Fabarm Autumn Elite

From our July/August 2025 Issue

It took more than a century for Italian gunmaker Fabarm to produce its first side-by-side for American hunters. In 2021 the Fabarm Autumn, a 20-gauge with sleek lines and a rounded action, made its US debut. This year Fabarm updated the model, releasing the Autumn Elite, which has a silver-nitride coin finish, Acanthus scroll laser engraving and gold-inlaid gamebirds, and upgraded Turkish walnut. You'll pay an extra $1,000 for the Elite, but it's well worth the money if you have an affinity for guns with game scenes.

The Autumn Elite comes in 20-gauge with 3” chambers and ejectors. The 28” monoblock barrels have a swamped rib with a textured finish and silver front bead and feature Fabarm's TRIBORE HP system. Each barrel is deep drilled from bar stock and cryogenically frozen to relieve stress. Just past the chamber, the forcing cone transitions into a back-bored barrel, and then tapers into a conical section that gradually reduces the diameter from 18.7mm to 18.4mm. Five INNER HP flush-fitting chokes—Cylinder, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full—are included in a plastic box. Our Elite weighed 6 pounds 5 ounces and had a balance point slightly forward of the hinge pin.

A strong lockup is crucial to the longevity of break-action guns. Fabarm uses a four-lug system to ensure the platform's sturdiness. The four lugs below the monoblock barrels fit into the receiver seamlessly and easily. The inertia-operated single selective trigger on our gun had an average pull weight of 3 pounds 8 ounces. (Double triggers are available for an extra $525.) The barrel selector is on the manual safety. The gold-plated trigger features raised studs on the face, to encourage proper trigger-finger discipline.

The Elite is available with an English-style or pistol-grip stock. The English-style variant has a shorter splinter forend, while the pistol-grip model features a semi-beavertail. Each has an Anson-style latch and includes a hardened steel insert that contacts the barrel lug, so the action can be tightened if necessary. Made of deluxe Turkish walnut, the stock has laser-cut checkering and a matte oil finish. The hand-fit wood buttplate is affixed with two screws, allowing access to the stock’s interior. Stock measurements on our gun were: 14¼” length of pull (the website says 14.625”), 1½” drop at comb, and 2¼” drop at heel. A left-hand stock is available for $205.

Hunting seasons were closed when we received the Elite, but we previously had hunted with the standard Autumn, which was a light carry afield and did the job on pheasants and early season wood ducks. (A 26” barrel option would be great for North Woods grouse hunting in tight cover.) Pattern-wise, the Elite consistently shot 50/50 above and below point of aim. There was some shading to the left and right, but that is to be expected with a side-by-side. Our performance at sporting clays left much to be desired, due to the shorter length of pull; but that's a matter of fit and no fault of the gun's. (If you need a longer length of pull, you might simply add a slip-on pad.) That said, we could see the Elite being a great gun in heavy cover, as it came up quickly and we were able to smash the rabbit and grouse presentations. Price: 5,995. For more information, contact Fabarm, fabarmusa.com.