New for 2025 comes the Fabarm “Infinite RS” side-by-side shotgun designed primarily to smash clays. There hasn't been a major sporting clays suitable SxS released since the Perazzi DC 12 that goes for $27,000 or so. The Fabarm SxS, with its beefy four-lug action was designed to be tough enough to handle heavy loads and competition shooting for the long haul. As a matter of fact, Tanya Faulds decided to enter a British SxS competition some years back with a Fabarm SxS she received just a few days prior... and she promptly won the event.

Side-by-side shotguns that certainly predated vertical doubles by many years have not been wildly popular for clays. Historically, SxS shotguns have been difficult to regulate, and have been offered mostly as light-duty game guns. The first wild pheasant I ever shot was with a low quality Crescent .410 side-by-side. Over the years, I've tried several including a Winchester Model 24 SxS 16 gauge that wasn't reliable, clunky Browning BSS 12 gauge that was, and a Winchester Model 23 Pigeon Grade that, while a beautiful gun, was not stocked properly for me at all., and a few other examples I'd rather not talk about.

The tested Fabarm Infinite RS has 32 inch barrels, weighs 8 lbs. 7 ounces, has a pair of 1630 BAR over-proofed steel-shot-ready Tri-Bore barrels, and has a terrific trigger that breaks crisply at around 3-1/4 lbs. A notable feature in the aluminum alloy quick release detachable 50/50 rib that is the same design as used on the Fabarm Allsport O/U shotguns. The alloy rib is used to save weight, it is a mid-height (10mm) raised rib that eliminates the notion of poor visibility of your target with a side-by-side. The rib is tapered from 10mm to 8mm at the muzzle, and this target gun has an adjustable comb as well.

Only one rib, the 50/50 rib, is supplied. That is my sole gripe with the Infinite RS, for this is a missed opportunity. Many shooters prefer the 65/35 rib for skeet and trap, no other SxS has a quick detachable rib, yet in this case there is no reason to detach it. A 65/35 rib puts the center of the pattern about 4-1/2 inches high at 40 yards for trap, but for skeet use that means no more than two inches or so, if that. It seems that those who would otherwise thoroughly enjoy their Infinite RS on the trap field are being penalized for no good reason. It is an Allsport, lacking the “All.”

I'm told that there are only two Infinite RS models in the country, with the first large shipment due in mid-July, all with 32 inch barrel sets. 30 inch barrel models are coming, but not before the end of 2025 to January 2026. I had speculated that the 30 inch would be more to my own liking, but the 32 inch model is extremely well-balanced and moves effortlessly. The Infinite RS is also the softest-shooting SxS I've ever shot in my life. The Infinite RS comes with five Exis HP extended chokes. For aesthetic reasons on a side-by-side, I'd dump those and just go with factory Fabarm flush chokes, saving a small amount of weight at the muzzle in the process.

Not only are the triggers excellent, but the ejectors are quite strong. Not only will this gun find favor in vintager clays events, for those who just love side-by-sides, for those who shoot crows, pigeons, doves, or driven pheasants, it is a natural. It is a shoot-a-lot gun, not a walk-a-lot gun, as you would expect based on its substantial weight.

 

The four-lug action (shown above) gives this shotgun the robustness that most classic side-by-side shotguns sorely lack, the oiled walnut is not billed as upgraded, but it appears to be on the tested example, and even the barrels have a higher level of polish than I expected. MSRP is $5495, a left-hand stock is available as well. The rest of the details can be found at https://fabarmusa.com/infinite-rs/ .