Table of contents for Issue 10 in GUNS

Eliminate hexavalent chromium from the industrial manufacturing of one of the largest gun factories in the world. This is the challenge to the limits of technology launched by Fabbrica d'armi Pietro Beretta. Not a dream to be cherished in the coming years, but a concrete reality also to promptly respond to the drastic indications given by the European Union which has decided to ban chromium from manufacturing activities starting from 2024, considering its toxic nature as an element highly dangerous for health. Indications contained in the LIFE program to support innovative projects that promote environmental sustainability and adaptation to climate change for the seven-year period 2021-27. Confirming the no-return choice was Franco Gussalli Beretta himself, president and CEO of the Gardone Val Trompia giant: «The improvement of industrial processes is…

At Benelli, they never rest on their laurels, that's a fact. In 2023, the company has launched a new version of its semi-auto rifle, further refined to better suit wild boar hunters’ preferences. The new series is still called Endurance and comes in five different versions: two with walnut stocks (Endurance Wood and Endurance Pro Wood), and three with polymer stocks, including the Endurance Comfortech 3 featured in our review, the Endurance BE.S.T. Comfortech 3, and the Endurance Comfortech 3 Battue. At first glance, the only evident difference compared to the previous series is the slightly more pronounced “belly” of the magazine's floor plate, as the capacity was increased from 4 to 5 cartridges (plus one in the chamber). This change allows it to meet the maximum capacity allowed by…

The Sako 90 made its debut at the Caccia Village exhibition in Bastia Umbra, but it is already making a name for itself. There are currently five versions planned, ranging from the ultralight Peak to the subject of our test, the Varmint, which, thanks to the heavy fluted barrel, offers outstanding accuracy and allows for a high number of consecutive shots, making it suitable for sport shooting even at medium and long distances. How it's made This firearm represents the evolution of the Sako 85, which in turn was a refinement of the 75. The most noticeable change compared to the previous series is in the central part of the action, which is still of the open bridge type but has undergone substantial strengthening on the left side to provide…

The segment of side-by-side hunting shotguns is generally not known for offering significant innovations to enthusiasts. It is a type of firearm deeply rooted in tradition, where the respect for classical formal standards is essential, and introducing major innovations is complex and may not align with the taste of those hunters who still prefer the timeless charm of side-by-side shotguns. However, creating an elegant yet modern side-by-side shotgun is not entirely impossible, and some companies, like Fabarm, have done so with great success. Building upon their renowned Fabarm Classis side-by-side shotgun, the Brescia-based company has crafted an even more refined and elegant version, positioned in a slightly higher price range, and equipped with all the details that cannot be missing in an iconic firearm like a side-byside shotgun. It's called…

The Ultraleggero in 20 gauge was introduced by Beretta at the 2023 EOS exhibition in Verona. This new version further pushes the envelope in terms of weight reduction and maneuverability: only 2,500 grams (5.5 lb) for the version with 24-inch barrels. Like its 12-gauge “big brother”, this shotgun uses a steel receiver borrowed from Beretta's 690 lineup, but the receiver was subjected to a “weight loss treatment” that removed over 400 grams (14.1 oz) from the overall weight. But the quest for lightness doesn't stop at the receiver: every component of the shotgun was meticulously designed to save every possible gram without compromising the stability of the shotgun. With the Ultraleggero, in fact, at the moment of firing, you get the feeling of using a traditional shotgun. However, during transport,…

The Beretta 92 is an enduring favorite among gun enthusiasts and is continuously being reinvented by Beretta's technicians. As of today, there are two distinct and independent lines: the 92X line, with variations that are primarily defensive or distinctly sporty, and the tactical-military line, to which the subject of our review, the M9A4, is related. It is a further evolution of the M9A3, which was developed in anticipation of the MHS (Modular Handgun System) program to replace the standard M9. The project wanted to raise the standards of modularity and flexibility for mounting tactical accessories compared to the original M9 while maintaining a high level of interchangeability of components and, most importantly, the same trigger, disassembly, and operation to simplify troop training. In the end, the MHS tender was won…

The Browning Hi-Power was based on a design by John Moses Browning but was later finalized by Dieudonné Saive at FN Herstal. Browning, in fact, passed away in 1926, several years before seeing the new semi-automatic pistol come to life. The company decided to name it HP-35 or High Power because it had a double-stack magazine with a capacity of 13 rounds, practically double the capacity of other competing pistols of that time. Starting in 1935, the HP-35 (or GP-35, Grand Puissance for French speakers) was adopted by numerous armies as their standard-issue pistol, including the British (as the L9 pistol), Canadian, and Australian armies, the latter two of which only began a replacement program for the HP-35 in 2022. 100% Made in Belgium FN Herstal designed this new pistol…

The Walther P38 has earned its place in the pantheon of 20th-century semi-automatic pistols, alongside other iconic firearms like the German Luger P08 and the American 1911. Excluding post-war production, during the course of World War II alone it was manufactured in over a million units, not only by Walther but also by Mauser and Spreewerk. As with all great stories, the tale of the Walther P38 had a humble beginning, first with the “HP” version (Heeresmodell) and then with the so-called “zero series”, which marked the origin point of the official military supply to the German army. This “zero series”, named so because the serial number is preceded by a zero, exhibits very distinctive features that won't be found in the mass production during the wartime period. For this…

The American chemical and manufacturing giant 3M has reached an out-of-court settlement of 6 billion euros for the compensation of damages in the lawsuits brought by soldiers of the US armed forces, who had found that, despite the use of 3M earplugs, had experienced hearing damage and tinnitus (constant ringing or buzzing in the ears) after using firearms. Under the agreement, the company will pay $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in stock, over a six-year period. The use of the product at the center of the dispute occurred between 2003 and 2015, and a 2019 study actually found an increase in the rate of tinnitus among members of the armed forces on active duty, in the period between 2001 and 2015. However, the company, beyond the compensation agreement,…