Bill Hanus

2005 SHOT Show Report

The underlying theme of this year's annual exposition in Las Vegas is the continuing decline of the dollar's value against the Euro and the increase in commodity prices. Lead costs, the principle ingredient in shotshells, have skyrocketed. The net-net to bird hunters is that shotguns and shotshells from Common Market countries, mainly Spain, Germany and Italy, will probably cost more in 2005 than in 2004. But on the other hand, shotgun makers from around the world have reached into their bag of tricks and introduced half-a-dozen side-by-side models, with retail prices under $1,500, that will appeal to the bird hunter with budget constraints.

Aguierre y Aranzabal - the MSRP of AYA'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 or online.

Browning is discontinuing the manufacturing 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 is 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 bird hunting 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! MSRP 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 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.