ambidextrous operation. Sometimes the option to swap the ejection system or the the charging handle on the other side, to mount an ambidextrous safety and/or bolt release, or simply a second magazine release, were not available. Left-handers have therefore always had to live with some kind of compromise. Until now.
Features and scope of delivery of the SL shotgun Huglu XR-8 Pro
The Huglu XR-8 Pro comes in a sturdy and handy plastic case with two carrying handles and two wheels on the underside. The scope of delivery includes a 5-round and a 10-round metal magazine, as well as a five-piece interchangeable choke set (from cylinder to full choke) with an extra-long choke wrench. This enables the choke to be changed even when the compensator is fitted. Tools, a single-point sling, a cleaning rod set including gun oil and an English-language instruction manual are also included. Huglu has even thought of ear plugs here.
And the XR-8 Pro itself is also lavishly equipped. A long Picatinny rail sits on the receiver's top and the handguard also has a short pica rail at both ends on the top, in addition to numerous M-Lok slots all round. Both the receiver and the handguard are made of a robust aluminum alloy and are hard anodised. A height-adjustable polymer flip-up front sight is mounted on the small pica rail at the front end of the hand guard, while a windage-adjustable flip-up rear sight is located at the rear of the receiver's rail. When the rear sight is flipped up, a ghost-ring is visible, while a U-shaped rear notch is visible when it is folded down. The sights are more than just usable, at least with the aperture rear sight, as our accuracy tests impressively prove. But first things first. The interchangeable choke barrel has an impressive compensator and the magazine well on the receiver is adorned with a powerful magwell.
The free-standing pistol grip in AR-15 style made of non-slip rubber fits perfectly in the hand, a real hand flatterer. It is hollow on the inside and has a small compartment for spare and small parts. The telescopic buttstock was a very positive feature. Finally an AR-15 stock that doesn't wobble. Quite the opposite: no matter how much you shake it, there is practically no play when the stock is engaged at one of the designated positions – that's how it should be! Also the unusual telescopic stock of the Huglu Pump Action Victor P-Tac Tactical showed hardly any noticeable play in the test we mentioned above and provided a high degree of stability. With the XR-8 Pro, however, the manufacturer goes one better and demonstrates a particularly high level of expertise in stock design. Other manufacturers of telescopic stocks could take a leaf out of their book here. Finally, a highly profiled and well-shaped rubber butt plate ensures a fast and very stable aiming position.
Functionality, controls and build quality of the Huglu XR-8 Pro semi-automatic shotgun
The controls of the XR-8 Pro are very well designed, allowing true ambidextrous operation for the first time on one of our test shotguns with a box magazine. Huglu supplements the ambidextrous 90-degree thumb safety with an ambidextrous magazine release. The typical AR-15 left-side bolt release is supplemented on the right side of the receiver by an additional release button below the magazine release. But the real highlight is yet to come: the left-mounted (non-reversible) charging handle is complemented by an ambidextrous "T-handle" typical of an AR-15/M16 – hats off!
Now to the technology. All controls are characterised by their precise and smooth operation. However, the already mentioned free drop of the magazines supplied should be explicitly mentioned again here. The trigger is also top notch: perfect timing and an outstanding trigger pull weight of just 1,150 grams, together with the straight trigger blade, make for a real "a-ha experience" when shooting. You have to look hard to find anything comparable on the shotgun market. In order to cope with the widest possible range of usable ammunition types, the XR-8 Pro has a gas regulator on the top of the barrel to regulate gas pressure. The adjustment screw is set to "Light" at the factory, which is intended to ensure semi-auto cycling, particularly with light loads. To anticipate this already: it worked very well, as the XR-8 Pro coped "out of the box" with every type of ammunition we used without any problems. Without any "break-in phase", the Huglu ran absolutely flawlessly from the very first cartridge, even with weak loads. However, in order to avoid overstressing the gun and to prevent possible damage or excessive wear under high firing loads, it is advisable to set the gas system to "Heavy" for magnum loads. All you need is a simple screwdriver and you are on the safe side. A very good solution.
The quality of the XR-8 Pro is also very impressive. There are no visible or tangible burrs or unsightly machining marks to criticise on either the receiver, stock or barrel, nor on the other components. The rich and very clean coating of the metal parts also offers no cause for criticism, which is why the XR8-Pro also scores points for its appearance. While the receiver, stock and compensator are black, the barrel and controls, the disassembly pins and the magazine base plates are bright orange. The interface between the stock and the receiver with the sling swivels on the right and left is also in this striking color. In contrast to many other manufacturers, Huglu has managed to get all the orange parts in the same hue – very nice. Surprisingly, it is all completely use-insensitive. Both the black anodised layer and the orange coating proved to be extremely resistant, at least no abrasion or scratches could be detected by the end of the test. However, Huglu also offers other colour combinations on request. But now to the practice.
This is how the Huglu XR-8 Pro in AR-15 style performs on the shooting range
When shooting, the XR-8 Pro showed that it really has what it takes in the truest sense of the word. First-class handling and pleasant shooting behavior combined with almost unshakeable reliability made for beaming faces all round on the shooting range. All the shooters involved had a lot of fun with this very well-made semi-auto, regardless of whether they were beginners or old hands.
There were no malfunctions whatsoever, neither with strong nor with weakly loaded ammunition, regardless of whether shot or slug cartridges were used. Even the short 12/60 slugs or light 24-g shotshells did not upset the XR-8 Pro. The absolutely reliable and completely trouble-free operation left nothing to be desired and the accuracy was also more than impressive. Even the results with slugs in conjunction with the original flip-up sights were more than convincing. With a red dot sight, the groups became even tighter and in some cases even shrank to values below the 50-mm mark.
In addition to the very good accuracy, the shooting behavior is particularly pleasant, not least thanks to the attractively designed and highly effective compensator. But even with the compensator removed, there is no need to worry about your health. The recoil runs straight into your shoulder and can be easily sustained. With the compensator, recoil and muzzle climb are almost completely eliminated, which is particularly helpful for fast shooting strings. This semi-automatic is perfectly suited for dynamic disciplines – with certain limitations. However, these are not the responsibility of the XR-8 Pro, but rather of the regulations of the shooting sports associations. This is because shotguns with detachable box magazines are not authorised in all sporting disciplines. You should therefore find out before buying whether the planned discipline even permits the use of a shotgun with a detachable magazine. If so, then this semi-automatic shotgun at a price of €1,299 (RRP) is an excellent choice.
Huglu XR-8 Pro technical specifications and price
| Model: | Huglu XR-8 Pro |
| Gauge: | 12, with 76-mm chamber |
| Capacity: | 5 + 1 (10 + 1) rounds |
| Barrel Length: | 470 mm (585 mm with comp) |
| Trigger Pull Weight: | 1,150 g |
| Length of Pull: | 240 to 320 mm |
| Overall Length: | 1,015 to 1,095 mm (with comp) |
| Weight: | 3,820 g |
| Left/Right Controls: | Can be operated from both sides |
| Price (RRP in Germany): | 1,299 euro |
| Design: gas-operated loader with swivel bolt catch, light metal system housing with Picatinny mounting rail, interchangeable choke barrel, compensator, light metal handguard with M-Lok interfaces, telescopic stock, flip-up sights. | |
Test summary of the Huglu XR-8 Pro
Wow! This word really says it all. Impeccable reliability and function with every conceivable type of ammunition, coupled with very good accuracy and particularly pleasant shooting behavior as well as a very well thought-out operating concept give the Huglu XR-8 Pro an unqualified recommendation to buy. The very good workmanship and the wear-resistant coating are further plus points. You could say grade one plus.
Further information on the Huglu XR-8 self-loading shotgun can be found on the Huglu website.
