Solid companions

An aspiring workman needs a tool he can trust, and the same is true in the field. For less than 10,000, these top workhorse guns will get the job done in style

- Matt Clark

SOME guns simply punch above their weight when it comes to the equation of ‘price x performance’. These are the guns one finds oneself reaching for time and again when opening the cabinet. In short, the workhorse: a shotgun just too hard not to champion. The guns that top shots drop into conversation after a day when they’ve wiped your eye. The ones we look to once the starter gun’s appeal has waned. For an aspiring workman needs the right tool; the gun you trust to get the job done (whether on game or clays) and thoroughly enjoy using. And all for less than £10,000. Read on for our round-up of guns that more than fit the bill.

Beretta 687 EELL Classic Game

This is Beretta’s 687 series flagship, the connoisseur’s choice and, in the right hands, the Stradivarius of the shotgun world. The beautifully engineered trigger group gives crisp pulls and a quick lock time. Beretta’s Steelium barrels are designed to reduce recoil, improve shot patterns and stand up to the rigours of shooting with steel shot. It has a triedand-tested action and is a gun that you will pass on to the next generation.

One friend, a keen game shot, swears by his EELL, and a recent flirtation with another gun resulted in a swift return to his Beretta. If your eye has been wiped on a challenging sporting day, it’s probably by one of these.

There are various iterations of this gun (the Diamond Pigeon and the Diamond Pigeon Sporting) and they are all superb. There is a great deal of bang for your buck with the EELL. A worthwhile investment. £9,250, gmk.co.uk

Blaser F3 Pro

Blaser is well known for its excellent straight-pull rifles and now produces some impressive shotguns, such as the F3 and the more recent F16.