FAIR game
Sporting Shooter|March 2020
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
FAIR game

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!).

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