Rizzini ‘Grand Regal' 20-bore

The Regals represent a significant step in the evolution of the Rizzini range, says Michael Yardley, offering good shooting qualities as well as value for money

- Michael Yardley

THE test gun is the top model of a new range of rounded action over-and-under guns made by Rizzini and developed and imported into the UK by ASI of Snape, which also brings in AyA guns from Spain. Our spotlight falls on the Rizzini Grand Regal. The other guns in the stable are the Regal Extra (also available for comparison in this test), the Regal Deluxe and the Regal. All are single-trigger, side-plated guns on rounded action bars (decoration and grade of wood differ).

First impressions of the Grand Regal are of a handsome shotgun with outstanding wood and full coverage, deep-scroll engraving. It is, to use the vernacular, ‘fully loaded’. There is an extended fore-end iron (complementing a Boss-style fore-end), a steel fore-end tip surrounding an Anson rod fastener, barrel wings (as seen on best over-and-under), an extended trigger guard tang and a steel end-cap to its full but not acutely angled pistol grip. The sighting rib is solid – always the preference on a game gun. The specification also includes an inertia-operated single, selective trigger, auto safety, 3in (76mm) chambers, multi chokes, and steel shot proof.