Redolfi EOS Sport
Mark Stone takes a look at a new name on the market, the Redolfi EOS Sport, a 12g with Italian artisan heritage…
Part and parcel of Italian gunmaking, whilst certain of the established names have gone on to build global empires, numerous small artisan makers have enjoyed almost anonymous success.
Manufacturing shotguns that have a ready and waiting band of loyal customers, their ability to sell all they make combined with smaller production numbers means there are makers in existence that even today nobody outside of Italy has actually heard of. Well here’s one that you will soon hear a lot about, the name of Arturo Redolfi and the company he founded in 1922 is more than likely to make itself known to a growing number of UK shooters.
Imported into the country by Malmo Guns near Lancaster, the association came about purely by chance. Already the importer of Cheddite cartridges, it was an impromptu visit to an Italian trade fair that saw Bryan Prest and the Redolfi family do the deal, Malmo’s racks now resplendent with more or less the entire Redolfi range. Similarly, given the price of these shotguns it comes as no surprise than the staff at Malmo are having difficulties keeping the shelves stocked, numerous shooters adding a Redolfi game or clay gun to their ticket.
Main reason for this is that certain Italian makers have wised up to the fact that the reason most shooters opt for a Turkish-built shotgun is because of the price. However, given the option, these potential owners of Turkish weaponry would more than likely prefer to buy Italian if the price was right. Well here’s a head’s up, if there’s one thing I can say from the off about Redolfi, the prices are most definitely right, and right by a good chunk of change.
Excellent choice
The 12g on test is the EOS Sport over-under which, as the name suggests, is Redolfi’s all-round clay breaker. Arriving in its own travelling case complete with a full set of extended choke tubes, the first aspect of the EOS Sport you notice is the quality and fit of the straight grained, lacquer finished walnut. Of a standard you’d expect to find on more expensive shotguns, the full-sized sporter style stock, complete with soft rubber recoil pad, the curvature and checkering on the grip along with the nicely contoured palm swell are well proportioned and properly presented.
Likewise, the Anson-latch forend, the checkering of the same well-defined quality as that of the grip, the rounded London-style adding visual elegance and modernity to the EOS’s looks. Similarly, the profile of this, my preferred forend style offers a secure hold for the leading hand whilst allowing the shooter to adjust their grip and therefore gun direction and attitude dependant on target.
Tried and tested
When it comes to the metalwork, Redolfi has based the EOS around the tried and tested Italian design. Measuring 30 11/16 inches or 30 inches without the extended chokes fitted, the gloss black barrels, complete with vented mid-rib and a tapering 5-9mm vented top rib swage into three inch chambers. These in turn locate into a steel, mechanical boxlock action, the style of which is renowned for its strength and reliability. Externally, detailed scroll work decorates the base of the action, forend irons and broad trigger guard whilst inlaid gold flying clays form the bulk of the ornamentation, deep moustaches curving from the fences and along the underneath of the chambers. Now whilst gold clays aren’t to everyone’s taste, mine included, by the time you take a look at the price ticket, you tend to overlook the ornamentation.
Straight out the box
Before shooting this Redolfi, it’s well worth looking at the physical aspects of the gun. Weighing in at quite a substantial 8lbs 9oz with an overall choke inclusive length of 47¾ inches, drops at comb and heel are a precise 17/16 inches and 23/8 inches with a length of pull measuring 1411/16 inches. One area that could possible benefit from a little attention is the trigger; whilst it’s crisp and predictable the average breaking weight of 7lbs is a tad heavy by most clay gun standards. It will lighten up with some minor attention but it’s something I’d prefer to see the factory resolve, since the attention to the gun’s detailing is excellent.
Unsurprisingly Malmo requested that I test the EOS Sport using 28g Cheddite Trap Oro shells filled with 8½ shot. A good all-rounder, or so I was informed. I choked the gun with Cyl and Improved Cylinder. The first sensation is that whilst the EOS errs towards slightly heavy for a sporter, with a balance point about one inch in front of the hinges, sensible stock dimensions and as the Arrow Laser Shot confirmed, a good flat pointable attitude, the gun was an almost perfect fit.
Feeling in the hands like a trap gun, the mount and sight picture adding to the sensation, by the finish of the third stand of Bond & Bywater’s evening shoot, I was but two birds away, the lost targets definitely my own fault, the final score one that I’d expect from a gun I’m used to shooting. The gun mounts easily, the stock an excellent fit whether shooting gun mounted or gun down, whilst the weight ensures that even when using top-end Italian loads, the perceived recoil isn’t actually worth mentioning. In turn this highlights that, whilst from the shooter’s point of view the gun is the right size, it also confirms that Redolfi have got their angles and drops bang on.
The benefit of a sporter that weighs and feels like the EOS Sport is that it slows you down. Its not that the gun is heavy to shoot with, it’s that it actively discourages the shooter from snatching at their targets. Movement is more measured; the thought process more relaxed whilst to ensure you’re setup correctly for opposing clays, the EOS makes you stand correctly to make certain you’re upper body is suitably balanced for the variation of balance and deviation of swing. Don’t believe me? Go try a 12g that doesn’t fit you then give an EOS Sport a try, the difference is instantaneous.
Now for the good bit – Redolfi’s EOS Sport, as tested, will set you back £795. No, you haven’t misread anything, a genuine, all-out, full-blown Italian competition 12g for less than £800… just! And if the mood so takes you, add £100 and you can have the same EOS Sport but this time with an adjustable comb stock, once again all in for less than a grand.
Conclusion
With the Redolfi EOS Sport, it’s a gun that you will grow with and learn how to use and apply the gun’s abilities. But to shoot with a budget 12g as well as I did from the very first stand says something about how well sorted this Redolfi is. If further proof were needed, one of my squad members had just posted a seriously good score at the recent Classic, an event that attracts the cream of sporting shooters. I walked back to my car six points clear of one of the UK’s top shooters, so giving Malmo Guns a quick bell could well be a good ideaIf Malmo’s sales of the EOS Sport are any method of gauging the gun’s popularity, it could well be a case of get your order in bright and early. After you’ve shot with one you’ll understand as to why. Most competition 12 bore of around this price or of this generic grade are in most instances passable, will perform adequately, generate a decent score providing the shooter is prepared to put the work in and provide an ideal grounding before moving onto a better shotgun.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
| Name | Redolfi EOS Sport |
| Calibre | 12g |
| Capacity | 2 |
| Barrels | 30 inches |
| Action | Boxlock |
| Stock | Sporter |
| Weight | 8lbs 9oz |
| Chokes | Extended multi-choke |
