The F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige Sporting is Like an Old Friend
In late March 2017, Shotgun Life visited Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini, or F.A.I.R. as we have come to know it, in Brescia Italy. Owner Luca Rizzini impressed us as a straightforward, unpretentious guy committed to manufacturing affordable wing and clays guns that would last for generations.
Now back in our hometown of Thomasville, Georgia, we went to a sporting clays course to shoot a F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige Sporting over/under and discovered that in fact Mr. Rizzini has made good on his corporate mission with this 12-gauge clays gun.
The F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige in 12 gauge.
The F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige Sporting shares its tough, steel mechanicals with the Trap and Skeet models. The gun opens and locks with sturdy trunnions and underlug. The ejectors proved strong. An interchangeable fiber-optic site sat at the muzzle end of the narrow, vented rib. F.A.I.R. uses technologically enhanced, oil-finished walnut and checkering for an upgraded appearance on a budget, and complemented by the black sideplates emblazed with a gold clay target, the Racing Prestige Sporting aspires for a Perazzi presence. A comfortable pistol grip and slender field-style forend contribute to easy control. Rounding out the standard equipment is a set of five steel-compatible TECHNICHOKE extended tubes in popular constrictions.
The F.A.I.R. TECHNICHOKE chokes added accuracy and some glitz to the Racing Prestige.
If you want an adjustable comb and semi-Monte Carlo stock then upgrade to the Racing II Sporting or look at some of the F.A.I.R. Carrera line of competition over/unders.
So where does that place the $2,550 F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige Sporting on your decision tree? Those black sideplates with gold clay targets elevate the shotgun beyond run-of-the-mill, pseudo-classical laser engraving with a taut, athletic character. F.A.I.R.’s FX-WOOD technology enriches the walnut for a higher-grade appearance that’s finished with oil. The perch-belly forend, gold-plated trigger, polished extended chokes and fiber-optic front bead combine utility with pizazz. Ultimately, the well-finished Racing Prestige Sporting stands out on the gun rack against comparably priced Berettas, Brownings and Fabarm derivatives.
The FX-WOOD on the F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige.
The F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige Sporting was put through its paces at leafy Ravenwood Sporting Clays in Headland, Alabama. Three trap machines per station delivered challenging presentations across the wooded, rolling terrain, in addition to the multi-level, covered five-stand that included wobble trap.
Matte black sideplates with gold clay targets gave the F.A.I.R. Racing Prestige a contemporary look.
We encountered the new-gun stiffness when loading shells, but was impressed at the lack of felt recoil from the 1⅛ ounce loads of 1200 feet-per-second. At a hair over seven pounds, the shotgun was balanced between the hands, enabling smooth and consistent swings punctuated by an easy, predictable trigger.
F.A.I.R.’s Racing Prestige Sporting is a moderately priced shotgun with no unpleasant surprises. It shoots where you look, shoulders nicely and bestows a predictable and consistent experience. In fact, it’s a very friendly shotgun that will break enough clays to make you feel good at the end of the day.
Irwin Greenstein is the publisher of Shotgun Life. You can reach him at contact@shotgunlife.com.
Useful resources:
The F.A.I.R. competition shotgun web page
Irwin Greenstein is Publisher of Shotgun Life. Please send your comments to letters@shotgunlife.com.
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