The stylish Perazzi MX2000S
Charles Smith-Jones hails the stylish Perazzi MX2000S, a gun that handles like a dream and is built to smash clays
The Perazzi brand sits high among the esteemed makers and its guns can be seen in use at the very highest competition levels. Perazzi users have won 18 Olympic gold medals – a record – and at the 2012 London Olympics alone Perazzi guns accounted for no less than 12 medals – four gold, four silver and four bronze – out of the 15 available. Such consistency is no accident.
Founder Daniele Perazzi set up the company after serving an apprenticeship to a local gunmaker in Brescia, Italy, before working on his own and patenting a trigger design he sold to other gunmakers. Perazzi Arms was officially established in 1957, producing its first Olympic grade trap gun in time for Italian shooting star Ennio Mattarelli to win the Olympic Trap gold with it at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, setting a record score of 198/200 targets in the process.
From that point on the company went from strength to strength, shortly afterwards producing the classic MX8 design. This set the standard for modern shotguns, its groundbreaking features including the first examples of the screw-in interchangeable chokes that we take for granted today. Daniele Perazzi died in 2012, but the business is run by his son and daughter.
Super models
cachet. Although side-by-side models are produced, the company is more widely associated with over-and-unders, which constitute its widest range. The MX2000S represents one of the more modern versions that have evolved from the original MX8. Although it is also offered in a game configuration, though in 20-bore only, and
CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS:
“This gun is a beauty despite a superficially functional appearance”
certainly performs superbly in the field, there is no denying this gun’s true vocation as an out-and-out claybuster.
Unlike some Perazzis, which feature a detachable trigger mechanism, that of the MX2000S is fixed (as denoted by the S in the model number) but this itself permits a narrower action. Like all Perazzi triggers the let-off is crisp and clean at about 3½lb, a lighter pressure that is often preferred by some serious shooters.
The receiver is based on the Boss locking system; the monobloc barrels are superbly finished and deeply blued, and are topped with a rib tapering from 11mm to 7mm with a shallow centre channel and fitted with a fibre-optic sight bead. There is a choice between fixed or interchangeable chokes. The fore-end is beaver-tail style, which sits comfortably in the supporting hand; more recent models may have a thinner comb and a more open grip to the stock.
The craftsmanship that has gone into the assembly is self-evident, reflecting the importance Perazzi places on quality control.
Elegant
Technical aspects aside, this gun is a beauty despite a superficially functional appearance. The elegant lines stand out, as do the engraving, gold lettering and the fine woodwork. The traditional finish would not look out of place on a formal shoot day.
Stocks are created from quality walnut root, individually selected and classified and then dried slowly. As all guns are made to order, customers are offered the opportunity to visit the factory for fitting, to select their wood, and to decide on any customisation that they might prefer; they can watch production in progress from a viewing area or move onto the nearby restaurant owned by the family for wine and home-made pasta.
Finish and looks aside, this is a gun of superb quality built for consistent, accurate and reliable use, and it’s safe to say that it won’t let you down. The balance is perfect and it handles like a dream, creating that instinctively effortless type of performance that the top competition shooters demand when mount and swing are expected to maintain a regular rhythm.
Just beware: simply looking at this gun may tempt you, but picking it up and trying a practice swing in the showroom may take you a crucial step further towards reaching for the credit card. If you are really serious about your clays, however, the MX2000S might be a perfect choice – despite the bank manager’s disapproval.
Many thanks to The Country Sports Shop for its help with Blast From the Past features. Contact the shop on 01626 367171 or visit: thecountrysportshop.co.uk