Reviews

The Zoli Kronos shotgun has bucked the Italian trend in no uncertain terms.

What makes a particular model of shotgun, or range of guns, popular? You could argue that it is fashion, but that is ephemeral and rarely results in long-term interest. Perhaps we could assume it is maybe a combination of looks, reliability, availability, price and name. That is probably not all — if it were, every gunmaker could produce guns to a formula that…

A great-looking stalking rifle that is also a good all-round performer.

Though this article focuses on the Sako custom rifle, it really covers all of the classic British custom rifles out there. Individually made from the finest materials by true domestic craftsmen and women, they often employ foreign elements, yet give a high standard of finish and a classic look that only a British artisan can produce. When I say “custom”, I am…

Mauser has a superb heritage in the sporting and military world and its M03 series of rifles has proven popular. The new M12 model is set to be just as well received. What separates the M12 from previous models is its more affordable price, making Mausers available to more shooters. This has been achieved by making the M12 a fixed-barrel rifle, yet the…

CZ 455 .17 HMR review: Bruce Potts tests a great-value rimfire rifle that offers switch-barrel convenience and accuracy, too.

One of the smaller Italian manufacturers, Bettinsoli is nevertheless a name many British sportsmen and women will be familiar with, thanks to its importer RUAG, which is also responsible for bringing Perazzi’s guns into the UK. The Crypto line is a relatively new addition to Bettinsoli’s portfolio, marketed as being ideal for game and clay shooters alike. At first glance this 12 bore Lite model certainly looks like an…

This new over-under shotgun represents something rather rare in the world of sporting shotguns: the new and unusual. Of course, all gunmakers continually innovate in shotgun design and manufacture, but most changes tend to be incremental. The 828U offers something completely different. It is the first ever over-under shotgun from its maker Benelli, the Italian manufacturer known for its range of semiautomatic shotguns. Moreover, it is also a design…

The Browning B725 had a lot to live up to in replacing Browning‘s ageing but extremely successful B525. Thankfully, the Belgium-based company produced a gun which has proved popular  with the public and critics alike since its launch in the first half of 2013. I was suitably impressed when I tested the 12 bore Hunter (game) model, finding a gun with excellent handling and recoil characteristics together…

I make no secret of the fact that I have always had a fondness for hammerguns. Fifty years ago or more, they were the cheap, old-fashioned alternative and an economic buy for us young nimrods who believed the next step up the ladder would be a hammerless gun. When it happened I felt at a bit of a loss because I had…

Beretta semi-autos hold their secondhand value well and have been leading contenders in the field for almost half a century now.