FAIR game

Mike is rather taken with this traditional 20-bore side-by-side, finding it pleasing to look at, fun to shoot and excellent value for money – perfect for both walked-up and driven days

- MIKE YARDLEY

This month’s test gun appeared in my friend Neville Chapman’s shop recently and caught my attention both for its looks and handling qualities. It is a 30"-barrel, 20-bore, single-selective trigger, multi-choked, FAIR Iside deluxe side-by-side from Italy (and imported into the UK by John Rothery).

It is not an especially expensive gun, at around the £1,600-1,700 mark, less than half the cost of a Beretta 486 Parallelo, by way of comparative example. But it’s nicely presented with longish, pointable barrels, a forged, round bar action, and a well-formed, straight-hand grip stock. The decoration is inoffensive although the game scenes might have been replaced with more scroll to good effect.

As is often the case with 20-bores, the Iside seems particularly well proportioned, although I have to admit bias! I like 20s, and I use them for most of my game shooting these days. I also enjoy a 20 for recreational clay busting (a 30" Guerini over-and-under). OK, my results with a 20 are usually a little down on those with an equivalent 12-bore, but not much – maybe 5%? And, what does it matter? The thing about 20-bores is that they are just so fun to use. They really do bring a smile to your face. Surely that’s what it is all about?

When well conceived and matched to the right cartridge, 20-bores offer lighter weight with reasonable felt recoil. They are a challenge to shoot really well. But after some years of relaxed practice, I would say there is little difference now in my shooting with 12 or 20. And, within ranges up to 35 yards, I now prefer the 20. Beyond that, the 12 still seems to have the edge practically speaking (I’m not getting into ballistics here though!).