At the beginning of 2024, it looked to be the “Year of the 20 Gauge,” but that isn't looking promising at the moment. Browning told me today that the A-5 20 gauge "is looking like the end of the year." The Impala Plus 20 gauge is lost somewhere in the ether, with no anticipated availability date, nor any specs available. Both are disappointments, as if they aren't available in mid-August you might as well call them 2025 product. While I did shoot an A5 20 gauge in January, it was pre-production. Browning calls it "5 lbs. 9 oz." with an MSRP of $1979.99. Regardless, it is still vaporware as an available production item.

Weatherby's popular Sorix 12 gauge was anticipated by now in 20 gauge.

Update: While delayed, thanks to a mishap at the Italian proof house knocking over racks of barrels, the latest is shipping the Sorix 20 gauge starting next week as of 7/23/2024. That will make dove and teal hunters happy.

Some say wild pheasants aren't active at night: this rooster disagrees.

I always look forward to hunting with at least one new shotgun every year. This year will be no exception, as a new Fabarm D2 20 gauge O/U is ready to go, as is the delightful Weatherby 18i Deluxe. For the record, the Fabarm D2 weighs in at 5 lbs. 15 oz. as she sits, the Weatherby 18i 20 gauge 26 inch is at 6-1/4 lbs. That's an ideal weight range for a fun day chasing wild pheasants. For those who prefer extended chokes, Trulock has them for the Fabarm (you need to call Trulock as their website being updated). The Weatherby uses standard Crio Plus chokes.

The 20 gauge has gained ground in recent years as an all-around gauge, due to shotshell advancements such as Winchester Diamond Grade in 20 gauge lead, and various Tungsten-based denser than lead loads. I was surprised, pleasantly so, with how well the 1-1/16 oz. 20 gauge Winchester Blind Side 2 steel load did as well.

The Fabarm and Weatherby 18i are both Top Tier shotguns: CIP proofing is the cornerstone as to why. Compulsory proof testing dates back to the 1600s, in England, Germany, and Belgium. However, there were no universally accepted and recognized standards between countries for some time. I should note that the amount of engraving, figure in the wood, or high price is not what determines a Top Tier firearm, although aesthetic appeal has value all its own. 

The CIP standard was established in 1914 in Liege, Belgium and ratified by law in 14 member countries and it is illegal to sell civilian firearms in the member countries without having CIP proof marks from an accredited proof house. CIP also independently publishes data about ammunition dimensions, max. pressure generated by different ammunition types, max. pressure that can be tolerated by different firearms, testing procedures, compatibility between firearms and ammunition combinations etc. The current CIP member countries are Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, UAE and UK.

In a standard CIP test, a firearm is fired twice per barrel with overloaded cartridges that produce 25% more pressure (30% more pressure for pistols, revolvers) than the standard cartridge it would normally be fired with.

Above, the Weatherby Sorix I photographed under UV light, where the luminous dye used to detect micro-cracks and imperfections by the Italian Proof House lit up like a Christmas tree.

After firing two overloaded cartridges, the firearm is disassembled and examined for imperfections, sulfur stringers, fissures, and micro-cracks via fluoroscopic lamp in a dark room. If it passes, the CIP proof marks are stamped on to the metal, along with marks that indicate the date and the lab that performed the tests. The accompanying paperwork details are completed as well. That is what makes CIP independently proofed and inspected civilian firearms the safest civilian firearms in the world. For those that are interested, the 2014 regulations are published here: https://www.gunproof.com/downloads/cip-individual-proof-weapons . Note that these are the minimum uniform requirements. Fabarm has their firearms CIP proofed to 1630 BAR at the Italian National C.I.P Proof House of Gardone Val Trompia.

Fabarm's Elos 2 Elite

Back to the 20 gauge as being “the other gauge.” According to Federal Ammunition, they often sell 80% 12 gauge and 15% 20 gauge: that's what around 95% of all shotgun shells fired every year are. The exception is turkey hunting, where half of the ammo sales are 20 gauge and .410 bore. Additionally, several upscale hunt clubs do not allow the use of 12 gauges, rightly or wrongly (quite wrongly, according to me).

Some diehards still tout the imaginary advantages of the 16 gauge, but even by 2001 16 gauge ammo sales were under 3% at Remington, Federal, and Winchester. With the demise of the Ithaca M37 in 16 gauge and more recently, the Browning BPS in 16 gauge and everything else, whatever people might be doing with 16 gauges is clear: they are not shooting them. 98% of all shotshells fired are not from a 16 gauge. While the 16 gauge won't vanish completely, it is sailing steadily off to the Island of Misfit Toys.

Weatherby's 18i Deluxe

If you are in the market for a new 20 gauge this year, there are quite a few out there you might wish to consider: the Fabarm Elos D2, the Elos 2 Elite, the Browning Citori 725 Feather, the Weatherby 18i, and the Weatherby Sorix. I'll review the Sorix 20 in “Midnight Marsh” trim as soon as it shows up. The end of the year guess on the Browning A5 20 gauge is a stinging disappointment to a lot of folks. I have been often asked about a Fabarm L4S 20 gauge, but have been told that currently, there are no plans for one. 

For some reason, hunters and shooters don't vote, according to the NRA's own data. More than 10 million hunters and gun owners are not registered. Yet, every year, it is Donald Trump who attends the NRA convention and expresses his unwavering support for the 2^nd Amendment, just as he did this May in Dallas at the NRA annual convention. This is the year, more than ever, to vote Trump and help save the 2^nd Amendment. I am doing just that.

Donald Trump has already defeated soon to be former president Joe Biden, who has thrown in the towel, endorsing open border czar and anti-2nd Amendment Kamala Harris. Vote Trump as if the 2nd Amendment depends on it, for it clearly does.