Hunting

We’ve noticed a distinct improvement in the fit and finish of Beretta’s guns lately, and the 471 Silver Hawk was no exception. Our sample sported a well-figured piece of wood, dark chocolate in color. The buttstock sported a classic orange butt pad mated to a black spacer that marked a smart-looking transition from wood to pad. We liked having this pad as a feature on this gun. Too many times, makers seeking to keep a classic design classic achieve such looks by denying modern improvements.We would not have been surprised to have received this gun with a finished, checkered wood end to the buttstock. But such aesthetics, while handsome, aren’t terribly practical. With the many technical fabrics that we have available these days to keep us warm and dry while hunting, a buttstock minus some sort of tacky (as in gripping, not cheap) butt pad has a tendency to slip from the shoulder during firing. A rubber butt pad, of course, eliminates such a problem. That Beretta put an orange one on this stock—and fitted it perfectly—was the touch we feel was needed to combine the practical with the classic. However, the Beretta website indicates that this gun can also be ordered with a black-rubber butt pad, as well as a hard-plastic butt plate.

New England Firearm’s Sportster in 17 Mach 2 is a great little gun, according to the January 2008 issue of Gun Tests, which rated it as an “A“ pick. The problem is the speciality gun may be hard to find. But a search of Gunbroker.com found a single gun, whose price was below the $169 MSRP found in the GT article.

Case in point: According to the January 2008 issue of Gun Tests, the Smith & Wesson Elite Gold Grade I Side-by-Side 20 Gauge, $2380, was a B+ gun, and a better pick than a comparable L.C. Smith. Online pricing for the gun found on Gunbroker.com had no bids for one gun in a no-reserve auction # 106244497, but it has a “Buy Now” price of $1399.

Five new shell bags from Kolpin solve the problem of transporting and organizing shot shells and accessories...

When Gun-Tests.com tested the Beretta AL391 Urika 20 Gauge in the magazine’s June 2008, the retail price was listed as a stiff $1350. But GunBroker.com auctions have the guns selling used for $400 below that. For instance, Auction # 106087392 had a “like new” 20 ga/28 in. for $830.

Nikon, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sport optics, has introduced the ProStaff Laser 550 rangefinder in 2008.

CenterPoint Precision Optics has taken its high end Power Class line of riflescopes to the next level with the Power Class 1TL Series.

We immediately took to this wood-stocked little rifle, which we found selling for $143 retail. The feel was solid, and we liked the thought of shooting a relatively warm-stocked hardwood stock in cold weather. Our suspicions were correct. This was the most comfortable stock on our shooter's faces. Our first surprise was that this rifle held 14 rounds, and you could get 15 into it if you wanted.

The Remington Model 11-87 Sportsman Super Magnum Waterfowl shotgun is now available with full Mossy Oak Duck Blind camo coverage. Mossy Oak Duck Blind was designed to maintain its effectiveness throughout the waterfowl season in a wide variety of actual waterfowl hunting environments.

Mossberg has found yet another use for their popular 930 autoloader with their new 930 SPX.

New for 2008, Nosler Solid Bullets gives hunters the penetration and versatility for hunting large thick-skinned game.

Winchester’s new Safari Ammunition line is offered in the venerable .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Rigby and .458...