Fabarm Infinite RS

From our January/February 2026 Issue

Fabarm’s Infinite RS 12-gauge side-by-side reminds me of an impassive utterance by John Cleese on the Monty Python television series: “And now for something completely different.” Just as I was lamenting a dearth of new shotguns with alluring innovations, Fabarm introduced this dedicated target gun that is a triumph of engineering, quality and performance. Indeed, something completely different. At $6,175, it may be dear for a shotgun that no one really needs, but it is a hoot to shoot and might compel the adventurous to enter a side-by-side competition. If one did enter, fellow shooters certainly would line up to take it for a spin.

Folks revel in the nostalgia of shooting clays with a side-by-side and compete with revered guns of yesteryear: Winchester Model 21s, Parker VHEs and Trap models, Foxes, NIDs, and English and Continental doubles. Such guns might be choked Full & Fuller, be poorly regulated, have a 3" drop at heel, and be off-face, but they can be put to good use—albeit with some wrangling.

That said, I wondered, Why this shotgun, and why now? So I contacted Caesar Guerini/Fabarm USA President Wes Lang. Referencing the Vintager Gunners Cup and the Southern Side by Side Championship & Exhibition, Wes said he’d seen a need and considered a competition side-by-side long before Caesar Guerini and Fabarm USA even existed. He’d envisioned a modern gun that could endure a lot of punishment without punishing the shooter. Fabarm had a proven side-by-side platform in its Classis field gun. So Wes combined Giorgio and Antonio Guerini’s archetype of a “proper sporter” and employed some engineering alchemy on the Classis to create the Infinite RS. According to Wes, the Infinite RS is a side-by-side that handles like a modern over/under with “the attributes of a good target gun: steel-proof barrels, good balance, stable platform, modern dimensions, adjustable trigger and comb, and durable as hell.” The Infinite RS is a cool modern take on “grandad’s gun.”

The Infinite RS embraces the form of a traditional side-by-side, but it is entirely modern and iconoclastic. The imposing forged receiver has a flawless black satin finish. The sides are engraved at the top with “Fabarm” and distinguished with a bold white “RS” with cyan borders and a sweeping interlocking infinity symbol. The bottom is adorned with a cyan “Infinite,” a white “RS” and a cyan stylized geometric Fabarm logo. The smooth fences receive a touch of cyan at the barrels. The color enhancements, stylized lettering and curious logo make a bold and attractive statement.

The face, flats and cut-outs in the well are black satin and unsullied by the machining marks. The knuckle is polished white. A robust replaceable cross pin sits just behind the knuckle. The exceptionally smooth-opening toplever is engraved with a pattern of the Fabarm logo and stippled on the left side, providing purchase when opening. The stippled manual safety (an automatic safety is available) and integrated barrel selector were smooth and positive. The blued adjustable trigger allows 1⁄2" of travel. Pulls for both barrels broke cleanly at a touch more than 3 pounds with only a suggestion of take-up and zero creep.

Having peered into countless Fabarm actions, I expected excellence. The internals of the Infinite RS did not disappoint. The triggerplate action is a gem. Stout firing pins are deep set in the receiver. Horizontal coul-spring assemblies run along the bottom. Hammers pivot from the bottom, with the sears arranged at the top. The inertia block and lifter pivot from the bottom behind the hammers. The safety mechanism rides along the top on a long, wide flat spring. Every part is forged, polished, blued or white steel. The fit and finish are immaculate.

The infinite RS comes with 32" deep-drilled, chrome-lined molybdenum-steel barrels (30" barrels are available) constructed with Fabarm’s patented TRIBORE technology. I have covered the minutiae of TRIBORE tech in previous reviews. Suffice to say, a Fabarm barrel is a long funnel to the final constriction. The 3" chamber transitions to a roughly 1" forcing cone, which then becomes a long overbored .738" (nominal bore for a 12 is .729") section, continues to a conical section that tapers to .725", and concludes with a nearly 4" extended Exis HP Competition choke.

The barrels shared the same perfect finish as the receiver. The muzzles and jointures for the mid-rubs were pristine. The QRR 50/50 (Quick Release Rib) may cause confusion for those familiar with other Fabarm sporting models that employ the same attachment system for multiple ribs on the same barrels. The Infinite RS comes with one rib. To mitigate weight, a vented aluminum rib is used. Aluminium cannot be welded to steel, so the rib attaches with a drift pin and ball detent to a welded post on the monoblock. Movement is minimized by a center post. The rib attaches at the muzzle to another post that engages a slot underneath the rib. It stays put with no wobble or play. Removal requires drifitng out the pin and sliding the rib forward and up. Reattachment requires a little finessing, but it all comes together. The rib is machine filed and tapers from 10mm to 8mm with a Bradley front sight and a silver mid-bead. It ramps up from the receiver 1 3⁄4" and strikes a balance between a traditional flat rib and a mid-rib at 11mm high. This compromise will make the Infinite appealing and familiar to over/under shooters.

The Infinite’s nickel-plated Exis HP Competition chokes (Skeet, Improved Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full) are clearly marked on the shafts and knurled extensions. They also have wrench cut-outs. All five chokes measured near nominal, varying by no more than +⁄- .001". They threaded in and out with delightful smoothness and stayed put after heavy use.

The barrels join precisely to the monoblock at a seam disguised with a touch of engraving. The monoblock has four massive, hooked lugs that remind me of a Chapuis rifle action meant to withstand the titanic stresses of safari calibers. The lugs settle into deep cut-outs in the action well. The front lugs pivot at the knuckle. A 1"-wide hardened-steel locking bolt emerges from the action face to engage bites in the rear lugs. Two white steel ejector mechanisms sit parallel between the lugs and tossed empty shells in harmony a good 7' past my shoulder. All the surfaces here are blued or polished, with precise cuts and tick-tight tolerances. This level of impeccable execution is quintessential Fabarm. The gun opens effortlessly and closes with a satisfying thunk that puts an exclamation point on Fabarm excellence.

The Turkish-walnut stock had frenetic waves and nebulae of dark figure with strong straight grain through the wrist and head. The matte, hand-rubbed oil finish left some grain and pores unfilled, but the surface was smooth and uniform. The laser checkering was symmetrical with sufficient depth and keen borders. The palm swell and long-radius pistol grip offered satisfying hand placement. The stock measured in accordance with Fabarm’s advertised specs. The 14.875" length of pull to a 22mm rubber pad could be altered with 12mm and 27mm pads (available on the Fabarm websit and easily installed at home). The rest of the stock measured 1.625" drop at comb, 1.75" drop at Monte Carlo, 2.5" drop at heel, .1875" cast at hell, .315" cast at toes and 5° of pitch. (A left-hand stock is available for a $205 upcharge.)

Fabarm’s “Micro-metric 3D” adjustable comb is superb and cut behind, rather than through, the nose of the comb. I prefer this look. Kudos to Fabarm for eschewing the DuraCoat black finish used on the combs of the company’s other sporting models. The stained wood looks nicer and quiets the complainers about the contrasting black comb. The four-axis adjustable hardware stays put once adjusted with the included wrenches.

The semi-beavertail forend tapers at the knuckle hook and is executed as well as the buttstock. The inletting for the blued forend iron was exceptional. The pushbutton release was a cinch to operate, and attachment was effortless and secure. The iron also allows for easy adjustments to action tension.

The overall wood-to-metal fit was splendid. There were no gaps or unevenly proud wood. Additionally, the underside of the adjustable comb, the stock beneath the comb, the head of the stock, beneath the recoil pad, and the underside of the forend had all received a generous coat of oil finish.

Fabarn warrants a mild rebuke regarding the owner’s manual. The gun shipped with a standard Classis manual. The Infinite RS warrants a product-specific manual. Instructions for detaching and attaching the rib and adjusting the comb, the trigger position and the forend tension are imperative. Folks break guns. They break guns when they tinker. They break guns even more when they tinker blindly. Fabarm can do better here.

I tested the Infinite RS at the patterning board with Winchester Super Target 2 3⁄4" 1,180-fps 1-oz No. 7 1⁄2s. With IC & M chokes, the barrels converged perfectly and patterned 50/50. At 8 pounds 6 ounces, this is hardly a light gun, but it is within the parameters of a target gun. It balanced 3⁄4" ahead of the knuckle, and I detected a touch more weight under the barrels. The gun came to the face like al ighter gun, and recoil was negligible.

On the clays course, Orvis Sandanona’s crew of trappers and instructors queued like tweens for Taylor Swift tickets for a chance to shoot the gun. The praise was universal, save one bloke who was flummoxed by the “rear-ranged” barrels. The rest of the crew lauded the ideal balance, swing and agreeable dimensions. All noted that the barrels got lava hot after continuous use. I suggest wearing gloves, as a bigger forend to mitigate the heat would increase the weight. After bumping over the stock 1⁄16" to add some cast, I was successful on high dropping targets and swift crossers. I was particularly pleased shooting a true pair consisting of a high incomer and a left-to-right crosser. The Infinite executed tasks with aplomb, provided I did my part.

Is the Infinite RS a numble and lively side-by-side with Old World soul? No. Is it an exceptionally well-made modern target gun that is deliberate, maneuverable, smooth and built for a lifetime of hard use? Absolutely.

Fabarm is taking a risk here. The Infinite RS might be just a novelty or a niche gun. But it certainly facilitates competitive participation in side-by-side events and might just become one’s go-to sporting gun. Research shows that Fausti and Perazzi dabbled in the sporting side-by-side market. One might argue that a cursory effort was made by Browning with its BSS series. But none of those makers showed the level of commitment that Fabarm is demonstrating here: a contemporary production gun with broad appeal, meticulous manufacturing, compelling marketing and a potentially long tenure. Time will tell.

For more information, visit fabarmusa.com.

SNAPSHOT

Make & Model: Fabarm Infinite RS
Gauge: 12
Action: Triggerplate side-by-side
Chambering: 3"
Finish: Black Satin
Barrel Length: 32"
Weight: 8 pounds 6 ounces
Chokes: 5 EXIS HP competition chokes (SK, IC, M, IM, F)
Stock: 14.875" length of pull, 1.625" drop at comb, 1.75" drop at Monte Carlo, 2.5" drop at heel, .1875" cast-off at heel, .3125" cast-off at tow, 5° of pitch
Accessories: Factory hard case, chokes, choke wrench, stock- and trigger-adjustment tools, owner’s manual, five-year warranty
Price as tested: $6,175