A Sporting Selection

From our March/April 2026 Issue

The latest, greatest sporting clays guns

As the game of sporting clays has grown far from its hunting-practice roots, sporting guns have evolved to meet the needs of serious and recreational shooters. Some need a gun that can grind through tens of thousands of clays a year for serious practice and competition. Others want to shoot a little on the weekend for fun or to sharpen up for hunting seasons. Whatever your needs or your shooting style, there is a sporting gun for you. Deciding which one you need is fun and daunting at the same time, because there’s a wide variety on the market. The following roundup offers several possibilities for your next clay-gun purchase, and it’s broken down by price, because we don’t all have the same gun needs or the same budgets.

Less Than $1,500

Beretta A300 Ultima Sporting

You could buy two A300 Ultima Sporting autoloaders for less than the price of most target over/unders. Chances are your extra gun wouldn’t do much more than gather dust, though, as the A300 is essentially a simplified, US-made version of Beretta’s great AL391. Known for its reliability and softened recoil, the gas-operated A300 Ultima Sporting Walnut features Grade II walnut furniture with a stock sculpted into a modest Monte Carlo. The alloy receiver has scroll engraving, and the receiver and barrel both are coated in a SOCOM Blued Cerakote that looks like traditional bluing but should prove much more durable.

You could buy two A300 Ultima Sporting autoloaders for less than the price of most target over/unders. Chances are your extra gun wouldn’t do much more than gather dust, though, as the A300 is essentially a simplified, US-made version of Beretta’s great AL391. Known for its reliability and softened recoil, the gas-operated A300 Ultima Sporting Walnut features Grade II walnut furniture with a stock sculpted into a modest Monte Carlo. The alloy receiver has scroll engraving, and the receiver and barrel both are coated in a SOCOM Blued Cerakote that looks like traditional bluing but should prove much more durable.

The 12-gauge A300 Ultima weighs around 7½ pounds out of the box, and aftermarket 391 accessories fit it, so weight can be added to the front or back of the gun. It does come with the enlarged bolt handle and bolt-closer “slammer” button that make operating the gun easier (especially the slammer). The 30” barrel features a stepped rib, front and middle beads, and extended Mobilchokes. Ultima Sporting models start at just $1,070.

Beretta USA, berettausa.com.

Less Than $5,000

Fausti Caledon Sporting

Built around Fausti’s solid four-lock action, the Caledon Sporting is an entry-level-priced gun that should last and last. The Fausti action has a bottom-lug lockup typical of Brescia-made O/Us, and it adds a passive lock consisting of lugs on the insides of the receiver that fit into cutouts in the monoblock.

The Caledon Sporting comes in 12 or 20 gauge with a choice of 28”, 30” or 32” barrels. The barrels have a wide, target-style vent rib and ventilated mid-ribs. The gun comes with five flush-mounted chokes and two extended X-Pro tubes. The stock has a target-style pistol grip, and the rounded, grooved forend should accommodate a variety of hand placements. The wood is oil-finished, and the silver receiver is half engraved and half plain, giving it a striking modern look. The Fausti logo adorns the trigger guard, trunnions and toplever. In all, the Caledon Sporting is a solid value in a strong, good-looking package. It lists for $2,790.

Fausti USA, faustiusa.com.

Benelli Performance Shop Ethos Sport A.I.

As the first name—and the last word—in inertia guns, Benelli is the brand for shooters who prefer an inertia semi-auto. Inertia guns have qualities that appeal to some shooters, as they are slim, light and reliable and they stay cleaner longer. The Performance Shop Ethos Sport A.I. (Advanced Impact) packs a lot of Benelli technology into its modest 6.8-pound frame. Barrel ports combine with the in-stock Progressive Comfort shock-absorber and soft cheek pad to reduce recoil and muzzle jump. The gun also features a stepped carbon-fiber rib and Benelli’s new A.I. barrel contour, which promises harder hits downrange. The Easy Locking bolt assures that the gun can’t be bumped out of battery.

The Ethos Sport has good-looking AA walnut furniture and a two-piece, two-tone receiver. The receiver not only looks good, but also its two-piece nature allows for quick access to the gun’s internals for maintenance. An adjustable weighted magazine cap lets you add weight where you need it. The gun lists for $3,400.

Benelli USA, benelliusa.com.

Beretta 688

The Beretta 688 over/under has all the features target shooters want in a platform that will stand up to seasons of hard use. The eye-catching laminate stock is heavy, to absorb recoil, and is stable in any weather. Intended to be a fully featured, entry-level sporter, the 688 is built on a target frame and weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces, with the weight concentrated between the hands by the thick receiver. It has a rounded forend; an ambidextrous palm swell, so left-handers also get the grip; and recoil-reduction benefits. The stock comes with Beretta’s B-Fast adjustable comb and, given the choice between standard and adjustable stocks, most shooters go with the adjustable comb.

The 688 has the traditional solid, low-profile Beretta lockup consisting of two pins protruding from the breech face and fitting into recesses just above the ejectors. It is a durable, proven system. This gun does lack the replaceable shoulders of high-end Beretta target guns, but it will still last forever and can be rebuilt.

The 688 comes with a hard case, five extended chokes and a screwdriver and wrench for the adjustable comb. A women’s-stocked Vittoria model is also available. The gun is priced right for an entry-level, competition-ready O/U at $3,600.

Browning Citori 825 Sporting

The Browning Citori 825 Sporting represents a refinement to the 725 over/under, which itself was a lighter, trimmer version of the legendary Citori. The 825 has a sleeker toplever and frame design and a mechanical Fire Lite 2 trigger, which is an improvement over the (already-good) original Fire Lite. The 30” and 32” barrels are now un-ported, which seems to be the preference among many shooters. The guns are available in a couple of grades and with or without adjustable combs. They have oil-finished walnut and silver-nitride receivers. I have been to the Miroku factory and watched how Citoris are made, and the level of handwork and skill that go into each gun would surprise you. Sporting models start at $3,980. I suspect that smallbore 825s will be along soon.

Browning, browning.com.

Less Than $10,000

Fabarm Infinite RS

As side-by-side sporting clays events have become popular, some people have wanted a dedicated gun for them—which is why Fabarm developed the Infinite RS. I shot an early version and loved it, despite feeling as if it changed the side-by-side game so much as to be almost unfair. I was proved right at the 2025 NSCA nationals, when the top two finishers in the side-by-side competition picked up demo Infinites they had never shot and beat 206 other competitors.

Built around the four-lug action Fabarm designed for pigeon guns in the 1970s, the Infinite RS features an adjustable Monte Carlo stock and a very high, 10mm target-style rib on 30” or 32” barrels. The gun is distinctive and easy to shoot, and the fit and finish are very good. It has blacked metal with enamel accents and an oil-finished walnut stock. At $6,000, the Infinite RS is not cheap; but it also seems to be the gun to have for those who want to win side-by-side shoots. Plus it’s just a fun gun to break clays with.

Fabarm USA, fabarmusa.com.

Rizzini BR460

The Rizzini BR460 over/under is made to compete with high-end sporting guns but at a significantly lower price. At 9 pounds, the 460 is heavy, and it has a solidly built, durable action. Unlike most Rizzinis, however, which are built on the basic, proven Brescia action with a Browning-style underbolt, the 460’s action is patterned on the Boss design, giving it a much lower profile than standard O/Us. The 460 also features a removable trigger, which can help shooters get back into action quickly should something go wrong—although the gun has coil springs, which work even when broken.

On the outside, the BR460 is subdued, with a nicely sculpted but unadorned frame and a matte black finish to the metal parts. The stock has an exaggerated pistol grip and an adjustable comb and is made of Grade 3 Turkish walnut. The forend is equally hand-filling. The 12-gauge barrels are slightly overbored at .735”. They are available in 30” and 32” lengths and can be ordered with a ramped or an adjustable rib. The list price is $9,800.

Rizzini USA, rizziniusa.com.

Less Than $15,000

Caesar Guerini Invictus Artco Specialist

With a larger frame, to provide more locking surface, and a replaceable modular block and modular cams in place of trunnions, Caesar Guerini’s Invictus Artco Specialist is made to live up to its 1 million-round guarantee. In other ways, the O/U is built on the very familiar Guerini action, with locking lugs on the bottom of the monoblock. The Artco Specialist features long, light 34” barrels combined with a rib that tapers from 10mm to 6mm and lightweight titanium chokes, making the gun lively and dynamic but also precise on longer birds. The Artco engraving pattern gives a gun with otherwise traditional lines a modern look. It lists for $11,800.

Caesar Guerini USA, gueriniusa.com.

Syren Grayce Sporting

The Syren Grayce Sporting bears an eerily similar resemblance to Guerini’s Invictus Artco Specialist. Then again, it should, seeing as it’s the same gun with a few differences to make it better suited to women. Don’t be influenced by the lavender accents in the geometric Artco engraving pattern—this is the same tough, rebuildable Invictus action backed by the same million-round guarantee. The Grayce has lighter barrels in 30” and 32” lengths with lightweight titanium choke tubes. The main difference between this gun and the Guerini lies in a stock designed to better fit women. There is a Monte Carlo comb, a tighter grip radius, some toe-out on the buttstock and a shorter length of pull. The Grayce sits at the top of the Syren lineup at $12,355.

Syren USA, syrenusa.com.

Zoli XL-EVO

Italian gunmaker Antonio Zoli, whose gunmaking roots go back to the 15th Century, founded his namesake company immediately after World War II. His grandson, Paolo, began the “Classic Revolution” shortly after the turn of this century, upgrading Zoli O/Us to compete with other high-end target guns. American shooters have become increasingly aware of Zolis. The company’s latest entry into the higher-end competition market is the XL-EVO, an all-around platform with an adjustable comb; a flat, mid-height or high adjustable rib; and a unique balancing system. As part of Zoli’s BHB (Between Hands Balance) system, shooters can add weight in the grip and also exchange sideplates with others of different weights. The sideplates also come in a variety offinishes.

The XL-EVO features Zoli’s excellent, removable, coil-spring trigger and barrels joined by a proprietary silver-solder system. The guns have the low-profile Boss actions that make them trim, natural pointers. The starting price is $12,500.

Zoli USA, zoliusa.com.

Blaser FBX Sporting

Blaser’s FBX Sporting is the “fat body” version of the company’s F3—and that’s exactly what it sounds like. Blaser engineers took their popular, low-profile, high-end F3 and added weight without adding height to the famously shallow frame. Instead, the frame and head of the stock are wider, concentrating more weight between the shooter’s hands. The FBX comes with weight sets that allow you to tune its balance and add even more weight. With all the weights in use, the gun tips the scales at 9.3 pounds, which should be heavy enough for anyone. With the weight concentrated between the hands, the gun feels lighter and nimbler than it should. It features an excellent trigger, as well, and can be ordered with 30” or 32” barrels with choke tubes or fixed Modified chokes. Of course, the F3 remains in the lineup, if you don’t want the fat body. The FBX is priced at $14,000.

Blaser, blaser.de.

Kolar Max Lite Sporting

Made in Wisconsin, Kolar guns are America’s answer to the Krieghoff, Perazzi and Beretta DT-11. The company started out making sub-gauge tube sets for skeet guns and graduated to building entire custom target guns. About 350 O/Us leave the shop each year—among them the Max Lite Sporting model, built around a Perazzi-style action. Every Kolar is one of a kind, with buyers able to choose stock and rib styles, stock dimensions and different grades of walnut. You also can choose to add engraving, which is done by Bottega Giovanelli, in Italy. The 12-gauge barrels are overbored to .740”, all parts are CNC machined of 4041 steel, and the guns are serviced right in Wisconsin. Prices start at $14,600.

Kolar, kolararms.com.

$15,000 and More

Perazzi

A standby among Olympic competitors, Perazzi guns have a strong following among sporting clays shooters as well. Perazzis are built to order, one at a time. While you can find off-the-rack guns at dealers’ shops, those guns were ordered and built to the dealers’ specs. Why not order your own and get exactly what you want? Although there are seemingly a million model numbers, there are essentially four Perazzis: the MX8 with a standard trigger; the MX12 with a removable trigger; the heavier Hi-Tech; and the Hi-Tech S, which has a removable trigger. All come in 12 and 20 gauge.

Perazzis are built around the low, sleek Boss O/U action, which gives the guns a low profile and makes them point naturally and gives them their lively handling. Perazzis are also renowned for their trigger pulls. Because those pulls are the result of leaf springs, which can break, a removable trigger and an extra spring can come in handy. You can have your MX or High Tech built to any specs you like. These include stock dimensions, of course, and also fixed or screw-in chokes, and you can have the gun balanced exactly as you want. Perazzi prices start around $15,000.

Perazzi, perazzi.it.

Krieghoff K-80 Parcours

In 1956, recognizing the excellence and potential of the Remington Model 32’s unique sliding-top action, Krieghoff, in Ulm, Germany, bought the rights to the discontinued model. Starting with the K-32, which was later refined and replaced with the K-80, Krieghoff built Remington’s design into one of the world’s great target guns. The Parcours version does away with the distinctive heavy, separated barrels of the K-80, replacing them with lighter barrels and a conventional mid-rib. The livelier Parcours was an instant success among sporting shooters. Like all K-80s, it has an excellent trigger and great durability. There’s a K-80 Parcours and a K-80 Parcours-X with heavier barrels. The smallbore K-80 Parcours is called the K-20 Parcours, and it comes in 20 and 28 gauge. Krieghoff prices start around $15,700, and you can spend as much as you want on walnut and engraving.

Krieghoff, krieghoff.com.

Beretta SL2

Beretta’s latest target O/U, the SL2, stands out at the high end of the sporting gun price range. The gun also stands out because of dramatically modern styling. The futuristic receiver catches the eye, but it’s a result of form following function. With the crossbolt design of other Beretta target guns having been replaced by a Perazzi-style action, the SL2 has a receiver that is a full 30 percent narrower on top compared to the frame of the company’s DT11, providing a clearer view of the clay. That new profile means the weight of the receiver is largely in the bottom, concentrating it where it belongs. The plain receiver has a matte finish, and Beretta engineers spent a great deal of time perfecting the stippling that absorbs light and cuts glare. The SL2 has a removable trigger and new Steelium Pro X barrels, which promise lower recoil peaks and improved patterns. The SL2 also can be ordered with a headed blank for custom stocking. Prices start around $25,000.

Beretta USA, berettausa.com.