The Rizzini 110 is similar to a 686 in almost every way. It has a short history and is way to light to be a target gun IMO. The rest are all heavier and more proven.. The 460 looks interesting but I have never seen one in person. Zoli and CG can be acquired used for a much better price than new and will be great. My .02

 

The Beretta 68X series has nothing in common with a Rizzini 110. Different actions and receiver. The Rizzini 110 does have much in common with a Browning Citori.

 

In the Rizzini 110 price range you can look at a Fabarm Elos N2 RS. It's an updated version of their previous top of the line sporter. The reviews have all been very positive. I know of two Fabarm owners (of other models) and can say that the fit, finish, materials and build quality are great. And the warranty service provided by Caesar Guerini is second to none.

 

Yeah the RS was initially on my short list with the 110. But I've since upped my budget because... well why not haha.

 

What games are you shooting & where do you feel your journey will take you? For sporting & skeet, a nice used Zoli or F3 is a strong choice...you're just starting the journey, but either of these two will get you as high as you can go, and will serve you well. I've owned them both...CG's as well. My favorite is the Zoli...superb gun. The F3 is excellent as well, but quite different, and it didn't stay in my stable very long. If you want to save a few $$$, maybe look at a nice Browning, but look at the stock dimensions and make sure you get the model that fit you best. Also 32" bbls is probably wise. Now, if trap is going to be your game or heavily in the mix, I'd be sure to get a gun with an adjustable comb so that you can set it to shoot a tad higher. Gun fit...I suggest getting a stock with more drop at the comb with an adjustable comb so that you can raise it to shoot where you're looking. Personally, most guns don't have enough DAC for me as they come from the factory. The Zoli is the best so far, and they are very soft shooting guns for me. Maybe before investing in a gun, have someone who knows what he is doing look at your mount with several guns and suggest what dimensions would be a good starting point for you...Again, give Brownings strong consideration. Since you are pretty new at all of this, resale should be a major consideration because as you grow and become more focused on a particular game, you'll probably want a different gun. Have fun, and don't be lured by those light, And when you buy, buy from a dealer who has a good focus on target guns as opposed to hunting guns....most likely not a big box store. Ask around your club for recommendations.

 

What games are you shooting & where do you feel your journey will take you?

Sporting clays. My local club (Coyote Valley Sporting Clays, in the SF Bay Area). Maybe 1-2x per month and just for fun, nothing too serious. I do appreciate good quality and will pay more for it, to a point.

For example, when I got into long-range precision shooting, everyone said just get a cheap off-the-shelf Rem. 700 or Ruger Precision Rifle because you don't know anything yet. Well I didn't listen. I did as much research as I could and built a full custom as my first rifle. Custom action, custom barrel, custom trigger, custom stock, custom everything. Sent it off to a good smith who chambered the barrel and put it all together. Couldn't be happier. Been using it for 8 years and there is literally no other bolt gun I would rather have. Buy once, cry once. Shoots great out to 1,200 yards and I can shoot 0.12 MOA groups with factory ammo.

I used to compete and won a few matches, but these days it's just something fun to do when I'm not doing my other hobbies. So, same thing for sporting clays.

For sporting & skeet, a nice used Zoli or F3 is a strong choice...you're just starting the journey, but either of these two will get you as high as you can go, and will serve you well. I've owned them both...CG's as well. My favorite is the Zoli...superb gun. The F3 is excellent as well, but quite different, and it didn't stay in my stable very long.

Can you tell me more about your experience with the F3 vs Zoli? These are the ones I'm most interested in finding to demo. The Rizzini 460 is my backup option. But for about the same price, a Zoli seems more popular.

If you want to save a few $$$, maybe look at a nice Browning

I tried a few the other day and didn't like them much.

Gun fit...I suggest getting a stock with more drop at the comb with an adjustable comb so that you can raise it to shoot where you're looking.

Yes, an adjustable monte carlo is what I'm looking for (as you can tell from my rifle pic).

Maybe before investing in a gun, have someone who knows what he is doing look at your mount with several guns and suggest what dimensions would be a good starting point for you...Again, give Brownings strong consideration. Since you are pretty new at all of this, resale should be a major consideration because as you grow and become more focused on a particular game, you'll probably want a different gun. Have fun, and don't be lured by those light, And when you buy, buy from a dealer who has a good focus on target guns as opposed to hunting guns....most likely not a big box store. Ask around your club for recommendations.

Yep, when I buy I'm gonna fly to one of the reputable shops that does fitting that everybody here talks about.

 

If you want to keep cost low:

1) Fabarm Elos N2 in the model that fits your needs best (compact, XL, Allsport, RS, ect). Basically get a Ceasar Guirini platform with lower end wood and engraving but keep all the factory support.

2) Browning sporting model of choice (725 pro sport, CX, CXS, ect) The world English champ shoots a browning so it's hard to knock them for the money.

If you want to step up in cost:

1) Zoli Z-Sport is awesome. Removable trigger, boss action, great barrels, very crisp triggers. Lots of options for wooden barrel, finish ect.

2) Blaser F3 is mechanically unique with striker triggers, their ejector technology, and modular barrel setup. They are lighter than most target guns but weight kits can fix that. If you plan to shoot multiple guages regularly this is a great option as you can find used or buy new barrels without any Gunsmith work to fit your reciever.

3) Rizzini BR460 is a nice gun but I have not heard anything good about their US dealer support system. I would avoid it when there are more proven models in the price range.

 

1) Zoli Z-Sport is awesome. Removable trigger, boss action, great barrels, very crisp triggers. Lots of options for wooden barrel, finish ect.

2) Blaser F3 is mechanically unique with striker triggers, their ejector technology, and modular barrel setup. They are lighter than most target guns but weight kits can fix that. If you plan to shoot multiple guages regularly this is a great option as you can find used or buy new barrels without any Gunsmith work to fit your reciever.

3) Rizzini BR460 is a nice gun but I have not heard anything good about their US dealer support system. I would avoid it when there are more proven models in the price range.

Yeah this is in line with what I keep reading. If I get a Rizzini I'll probably get it from Cole Guns since they have tons of history servicing them. But right now, I'm hoping I like Zoli since they are so popular and have a good reputation. Blaser's approach, from a tech standpoint, is more appealing to me. I appreciate the German ethos vs Italian. I love innovative uses of technology, manufacturing, and engineering-focused rather than style/tradition-focused.

 

2) Blaser F3 is mechanically unique with striker triggers, their ejector technology, and modular barrel setup. They are lighter than most target guns but weight kits can fix that. If you plan to shoot multiple guages regularly this is a great option as you can find used or buy new barrels without any Gunsmith work to fit your reciever.

You have listed a lot of fine guns. Most humans can hardly shoot up to any of them. The Blaser is different than any other gun in that it is modular. You can mix and match barrels and wood to the receiver. Not recommended is switching out flat ribs-mid-rib- high ribs...but you can. If you decide to buy a 30" barrel and later decide to buy a 32", no fitting required. You might decide a 30" is better for skeet and a 32" for Sporting, again, no fitting required. I have seen all manner of combinations. It is hard to explain the "Why's" but meet up with a F3 owner and we can go on and on, literally boring you to tears on why we have multiple barrels (same gauge) and multiple stocks for the same receiver.

I am not a trap, or a skeet, and really not only a sporting shooter. I am a clay shooter. (Well a bird hunter also :^)

Go with your gut, each of the guns you have listed will treat you well.

s/f. Steve

 

Yeah I got to handle an F3 today. I liked it. Didn't get to shoot it though. I love a lot of the engineering decisions Blaser made rather than making yet another Italian-style O/U with the same technology everyone else has been using forever. I'm a German sports car guy so it aligns. That said, I wasn't able to cross anything off my list. I kind of really like the Rizzini BR460 a lot. It has some nice features too. Like the quick-release adjustable trigger. No tools required. That's a feature they don't even advertise on their website. Anyway... the F3 is rad. Just need to shoot one and I also have read a ton of negatives about their reliability unfortunately. So I'm still weighing my options.

 

Colorado State 20-23 Sept and if you attend, you can shoot one of my F3's. After that, I'll be at the Nationals but my guns will be small change with all the fine dealers there. Visit Blaser and experiment and then shop vendors row. I only have 2, one from Ables, and one from Alamo, but I have barrels from multiple vendors. I have never, ever, met a Blaser dealer that wasn't righteous and up front. Not saying their not out there, but my experiences and the experiences of my reprobate buddies have all been good.

s/f. Steve

 

The real early guns are pretty obvious, the receiver is usually a grey color vs black, the serial number under the top lever will usually have a "J" prefix, the barrel lug will have 7 degrees marked on it compared to the current F3 barrels that use a 12 degree lug, but the easiest way is to look at the date code marked on the left side of the barrel monoblock and inside the receiver. Blaser uses standard German proof date codes, so for example a F3 receiver made in 2021 would be stamped "CB". The newer barrels (since around 2021) actually have the date of production stamped right on them. That said, I don't think Blaser has made any major changes to the F3 in the last few years. If you bought a used one and were unsure you could send it to Blaser and they would update any parts that needed it.

 

Great, thank you!

One last question. Saw a comment somewhere that claimed Blaser F3 receivers/actions are made of aluminum. I noticed other manufactures are quite clear about what their products are made of. i.e. "action/receiver made from billet 410 stainless steel" or "action made from alloy steel" and so on. Blaser doesn't publish what their actions are made from. Here's the comment I found. Any insight you can offer?

"I would never buy a shotgun with aluminium receiver. The Blaser might look nice but I have seen lots of issues at the range. F3 where the action freezes completely and ejectors stops working. F16 that has problem with misfires on harder primers. I seen lots of Blaser poorly laid out stocks - strictly for appearance and not strength - they will crack with time..."

"Ask yourself why F3 and F16 got steel inserts bolted in the face of the receiver and that breech plate, stud pins, locking bolt are not the same colour or same finish as the rest of the receiver.? Because they are not of the same material. Try to order a F3 or F16 with case colour hardened or rust blued receiver. The receivers must be made from another material than steel."

 

Actually, just called Blaser USA. They laughed and said some people are nutty. 100% steel thru and thru.

 

Yep, the standard Blaser F3 finish is nitride which is a process done to steel, aluminum can't be nitrided. Attached is a pic of my Super Exclusive Scroll F3, blued steel all
the way! And shockingly, the action hasn't frozen and the stock hasn't cracked...

 

I’d check with Target Shotguns in NC. Seems like I’ve seen similar configurations from them in the past. They usually have spare forearms available so may be able to fix you up.

 

Yeah I saw their massive inventory. I think a lot of the stocks and fore-ends they have listed are actually their own, and not Blaser factory parts. But I'l call them.

 

Also try Clay Shooting Supplies in Dallas, I think. They have a store on vendor's row at Nationals. Blaser sends, imports, the guns in such and such configuration. However the dealer can sell you what you want assuming they have what you want. All the fore-ends fit all the guns but like I said earlier, you must be careful what you try to mix. The manufacturer, Blaser does not want to be involved in your experimentation. Just think about it. They go to great lengths to get matching wood on a stock and a fore-end.

Get your gun, learn it, learn to love it, then experiment. I have 2 receivers, 3 stocks, 4 fore-ends, and planning on a new custom stock with a recoil reducer. I'll shoot something over 10,000 registered and another 5,000 having just a plain old good time this year.

Although I admire the beejeebous out of the beautiful engravings and the like on guns. I prefer to spend my money on wonderful locations, great targets, and fantastic fellow shooters. Too each his own.

By the way, Clay Shooting Supplies had a side plate F3. My stomach ached.

s/f. Steve

 

Also try Clay Shooting Supplies in Dallas, I think. They have a store on vendor's row at Nationals. Blaser sends, imports, the guns in such and such configuration.

From what Blaser USA told me, they actually don't do that. They get a crate full of receivers from Germany, a crate full of barrels, a crate full of stocks/fore-ends. And then Blaser USA puts them together into complete rifles according to how dealers order 'em.

However the dealer can sell you what you want assuming they have what you want

Right. That aligns with what I was told. If the dealer wants to experiment, that's on them. But Blaser's website and catalog literally says hey we offer these three fore-ends on this model and these 4 stocks on that model and you can choose whichever configuration you want. But when I called them they said no, they don't actually do that. Well then they need to seriously re-write their customer-facing marketing material.

Go to the online F3 configurator and look at the customer-configurable options for the F3 Competition, for example. It clearly states you have the option of choosing all sorts of things. Just like configuring a new car. Then it spits out a code you can give to dealers so they can order that exact gun for you. But Blaser might come back and tell you no...

All the fore-ends fit all the guns but like I said earlier, you must be careful what you try to mix. The manufacturer, Blaser does not want to be involved in your experimentation. Just think about it. They go to great lengths to get matching wood on a stock and a fore-end.

Yeah the matching wood thing is key. That's the heart of the issue. They match a Schnabel fore-end to a non-adjustable stock. And if you want a different fore-end, it's too much trouble to source those components. If the mid-rib model works for me, I can always go that route because they do have beavertail fore-ends and adjustable stocks on that one, presumably because you'd want your head higher to clear the higher rib. But I have a long face and high cheekbones. So I need a higher comb either way, even on a flat rib.

 

What did you get? 😁

 

Kolar Max-Lite Sporter. Love it.

 

Possibly with the Blaser FBX coming out more pre-owned F3s might hit the market. Pre-owned Zoli is a good way to go, as the new guns don't hold value as well as other top brands. If you're getting into the 8K plus range, might be able find a nice pre-owned Perazzi MX8

 

Finest shotguns I ever shot were Kolars.
Something about them just made them seem perfect to all others.

 

Take a very close look at the zoli
There very nice an soft shooting guns