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I am looking for input/experiences with the Rizzini shotgun as represented now by CSMC. I have handled their Aurum model in 20 ga. with rounded knob PG stock and the external finish of the gun appears good. Gun might be used for high volume dove shooting.

Thank you.

I have two B. Rizzini guns, both a round action.
I think they are well made and very nice guns.
One is the EL, the other is the EM.
Wood is very nice with plenty of figure.
It mates the metal well.
The actions are relatively small, the 28 ga action is scaled down comparative to the 20 ga.
Engraving is very clean.
Nice set of barrels.
Function fine, no problems although I cannot say I have shot them a lot.

I have the emel 292 20ga which is one of the hand finished models. Use it for skeet and sporting clays (bit light for that.) It has functioned flawlessly through quite a few flats of ammo. Finish on the premium guns is beautiful inside and out. I would certainly recommend these guns in all grades compared to their competitors. Price has risen sharply with the exchange rate against the Euro. William Larkin Moore has them in stock too.

I have two Sig-Rizzini SA5's, by B. Rizzini but pre-Cole and pre-CSMC. Nice guns, and better looking than the comparable Beretta items. Doubt they are any stronger or more reliable than the Berettas, though. I like them both.

I owned a B. Rizzini Aurum Teutonic 20 bore, it had 30" barrels and I shot it alot. It was well finished, function was flawless, but I shot the gun probably more than it was designed to be shot, so I sold it and replaced it with a Zoli Z-gun. Back to the Rizzini, I kick my self in the shorts everytime I think about pulling the trigger on those Rizzini barrel and forend sets that Rich Cole had on closeout about two years ago, He had a set of 28 gauge, 30" tubes with the forend and he only wanted $500 for it! If I bought that barrel set, I would probably still own that gun. I think much more of the B. Rizzini than the FAIR guns, I just think that they are better finished and better balanced. I would not hesitate to buy another one.

Dustin

LeFusil; You mention "I probably shot the gun more than it was designed to be shot, so I sold it and replaced it with a Zoli-Z gun." I plan on using this gun for high volume dove shooting and will put at least 5000 rds. through it the first year of ownership, and perhaps 2000 rds. a year thereafter since I only shoot 20 ga. guns due to shoulder issues. Did your gun loosen after shooting? Were there parts breakage? If you would prefer to PM me that's fine since I really would like to know what caused you to switch to another gun.
Thank you.

Couldn't agree more. The FAIR guns just feel......cheap.
What is your opinion of the Z-Gun? I've been toying with the idea of a 32" 20.

Larryguy,
Like I said, I really enjoyed the gun alot, just seemed that I was using it more for clays than hunting. When it came to picking a gun to take along hunting, I usually took another gun, by no fault of the Rizzini, just so happens that 99% of the time I took a SxS or model 12 into the field. For high volume shooting, I think the Rizzini is a little too light and the balance of my gun was in between the hands (even with the 30" bbls), perfect for a hunting gun, but on a clays gun or dedicated dove gun, I like the balance to be just a tiny bit forward, not alot, but just a tiny bit. I owned my Rizzini for around 3 years and when I sold it, it opened and closed like a Ruger Red Label, but the lever was in the center and the gun still tight and on face. Nothing went wrong with the gun when I owned it, trouble free. I did have the gun apart one time to see what the internals looked like, nothing special, nothing fancy, pretty robust, but parts were starting to show some wear, especially the locking bolt.
Like I said, I wouldn't hesitate to own another B. Rizzini, they are nice guns and they make great field guns.

Ken Nelson,
I absolutey love my Z-gun. I have a 20 bore, Z-gun Expedition with 29.5" bbls. I like the aesthetics of the gun and the handling is exactly what I wanted, I have made no alterations to the gun and I shoot it well. I personally think its one of the "steals" out there in the gun market, it oozes quality and its built like a tank, its loaded with options that would cost alot of dollars from other makers, the barrels (which Zoli makes in house) are absolutely perfect. Rich Cole gave me a quick over the phone tutorial on the Z-gun and I was sold in about 15 minutes, he thinks very highly of them and I can see why. The Zoli is highly thought of in Europe as well, its been a winner across the pond for awhile now..its called the "Zoli Kronos" over there. Try one out, I think you'll like it.

Dustin

I have the same Sig-Rizzini SA5, by B. Rizzini, that "Replacement" has above. I bought it "slightly used" from a young doctor in Texas after he had Briley's do a looooong 4" forcing cone on both barrels and added several more choke tubes. It turned out he didn't "fit" the gun, but did not discover that until after he had the work done. It's a 20 gauge, and I just can't seem to miss with it. It's absolutely the best shooting gun I have as far as hitting my target (wingshooting mainly, and a bit of sporting clays) is concerned. Nice wood, very good fit and finish everywhere. Whereas many of the guns I own and enjoy would in truth be available for sale or trade, this one is not!!

If you want a gun more suited to lots of clays shooting with a little more weight forward, Rizzini does have a sporting clays version which would fill that role as well as any. I have been thinking about getting one but keep dropping my gun money on other opportunities which come up.

Dustin: Thank you very much! for the reply. The gun I am looking at is a 29" 20 ga. EM round body with very,very nice wood, dimensionally perfect for me and 6lbs. While researching B. Rizzini guns I found a review on a Brit website that indicated these guns have forged internal parts vs. the MIM/cast of others. I haven't can't confirm this elsewhere.

larry, if you're interested in a new O/U have you looked at or considered a custom Beretta from Cole Gunsmithing? They also offer custom Zoli Rizzini guns too. I'm not trying to sway you away from B. Rizzini, I'm just trying to point out some other good options for you to consider.

http://colegun.com/

https://colegun.com/shotguns-cole-custom-shotguns-c-1_24.html?zenid=9e2b7044cd7d993a88bcd6f4b75ac938

I have two custom Berettas and they are good guns. With the custom gun you specify the gun the way you want it.

JM: I have thought about a custom Beretta from Cole's - I have several small(er) bore Beretta O/U's with upgraded wood (from Coles) and really was looking for a different gun maker. I had read a great deal about the B. Rizzini guns and their round body design seems very well done.

I had also noted several favorable comments on the Zoli gun and had made 3 inquiries to Zoli in NY without a reply. I have a call in to Rich Cole about the Zoli which I KNOW will be returned. The Zoli gun appears to have many of the attributes of the Perazzi which is one of my favorite shotguns. I am disappointed in the lack of response from Zoli.

I may have missed it, but I didn't see anything in the Cole links about Zoli-Rizzini guns. The old Zoli-Rizzini partnership resulted in guns imported by Abercrombie and Fitch, both OU and sxs, about 40 years ago. Good guns when you find them used, but I don't think there are any new ones. The late Guido Rizzini was the active R partner in that project, as I understand it.

If you want a B. Rizzini at a lower price, look around for the guns marketed as Sigs, as someone mentioned earlier. Some of them were also made for L.L. Bean. The basic version (TR-20, I think) usually runs around $1500 or so.

If you are not wedded to the Rizzini, you might look at a Caesar Guerini. I've owned a Summit Sporting Limited 28/.410 two barrel set for a couple of years and have really enjoyed it. I have about 6,000 rounds through it at this point, and haven't had so much as a bobble. The Guerinis use the same basic design as the various Rizzinis (and the makers may be related to the Rizzini family in some manner), but I think the fit and finish is a bit better on guns at similar price points. Those who have had customer service interactions with the CG people report that it is first rate.

I believe the Guerinis and Rizzinis are cousins.

I have reason to believe the Guerini's are built on actions and barrels supplied by Fabarms.

I had both a Artmeis Small Action in 28 gauge and a Artemis Classic in 20. Both performed flawlessly and I'm sorry I let them go. Buy with confidence.