Fudd has subsequently been declared fiscally irresponsible and is now a ward of the state. (Don't fret; not your tax dollars, most of you.)

I still don't know what compelled me, aside from getting old and 'You only live once.' But I gone and done it. The specifications of this particular example may have had some motivating effects, though. To wit:

Rizzini BR550 round body, 28-gauge specific
28" barrels
Ejectors
Pistol-grip butt, splinter forend
Single selective trigger
Non-automatic safety
Interchangeable carbon steel flush chokes, nickel-plated, in the five usual constrictions
Weighs under 6lbs, per the sales literature (ain't actually weighed it yet, but I don't figure they were fibbin')
Interesting, somewhat idiosyncratic wood with a great big knot in the buttstock that reminded me of my father's sporterized Lee-Enfield No. 4
Lovely but wholly impractical wooden buttplate

I was staring at the ad, staring at the pictures, reading the manufacturer's website, and thinking, It's like they've built my platonic ideal of 28-gauge clay pigeon shotgun. Well, for Trap, anyway. Hrrrm. I rubbed my chin for a while, and finally sent a cautious enquiry. Does it have rabies? Which chokes does it come with? Is it cased? Is there any Turkish writing in the rollmarks, anywhere at all? Will I suddenly develop an addiction to bucatini? Do you accept payment in Maria Theresa silver thalers?

What sealed the deal was, when I squintily asked the dealer if flush Skeet chokes were available for it, he immediately checked with the mother ship and told me they had a half-dozen on the shelf. I asked him if he'd throw a pair of 'em in. He averred that he would.

He also picked up the postage and insurance -not inconsiderable money.

Ka-ching.

So. It has arrived, and weather and circumstances finally permitted me to shoot the thing today. Four rounds of Trap; I didn't like the hubbub going on at the Skeet fields today; there were groups going through, and I didn't want to be getting to know a new-to-me shotgun with a party going on behind me. Besides, Trap, for me, encourages rhythmic, deliberate, ritual thought. It's like Free Pistol compared to Skeet's Rapid-Fire Pistol, by my lights. And I've enjoyed shooting both. But if I want to get to know a new firearm.... Slow things down a bit.

Good decision.

Full disclosure: I'm not a competent shot with a shotgun. Yet. I'm deliriously happy when I break more than 18/25 at Trap, whether with 12-gauge or 28-gauge.

First round: Shot like a plug. A dirt-clod. A self-propelled sandbag. An oxygen thief unworthy of owning such a pretty, well-made firearm. Second round, I said 'machts nichts, the shotgun can't be the problem.' I settled my mind and analyzed and refined my technique. I more than doubled my score. Third and fourth rounds, I improved by a satisfying margin, and I was pulverizing the porcelain penguins most of the times I hit them. They'd just cease to exist. Right out of the house, many of them.

Seeing that tiny little cartridge wreak such devastation on wee-little flying objects... This was a pretty decent Saturday.

And I've said this about the Browning Superposed Skeet I received just before this Italian job arrived, but it bears repeating: The shotgun was transparent. None of it ever got in the way, in any way I could tell.

Verdict: Should someone ever hand you a 28-gauge BR550 and offer you a go at Trap with it? It might not be a waste of your ticket.

Just choke it at least Modified. And you'll make those snarky orange saucers disappear without trace.

....................

Next time out, I intend to use the delicate little thing for Skeet. Should be interesting.

Yeeee Hawww
Well done
Love it when a plan comes together

I enjoy my Rizzini SxS.

If they haven't changed the design since mine was made in 2007 the forend latch release button shaft is secured with a 1.5mm hex drive set screw.

I highly advise you obtain the correct wrench and reset that in with thread locker.

This one?

That one.

You will note it stops the rotation of the threaded rod on the end of which is the Anson latch push button.

Believe it or not if that screw is loose the rod can rotate enough to fall out.

Mine did, and apparently this is a known issue.

I have no clue if they Locktite those at the factory now. They should.

Fortunately I found the part on skeet station 7. The gun won't come apart without the button.

A mid-bead from a Krieghoff is still out there.... someplace.

You'd think for what this hardware sells for they wouldn't fall apart...

Merci. Merci beaucoup. I have a 1.5mm hex key in hand. Just tried it, fingertip pressure, just to see if it'd move, and the grub screw rotated immediately. No evidence of thread-locker.

You're very kind to point this out. Time to (1) reach for the duct tape and (2) write to their export sales manager, whose name I have.

Just weighed the thing on my old air pistol cylinder scale, prior to weighing-out brining salts for corning a piece of beef brisket: Butt and receiver 1205 grams, barrels and forend 1249 grams, chokes installed, which adds up to 2454 grams, which equates to 5.4 lbs. Which is less than the manufacturer's stated 5.7 lbs. It's a willow switch.

I think I may have to start hunting grouse.

I have a special order left hand 16 ga 550 coming in "the spring" according to the export manager. He says the 16s are built on 20 ga frames and that he would select wood for light weight. I hope mine comes in light!

Ooh. That's my way of thinking, if the engineering math permits it. To clip-quote Colin Chapman: "Add lightness."

That should be a very interesting shotgun.

I was in a local English gunshop two years ago for a tiny repair on the Webley, and the owner stuck a 16 bore BR550 in my hands saying "You need one of these..." It was indeed a fine gun, with great wood, built on the 20 gauge frame and so with fixed chokes, which I prefer. As Covid was rampant I deferred.

Then my wife said, out of the blue:" I'll buy it for you - it looks nice".

Big mistake - I said no. They don't seem to be importing many now...

HB

I have a BR550 Round Body in 28ga, and have 32ga barrels on order. Great gun for woodcock and grouse. I like the clean lines of the Piani Fissi barrels - no monobloc weld lines.

By “export manager” you probably mean Filippo. Great guy and very hospitable. I spent a day and a half with him in Marcheno last year.

Yes, Filippo. I presume you got a factory visit. Very nice.

Where on earth are you going to find 32-gauge ammunition up here?

I have spruce grouse and ruffed grouse around my summer lake property, and I even saw a woodcock, once; it bimbled past across the rock as I was sitting on the porch having a sundowner one summer evening. Less than eight feet away. My eyes nearly came out of my head. Anyway, I plan to bring the Rizzini along for grouse season 2024. Be daft to not walk the trail with it a few times.

I have enough 32ga to last me forever. Some Federal (loaded by Fiocchi) from Prophet River, some Fiocchi from Epps.
Also bought some on Gunpost loaded by Armeria Frinchillucci in Rome in old Fiocchi Rosso Cane paper cases. Probably loaded in the 60's.
I just checked and as far as I know there is 1 box available in Canada at The Gun Dealer.
Lots of 32ga available in the US.

Yes had a factory tour with Filippo and met the congenial Rizzini family.
Also visited Mary Giovanelli at Bottega Incisioni Di Cesare Giovanelli.
Great time and remarkable to see the incredible talent in Val Trompia over the 7km from Sarezzo up to Marcheno.
I would bet more in this small area than in all of North America.

Also visited Verona for the European Outdoor Show in February.
Wonderful city and had a tour around the show with Filippo and his son Jacopo.
Nice to have a generous tour guide like Filippo.

An entire box?

SHOT Show 2024: Presidents of global shotshell manufacturers rubbing shoulders at the bar...

"But. There's this guy in Canada, shoots a 32-gauge..."

"Oh, yeah. We know him. We all know him."

That name rang a bell. Just looked at my shotgun's engraved receiver, and its underside is inscribed "C. Giovanelli." In the tiniest possible font.

Sounds like you had quite the time.

well done fudd...