5 of the best shotguns for driven grouse
Words: Harry Smith
Driven grouse is one of the most gentlemanly of sporting pursuits. Exciting and challenging, it is unique and unlike all other forms of game shooting. The wild beauty of the British scenery and the character of the diminutive grouse itself provide an unrivalled tension and thrill that lives long in the memory.
The speed and flight of a covey as it explodes over the horizon and jinks towards the butts requires a highly instinctive shot. There really is nothing as fast as a grouse – any hesitancy will be emphatically punished.
Today’s shotguns offer the ideal combination of finely-tuned firepower, prized balance and remarkable handling. Side-by-sides allow for the best possible sight of the bird, and are therefore more responsive to the jinks and turns of the driven grouse. Over-and-unders, once frowned upon, are increasingly the norm due to their ease of handling, with many opting for the single sighting plane which offers a better view of crossing birds. Fit will always be as important as function, and the ease of reloading in the confined spaces of the grouse butt is a prerequisite.
To help you enjoy another glorious season, The Gentleman’s Journal has spoken to Edward Darbishire, a sporting agent at Ian Coley Sporting, who has picked 5 of the best shotguns for driven grouse – Europe’s finest 21st-century works of art, each the perfect synthesis of function, elegance and design.
BERETTA SILVER PIGEON
Cometh the Twelfth, the ever-popular Beretta Silver Pigeon will be the go-to gun of many gentlemen. Aesthetically pleasing and carrying a price-tag of around £1,500, it is arguably today’s best buy, and certainly the most reliable. As the cost of a day’s driven grouse continues to soar, the Beretta offers incredible value for money.
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PERAZZI SC3
The Perazzi SC3 is the choice of those in-the-know. Much admired, these bespoke masterpieces are renowned for their excellent trigger pulls and barrel quality – both crucial when up against the infinite variation of the grouse.
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FABBRI OVER-AND-UNDER
Sometimes a gentleman owes it to himself to have the very best of the best. The Fabbri, costing £138,000, is arguably the most admired and sophisticated gun on today’s market. These fabulous Italian creations, a triumph of manufacture and design, are truly extraordinary. About 20 are made each year, meaning exclusivity is part of the purchase.
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HOLLAND & HOLLAND ROYAL
The gun for which Holland & Holland is perhaps best known. The classical styling of a ‘Royal’ sidelock strikes the perfect balance between elegance and design. With a build time of more than 900 hours, this is without doubt one of the world’s finest shotguns.
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OUR DREAM GUN…
PURDEY DAMASCUS
Forged by more than a hundred layers of Damascene steel, Purdey’s gun is a world-first. Uniquely patterned, it is both beautiful and intriguing. Such exceptional purity and strength is just perfect for the rigours of the grouse moor.
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