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Fabarm’s STL Competition - an elegant hard-hitting shotgun

by John McDougall
Australian Shooter December 2012

It has been nearly 15 years since I visited the Fabarm factory in Brescia, Italy, for some insight into how these shotguns are made. Unlike one of the larger Italian gunmakers in Italy, Fabarm conditions its barrel steels by leaving them out in the weather and when ready for production, the barrels are bored out on a boring machine that gently removes the barrel metal. This process is different from others that start with a billet of steel 30 per cent smaller than the finished barrel, which is then hammer-forged on a mandrel, striking it multiple times with 100 tonnes of pressure with each stroke until the desired length is attained.

Which method of barrel making is superior is open to dispute, but I can say without fear of contradiction that I have witnessed on the pattern plate the potential of Fabarm-bored barrels. Indeed, there are few manufacturers that can compare to Fabarm’s Tribore system. This is quite a bold statement I know, but in my experience at the factory and in the field with the latest offering from Fabarm, the STL Competition 12-gauge shotgun, I believe there are few gunmakers who can compare with the downrange hard-hitting properties that Fabarm barrels seem to produce.

At a glance, the STL Competition is quite an elegant looking gun. Fabarm is fastidious about the presentation of its guns and to this end, the stylish sideplates, with their heavy engraving, almost like that found on German guns, are certainly striking. The quality of the woodwork is another eye-catching feature, and the gun itself has a great feel and balance to it.

The barrels
The striking looking 30" barrels were impeccably blued in a medium dark coloring. Unlike those from other manufacturers, such as from Japan and even Belgium, the barrels are not highly polished; instead, they are finished with an extremely fine emery that prevents the barrels from displaying glinting highlights under bright, sunny conditions. This is typical of several Italian gunmakers, and I actually prefer it to the highly polished finishes.

The top rib was tapered, ventilated and finished with an antiglare surface, with an ivory-white front barrel sight and a brass mid-sight. I was amazed that on such a sporting model, Fabarm has not made use of the more popular translucent filament sights, but those fitted to the gun did perform well. The ventilated ribs on the sides of the barrels complemented the corresponding ventilations on the top rib, and the barrels, with their protruding 90mm choke tubes, looked great.

The inside of the barrels was yet another story. Fabarm takes great pride in the manufacture of its gun barrels and the company has gone to great lengths with its Tribore barrels to provide excellent patterns downrange and hard-hitting patterns. The laws of physics might indicate that if you fire a shot projectile from a 12-gauge gun at a given velocity, the shot will hit a steel pattern plate at such a speed as to cause deformation of the shot, indicating how hard the pellets have hit the pattern plate.

But take a Fabarm shotgun and compare it to any other standard gun and you will note the patterns actually hit harder, for the shot is completely flattened. This is attributed to the internal design of the Fabarm Tribore barrel system, whereby the bore is opened to over-bore for maximal velocities and has a very long and gradual taper to the choke tube entrance.

Fabarm’s EXIS HP 92mm choke tubes do not have straight and parallel surfaces. Instead, as the ‘HP’ denotes, they have a hyperbolic profile, which has been found to be superior to straight-walled, parallel sections. I cannot quibble with this latest technology, as the damage at the target end was phenomenal. Clay targets were simply destroyed and quail fell down one after the other during field testing with one shot taken out to 30m through an open choke.

Whatever research and development Fabarm has undertaken with its choke tubes has certainly proved to be invaluable, for the results at the target end were indisputable. Made from high-quality steel, the choke tubes are also suited to high-performance steel shot loads. I was very impressed.

For inherent design reasons, the patterns from the STL Competition not only hit with extremely high velocity, but also with good, even patterns. I am not privy to their detailed design information, but I can assure readers that seeing is believing and I have witnessed such results.

As an extra bonus, the Fabarm STL Competition model is chambered for 3" shells and can be used with high-performance steel shot loads. The gun itself has been proofed to 1630, which is far in excess of the 1320 bar that is demanded by CIP, the international body for the proofing of firearms. This not only indicates the superior quality of the steel used in the barrels, but also Fabarm’s commitment to shooter and hunter satisfaction.

At the chamber end, the gun was manufactured with four lumps on the monobloc to accommodate the highest of pressures while minimising stress and wear. The ejectors were well-timed, and despite the absence of jewel polishing around the monobloc, the gun was well-finished. The barrels weighed in at 3lb 8oz (1.6kg), and the overall weight of the gun was 8lb 4oz (3.75kg). This is heavy enough to soak up recoil from 3" Magnum steel shot loads.

The receiver
My best description of the receiver is that it is stylish, well-engraved without being overdone and very appealing. The rounded edges of the gun’s receiver give it a very attractive presence and its titanium coating provides added resilience. The gilded borders and ceramic inserts with the engraving also provided a very subtle finish to the receiver adornment without being overly done.

The design of the top lever was excellent and very ergonomic in design. It was comfortable to use, positive in its action and well-tensioned for use. I liked the oversized, concave bearing surface and found it very easy to use. The concave surface also appeared to not require knurling or cross-hatching to prevent slipping if using the top lever in a hurry to quickly reload. The grey titanium finish on all of the metal surfaces was very water-resistant and complemented the gun well.

The design of the top-tang-mounted safety catch/barrel selector was also excellent, being positive to activate and well-designed in as much as the barrels could be selected from either the ‘safe’ or ‘fire’ position - this is often not the case with many other makes of guns. I liked the positive feel of the safety catch/barrel selector and found that it did not interfere with my shooting, in that it could not be accidentally activated or moved to a neutral position.

Design of the triggerguard was quite complementary to the style of the receiver, but it was seemingly lacking in size to enable shooters to use thick, heavy or knitted gloves, should they elect to do so. Judging from my own hand, I would suggest that thin leather golfing gloves could be used comfortably, but anything heavier would be a nuisance.

The triggerfoot was well-raked and adjustable to eight preset positions. I was most impressed with the trigger releases, for they were quite smooth to operate and were set at around 3½lb for each barrel. There was a slight amount of travel, but it seemed integrated gradually into the final releases. Overall, the smoothness of the trigger system reminded me that such a feel in a trigger mechanism is generally found on much more expensive guns.

The stock and fore-end
The stock and fore-end were both perfectly matched for grain and color. The quality of the Turkish walnut used was well above what one could expect from a gun at this price. The oiled finish was very appealing and also quite waterproof, as I found out while hunting in the rain. The radius of the pistol grip was quite acute and very firm to the feel, affording excellent control of the gun.

The full palmswell, suited for a right-handed shooter, was excellent and gave a great deal of firmness to the grip of the gun, which is essential for control while mounting and handling recoil. The gun could be well pulled into one’s shoulder, thereby eliminating a great deal of recoil and poor gun mount, especially during second shots.

I was most impressed with the recoil pad fitted to the STL Competition; it was great for mounting the gun, as it skimmed across loose clothing without gathering it. It was also most comfortable when firing the gun, despite using some very high velocity loads around the 1400fps mark.

The fore-end design of the gun was of a Schnabel or tulip style, with plenty of chequering about the belly of the fore-end to enable a good, firm grip. The chequering was most likely completed by a laser-cutting computer-guided machine, as it was perfectly performed with a single border and no overruns.

Within the fore-end was an adjustment screw, which could be tensioned to suit the shooter’s preferences. This adjusted the fore-end catch and made it either tighter or looser to drop the gun’s barrel set. A set of Allen keys in a handy rack were provided for fore-end and triggerfoot adjustments, which was reassuring, as there was nothing more to purchase.

In the field
Readers might already realise that I was immensely impressed by the Fabarm STL Competition. For a gun that is priced at just a little more than $3000, it certainly compares with some of the guns at almost twice its price - now that is a statement!

I took the gun out to my local sporting clays ground on Phillip Island and managed to score a consistent 20/25 each round in a 75-target competition without really getting serious and shooting every target on the ground. On some targets, I would simply bring the gun to my shoulder and release the trigger, and the gun did the rest as if by remote control. Of course, what I am meaning to say is that the STL Competition came to my shoulder so well that it felt as a natural extension of my body. The positive grip from the palmswell and the well-designed pistol grip gave me great confidence, and when I picked the gun up and mounted it, I was fortunate that my eye placed right down the middle of the tapered rib. I could ask for no more.

Fortunately, despite rain and a distinct lack of quail in the area, I managed to bag 12 birds for an afternoon’s session, with the birds absolutely puffed using some No. 10 size reloads I had prepared, along with some Remington factory loads. My best shot was out to 30m. A few other birds were passed up that the dogs chased or bumped up in their eagerness - these dogs are still young and are being trained up. Patterns were very even, with many birds simply falling in a puff of feathers.

Summary
I would have to say that for a $3250 gun, the Fabarm STL Competition was something to seriously consider. I would compare it favourably against guns I have reviewed that have cost several thousand dollars more. It pointed well, swung beautifully and at 8lb 4oz, it certainly soaked up recoil.

It performed well on clay targets and quail. I would also have liked to have ventured out on ducks before the close of the season, but time beat me to it. However, for any shooter who loves pounding clay targets, I can highly recommend the Fabarm STL Competition model. Additionally, for the waterfowl hunter and upland game shooter, the gun would also be an excellent choice.

The Fabarm research and development team has certainly done its homework with this gun, as it hits remarkably hard and punished clay targets with good, even patterns. And with the whole kit fitted into a sturdy aluminium case, I do not believe you can go past the value that is offered by Fabarm.

The STL Competition is distributed in Australia by Raytrade and is offered with a 10-year warranty on mechanical parts. My son has had a Fabarm Wetlands Camo for more than 10 years and I have to say that despite the thousands of rounds that it has fired, we have had little go wrong with it during that time.

Specifications
Manufacturer: Fabarm, Brescia, Italy
Model: STL Competition
Distributor: Raytrade
Action Type: Boxlock bifurcated jointing with a low receiver profile; four lumps on the monobloc and an under-slide locking system
Calibre: 12-gauge, 3" chambered, high-performance steel shot proof to 1630 bar
Barrel Length: 29 7/8" (760mm)
Barrel Weight: 1.6kg (3lb 8oz)
Overall Weight: 3.75kg (8lb 4oz)
Overall Length: 47½" (1205mm)
Chokes: Fabarm’s five EXIS HP (hyperbolic profile) chokes do not fit the standard criteria for constrictions and have their own allocated distance values: Skeet (cylinder); Short (2/10); Medium (5/10); Long (7/10); Extreme (9/10)
Stock: The stock and fore-end were of above-average walnut wood, with well-matched color and grain; both were finished with an oiled finish for weather protection; chequering was completed at 20 lines per inch; length of pull: adjustable; drop at comb: 1 3/8" (35mm); drop at heel: 1 15/16" (48mm)
Warranty: 10 years
RRP: $3250 with five chokes, spanner and manual fitted in an aluminium lockable gun case