Guerini Forum 32in 20-bore

Michael Yardley compares the respective shooting qualities of 30in and 32in models. How would this deluxe Forum fare? And which barrel length does he prefer?

- Michael Yardley

THIS 32in, 20-bore Guerini Forum is imported by Anglo Italian Arms (who also bring Fabarm guns into the UK). I requested the gun because I have been conducting a series of experiments on the shooting qualities of 30in and 32in 20-bores. I am interested in the perception of forward allowance using the different barrel lengths and the ultimate placement of the shot pattern (I used to think long barrels reduced the apparent lead picture but it’s not so simple).

The Forum, meanwhile, is Guerini’s most upmarket field gun save the Revenant. It is distinguished by tight scroll and game-engraved side-plates, an extended trigger tang, fine chequering and other deluxe model features. Apart from the firm’s excellent solid, taper rib there is a skeletonised steel pistol grip cap and a well-figured, 14⅞in butt without a separate end-plate or fixing screws (unusual in mass-produced over-and-unders). The Forum sits almost at the top end of Guerini’s range, above the Tempio (a trigger-plate ‘boxlock’), the Magnus (sideplates with game scenes), the Maxum (side-plates with deep scroll) and the Apex (fine scroll only, an extended tang and steel-capped grip).

The test gun is predominantly machine made, like the vast majority today, but distinguished by its extra hand work. The artisan input is evident in refined stock shapes, the well-executed, traditional oil finish and in especially good barrel presentation. You can also see evidence of extra hand work in the decoration on the action. The attractive engraving is applied by laser (a process Guerini has led the way with) but hand finished (areas with curved surfaces require more handwork). The machined components of the gun inspire confidence; the engineering of the action body is particularly neat.