Twenty is plenty testers
Readers Robert Rooney and Robert Kelway test the new Fausti Class RD over-and-under shotgun in 20-bore ROBERT ROONEY ROBERT KELWAY
First of all let’s iron out any confusion. In a bit of genius planning we managed to pick two reader testers with the same Christian name. So, for this test we call Robert Rooney “Robert R” and Robert Kelway “Robert K”. Between the two Roberts they have nearly 100 years of shooting experience, both game and clay, so the Fausti Class RD 20-bore will be tested by readers with some serious knowledge. But would the gun impress these two advanced shooters?
Robert R is first to launch in with a criticism. “I really don’t like the orange butt pad. It looks awful on what is otherwise a pretty gun.” Robert K puts the boot in as well: “I agree, the orange butt pad does not go with the gun.”
So, apart from the orange butt pad, is there anything else the pair don’t like about the look and style of the gun?
Occupation:
Owns a motorcycle dealership Years shooting: Around 40 years Guns: Browning 425 and 525 Type of shooting: Game and clays Sports instructor Around 50 years Miroku MK70 and Browning 725 Game and clays
Occupation: Years shooting: Guns: Type of shooting:
Robert R launches in again. “I don’t like the beavertail fore-end,” he says, “I prefer schnabel tip. It’s a personal thing, rather like whether you like blonde or brunette women. I just like the look of a schnabel tip.”
Robert K jokes: “These days I’m not fussy whether she’s a blonde or brunette,” but then gets more serious and says he really likes the fore-end because it gives good control. Not only that, he says, but “it’s a really pretty gun. Slim and light. You could carry this round all day with ease.”
Robert R agrees: “It seems light even for a 20-bore and that is not a bad thing. The stock is the right dimensions for me as well.” The other Robert says that he is Mr Average when it comes to gun fit. “Most guns fit me,” he explains.
Clay busting
Robert K might be Mr Average when it comes to fit, but on the clay ground he is far from average. On the first stand he dusts some driven targets followed by some fast crossers and doesn’t miss any of them. “That’s a very nice gun to shoot,” he says. “The balance is good, it feels so light and it is easy to get on aim.” So far the Fausti is looking like a winner.
Robert R tries his hand at the same stand and also breaks most of the clays. “I missed a couple but that was because I am used to more bulky 12-bores and I was moving the gun too fast.” He adds: “This is a beautiful gun. The sight picture is perfect for me and the gun feels so right.”
Could it be the good scores of the two Roberts are to do with the targets being too easy? To find out, the pair move on to a more challenging stand, where the clays come from all angles. Robert R is first up. He composes himself and then dusts the first pair of clays. He does well on the next pair, but then comes a fast crosser that catches him out. Robert K says: “That clay is the size of an aspirin and travelling slower than it looks.” Once the other Robert hears this he is on the target and smashes a pair of them. Does he still like the gun after the more challenging targets? “I certainly do,” he says. “It handles beautifully, especially now I have got used to the light weight of the gun and I’m not moving it too fast.”
Next Robert K steps up to the crease. He shoots well and comes away saying that the Fausti is indeed a fine gun. “It looks good, apart from the orange butt pad and it’s a fantastic gun to use. I’m not one of these people who get worked up over guns. To me it’s a tool to do a job. I like the fact it’s lightweight and so will many shooters.”
The only slight criticism Robert K has is that the restricted gape makes it difficult to load a cartridge into the second barrel. “This is a problem you find with many Italian overand-unders, such as Rizzini and Beretta. The shallow actions make it awkward to shove that cartridge into the bottom barrel, but it’s something I can live with.”
Would either of them buy the Fausti Class RD? Robert K again says he would. “It’s a lovely gun and you’d struggle to get better than this at this price point.”
Robert R adds: “If I was in the market for a new gun this would be on my shortlist — even with the fore-end, and I’d change the butt pad. It handles superbly and even though I am used to chunkier guns, these slim Italian guns are really starting to grow on me.”