Bretton-Gaucher G12 Phantom review | Shotguns Reviews

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Bretton-Gaucher G12 Phantom

In this short series on moderated shotguns, Jules Whicker finds the bolt action Bretton-Gaucher G12 Phantom .410 complete with synthetic stock

Made in France by Bretton-Gaucher, the Phantom G12 represents a modern take on the old “garden-gun” concept. Modern, in the sense that it’s available in black synthetic furniture as well as wood, but also because if a handy .410 shotgun has always been an ideal tool for a little discreet pest control, then a fully moderated version is a prudent response to today’s paranoia about everything that goes “bang!”.

Most moderated single-shot shotguns are based on fixed-breech designs, but the G12 is a bolt-action, appearing to share everything but its barrel and the front section of its bolt with Bretton-Gaucher’s rimfire rifles. Indeed, the stock design is more centrefire than rimfire, with a Monte Carlo comb, raised cheek-piece and Schnabel-tipped fore-arm. And though the build may be basic - an injection-moulded body with an integral trigger guard and a hard plastic butt-plate - the matte finish and moulded-in chequering panels nevertheless provide a secure and comfortable grip, internal bulkheads make it stiff, and it even has pillar bedding! All that’s missing really is a pair of swivel studs, but it wouldn’t be hard to fit them yourself.

The action offers a similar mix of centrefire-style features (some cosmetic, such as its butter-knife-style bolt handle and streamlined bolt-shroud, and others mechanical, such as an enclosed bolt face and plunger-type ejector) with economy of construction. Thus the rear section of the bolt, including the handle and shroud, are plastic mouldings, whilst the metal parts are simply shaped and roughly finished. So roughly finished, indeed, that at first it took considerable effort simply to open and close the bolt, though this soon began to ease up with use.

Though an indicator pin protrudes from the bolt shroud when the gun is cocked, there’s no manual safety on the G12, so the manual instructs the user only to load the gun when a target presents itself. Alternatively, you can make the gun safe to carry loaded but uncocked by chambering a round, lifting the bolt handle fully and then squeezing the trigger as you lower the handle to de-cock the action (it goes without saying that you should practise this manoeuvre with an empty chamber first and always ensure the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction.) The truth is that even with the G12 cocked and loaded it is unlikely to go off by accident - though safe handling procedures should always be applied - since the (non-adjustable) trigger is seriously heavy, sending my Lyman gauge off the scale.

The moderator and receiver carry French proof marks, and the barrel is chambered for 3” cartridges, so it will also accept 2” and 2.5” loads, although the extractor disliked the 2” cases and these frequently had to be hooked out by hand. No such problems were encountered with the longer cases, however, and the ejector dealt reliably with anything the extractor got hold of. Moreover, as the action is open-topped, it is easy to see and access any stuck cases.

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Sighting is by means of a brass bead at the muzzle and a broad U-notch at the rear, which is a bit more than you get with most moderated shotguns, and a good idea given the absence of a sighting rib and the importance of centring the pattern on the target to make the most of the modest 9-18 grams of shot thrown by the little .410 cartridges.

Although the gun shot pretty much to point-of-aim over the fixed sights, I fancied something a bit more sophisticated, so I improvised a Weaver mount and fitted a mini red-dot sight, which I was then able to zero. This increased my confidence in being able to make clean kills out to 25 yards. In truth, I had hoped to get a bit more range out of the gun, but there’s no sign of choke in the 15” bore – perhaps to facilitate its use with slugs (which could be interesting – given the right paperwork) - and consequently patterns were rather open.

Because of the short barrel, the moderator measures a bare 24.25”, which makes the G12 the most compact gun in its class at just under 45.5” overall, and light at 5.5 lb. The steel moderator tube shrouds the entire barrel, from which gas is initially taken off via a line of 5 ports located a couple of inches in front of the chamber at 6 o’clock. Thereafter, a series of sprung polymer baffles beyond the muzzle further dampen the report. The moderator is permanently attached to the action so as to keep the gun legal, but the muzzle cap unscrews to allow the baffles to be removed for cleaning. You’ll need a pin spanner for this, however. Unfortunately I didn’t have one to hand, so couldn’t make a closer examination.

Sound reduction with 2” standard-velocity cartridges was very good – akin to an un-moderated spring-powered airgun - and made it possible to use the gun around the farmyard without alarming livestock. I found that 2.5” and 3” standard loads weren’t slowed down enough by the barrel ports to be rendered subsonic at the muzzle, so in order to throw more than 9 grams of shot I had to resort to Eley’s 3” subsonic load, which fortunately proved to be almost as quiet as the little 2-inchers and at least twice as effective.

With ammo, sights and range-testing sorted, I took the G12 after some feral pigeons and squirrels. The ferals have had it easy for too long, since a concrete floor, the presence of livestock and a lack of access to the roofs around the farmyard mean that the risk of ricochets at ground level and of unrecoverable bodies up above makes hunting them with an airgun almost impossible. But with the G12 I could flush them up and shoot them overhead, then wait and have another go when they returned to feed. Disturbance really was minimal, and at the ranges concerned (10-20 yards) the gun killed well.

My next stop was a hawthorn thicket on the other side of the farm. The tangle of branches is so dense that it’s as hard to shoot with an airgun here as it is in the yard. Of course, I could just use a regular shotgun, but the thicket also has a few mature, ivy-covered trees in it that make it a popular stopping-off spot for passing crows and woodies, and I figured the quiet little .410 would improve my chances of making their stop permanent. Sure enough, the Phantom proved to be just the tool for the job: so much so indeed, that even after I had accounted for a couple of squirrels, and a pigeon, a rabbit still reckoned the coast was clear enough to leave its burrow under the hawthorns.

I see the G12 as gun with a particular niche rather than as a general-purpose tool. If stealth is all that counts, then a moderated sub-12FPE air rifle is to be preferred as it’s quieter and cheaper to run, needs no licence, and has a greater effective range, but when quarry has to be taken on the move, or a totally clear shot is hard to come by, then the Phantom comes into its own, delivering the advantages of a shotgun with much less disturbance.

Ideally, I’d like to see some choke on the gun and some swivel studs, and it would be nice if B-G would throw in a basic pin spanner for the muzzle cap, but aside from the initial stiffness in the action there’s little to criticise and much to like, not least the price, which, at £325 for the wood-stocked gun and £295 for the synthetic version, represents very good value.

Technical Specifications
Make	Bretton-Gaucher
Model	G12 Phantom
Mechanism	Single-shot bolt-action
Calibre	.410
Chamber	3”
Overall Length	45 3/8” / 115 cm
Moderator length	24 1.4” / 61.5cm
Weight	5.5 lb / 2.5 kg
Stock	Black synthetic
L.O.P.	14 1/8” / 36cm
Sights	Fixed rear notch and front bead
Accessories	Camo gun slip
Price	£295 Synthetic stock model / £325 wood stock model

All Prices Are Guides Due to the Changes in US & European Exchange Rates

This review has 27 comments

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User Comments

Oops, no choke!
I was just about to order one of these, thank you very much for the review, its the first time I have heard there was no choking, I will look elsewhere shame it looks a little peach!

Comment by: Grant Posted on: 21 Jun 2009 at 11:26 AM
Given the 15 inch bore length and further barrel shroud bringing it up to just over 24 inches is this a Shotgun Certificate .410 or does it require an FAC slot?

Grant - I think that for the sort of ranges that it has been designed for the lack of choke may be best........ .410's with full chokes need to be shot very accurately to connect properly. I am interested, especially if I can put it straight onto my SGC.

Comment by: Ben Posted on: 09 Jul 2009 at 05:05 PM
Hi Ben, I agree, every tool has a job!

At up to fifteen yards on feather this is a lovely gun.

Most people due to the moderator would use small load sub-sonics hence my statement.

Any responsible hunter would avoid using this gun against anything furry - squirrels, rabbits, etc.

P.s. yes this does go straight on a standard cert, Good luck!

Comment by: Grant Posted on: 10 Aug 2009 at 08:37 PM
Umm useful up to 10 or 15 yards!!!, I own a .410 Winchester 3 shot lever action multi choke,with full choke I can kill cleanly rabbits to 35 yards,and hit pigeons in flight,all clean kills,if I put the cylinder choke in I am lucky to get 3 pellets on a tin can,even my 12 bore only has an effective range of 35-40 on game,any more than that range you increase your chance of wounding,I would not touch a cylinder .410 ,I live on a farm and do a lot of shooting,if you are going to get within 10 yards of a rabbit I suggest you use a sling shot....its cheaper!!!!!!!! I recon this is cylinder because the french will use solids

Comment by: Greg Posted on: 12 Aug 2009 at 07:29 PM
Most turn of the century rook & rabbit rifles used to be bored out to .410 to get around the 1920 firearm act, it was the only wasy to legally keep your pride and joy, then of course you could fire what you like, mostly solids, not shot due to their open choking rendering them quite innadequite for hunting with multiple shot.
These rifles were virtually smooth bore in their original state anyway, they had very small rifling due to black powder fouling.
I agree, with Greg's comment this is made in France for their market, using slugs is common in rural France.
I have hunted for over thirty years and believe with a F.A.C. to legally fire solid loads this would be a gorgeous little gun but to fire shot would be limited to very,very close ranges indeed.
You sound new to the sport Ben, welcome,happy shooting!

Comment by: Joey Posted on: 12 Aug 2009 at 08:24 PM
Just to clarify you could keep rook & rabbit rifles after 1920 it just meant you had to apply for a licence, shotguns did not require one, many people wishing to keep their rifle without licensing restrictions or did not meet the licensing criteria had no option but to smooth bore their weapon.

Comment by: joey Posted on: 12 Aug 2009 at 08:51 PM
like reading your comments about the g12 phantom 410 would like to no where to get one. thanks. leicester area

Comment by: chris brotherhood Posted on: 18 Sep 2009 at 02:57 PM
The Bretton-Gaucher Phantom is imported by T. & J.J. McAvoys tel. 01257 426129 www.guns.gb.com

Comment by: Pat Farey Posted on: 21 Sep 2009 at 10:03 AM
this gun is only good for short range 5m at the most it is desigened for solid slugs.

Comment by: toby Posted on: 28 Sep 2009 at 10:05 AM
So to recap this gun has no choking?
its a cylinder bore gun :S

If it was full choke I would definately get one but with little or no choking it will drop the effective range considerably :(

Mind you, it does remind be of the world war 2 DeLisle Carbine used by the british commando

Anyone who has got one, can you please tell me some idea of range of this gun?
Would I be looking at 10 yds, 20 yds or 30yds?
(Dont start moaning that .410's are useless at 30yds...I do know how they perform from a full choke barrel...)

Thanks in advance for serious answers...

Comment by: Kevin Posted on: 09 Jan 2010 at 09:56 PM
i shoot a norica .410 full choke 2 +1 bolt action . i use 3 inch ely 19 g no 6 or no 5 for rabbits and pigeons , very good patern at 10 , 15, 20 yards,kills instantly, at that range , but bit hit or miss after 20 yards so a true cylender between 15 and 20 yards tops ,ideal for rabbits in hedge row ,

Comment by: martin Posted on: 23 Jan 2010 at 08:11 PM
could it be back bored to improve the choking?
might be a stupid question, but might be worth asking.

Comment by: G. Parke Posted on: 12 Feb 2010 at 11:12 PM
i have just got 1 of these little 410s i found the bolt only needed to be cleaned up with a bit of emery to make it real smooth have tested it with about 100 shots at all sorts of targets and found that the pattern was quiet tight at 15 yard at twenty five yards it is only about 18 inches round this is with fiocchi 9 gram 2and a halfs the problem i had was it fired to high about 9 inches at15 yards itook of the barrell and placed 1 washer under the back mount on the barrell and 4 washers in the seating of the stock this lifted the barrell enough to get it on targeti have shot and killed a crow at about 35 yards will try 18 gram cartridges and let u know in the future great fun 4 the money thanks to t@j j mcavoy for a swift return with the plastic handle on the bolt as it was second hand and the bolt handle was cracked and only 6 pounds

Comment by: ed Posted on: 04 May 2010 at 03:05 PM
Hi I have had mixed feelings about buying a bretton gaucher phantom but last summer in crop of barley flanked by a public footpath, dual carriageway, house and a common just couldnt get enough rabbits with my air rifles so decided to give one of these a go for 2012 ( i dont want to usemy 12 bore ) so i am eagerly waiting for delivery to my rfd, my question is what red spot scope is used in the test and what are the advantages i understand how the scope has been mounted

thanks John

Comment by: John Posted on: 09 Dec 2011 at 08:33 PM
H John,

the sight was mounted to a short Weaver rail using a longer screw of the same diameter as the one that holds the rear sight in place and kept tight with a dab of loctite under the rail so it didn't slip sideways in use.

It wouldn't be hard to make up a rail of this sort, but if I remember correctly I used one from a set of Weaver bases for a Savage 110 that I had in my spares/accessories box. The screw was similarly scavenged from a set of scope rings!

Happy shooting!

Jules

Comment by: Jules Posted on: 12 Dec 2011 at 09:01 AM
I forgot to say, the red dot sight was a cheap Chinese clone of the Docter sight, but there are lots of better versions, and any low-profile red dot will do just fine.

Best,

J.

Comment by: Jules Posted on: 12 Dec 2011 at 09:02 AM
hi cant decide between the G12 and the single 410 hushpower i have been looking at reviews for both but stil cant decide. it will be used on rabbits mainly

Comment by: darren Posted on: 06 Feb 2012 at 07:20 PM
G12
Pros: Compact, light and well-balanced, better sights than most, looks like a CF rifle, comes with a gun slip, cheaper than the Baikal.
Cons: no choke so reduced range, action requires running in, heavy trigger.

Baikal/Hushpower
Pros: good trigger and smoother action, more choke in the barrel gives greater range.
Cons: longer, heavier and not quite so well balanced, less intuitive/precise sight picture.

Conclusion.
Overall, the G12 is a handier package and cheaper, so you've got to decide whether the extra 5-10 yards of range the Baikal gives you is worth the extra cost and weight.

Comment by: Jules Posted on: 06 Feb 2012 at 08:15 PM
Hi i am pleased with my g12 i had a problem on one of my permissions where i just couldnt use my air rifle to get rabbits when the barley reaches a certain height and my 12 bore would be to noisy. this is where the g12 comes in although i find the bolt a little stiff and you need to get a little spanner made up (simular to an angle grinders) to enable you to clean the baffles, a very quite shotgun to which you can add a red dot scope to if you wish to, a good gun and i like the looks of it, i havent put many cartridges through it so cant coment on reliability i paid 200 for it second hand and i think that was good value for money! i would like to try a cartridge with 8 shot as there are more? pellets and a better/ fuller pattern??

Comment by: jOHN Posted on: 06 Feb 2012 at 08:45 PM
I have owned one of these for over 2 years, found it to be very quiet and accurate, haven't noticed any difference in range over my previous 4.10,s

I have had no problems at all with it and taken all the usual 4.10 quarry , pigeons, rabbits, crows, etc

I would recommend it without any hesitation.

Comment by: bob Posted on: 25 Apr 2012 at 06:30 PM
Just got one of these second hand from McAvoys (A wood stock version) and have had a few days to test.

When I was at McAvoys I looked at both the synthetic stock version and the wooden stock version - I ended up with a second hand, mint condition wood stock version which just seems to feel much more substantial.

Proving to be brilliant with Ely 3" Sunsonics for night time bunny bashing fitted with a small 120 lumen Ultrafire 501 lamp with a red lamp. ( I use a standard clamp which fits the barrel perfectly) Bunnys dropping clean at 25 yards with the subsonics no problems.

Have also taken out Magpies around the farm building - generally upto 20 yards - Again with the Ely subs they are very quite and drop the birds first shot.

Having had put a good number of cartidges through this gun I am confident that it will shoot cleanly to 30 yards (maybe 35 yards if the conditions are ideal)

Proving to be such a good little gun the 12 gauges are feeling a bit redundant at the moment.

Hope this helps and good shooting !

Comment by: Andy Posted on: 28 May 2012 at 10:25 PM
I have a 410 Baikal Stealth, and a Bretton and Gaucher, as I have permission at Equestrian centers, that require a silenced gun.
Both are very effective , I bought the Baikal first, and it has proved a very good
reliable vermin gun, but, its takes a good bit of getting used to as far as aiming goes. This is because of the silencer, where the little brass bead
is in the usual place , on top of the barrel/silencer, which makes you aim
a touch low, and enough to make you miss .
If you buy one of these , just blot the target out with the front of the barrel, and at 25-30 yds youwont go far wrong.
2" Eley carts, are not throwing enough shot, 3" subsonics, are effective but noisy. 21/2" are the compromise, fair amount of shot (for a 410)
and like an unsilenced air rifle.
Even the guy at the gun shot could not believe the 21/2" were quieter than the subsonics, until we tried both, and he was astonished.
Bretton and Gaucher, i took a "flyer" on one of these, after reading about "only fifteen yard range" etc etc;
Well, what a load of rubbish, its every bit as good as the Baikal , just as quiet, kills nicely (rabbits), at 30 mtrs, and is a 100% more aimable due to the reduced barrel diameter, and a front and rear sight.
Tried cornflake boxes at 30yds (rangefinder) both put very similar patterns into the boxes.
The Bretton goes everywhere with me, its just more portable.
WARNING; I would only recommend using FIBRE, catridges with both of these guns, as plastic seems to leave much more debris inside the barrels. (My experience only).
Have fun.

Comment by: Bignij Posted on: 16 Jun 2012 at 08:19 AM
I agree entirely with the review above i also use my bretton at a equestrion centre and use two and a half cartridges with 6 shot but anybody used 7 or 8 shot on rabbits? i might go the whole hog and use magnums only for the increased shot load, i also find that easy kills at 25-30 yards

Comment by: JOHN Posted on: 16 Jun 2012 at 01:07 PM
The Bretton even took a pidgeon , on the wing at 35 yards, this very afternoon. Astonishing little gun.
And do you know , the bird never complained about being brought
down clean by a single barrelled .410.
Any one want to buy some 12g 's going cheap?

Comment by: Bignij Posted on: 19 Jun 2012 at 01:14 AM
Andy, John, Bignij,

I'm really glad to hear you're getting on so well with your Brettons.

As regards killing ranges, my estimates were based on patterning on paper with the specific gun and cartridges I had available, and my field shooting was done well within what the paper tests suggested was the maximum range so as to maximise the chance of clean kils with a comparatively unfamiliar gun.

The test gun didn't throw tight enough patterns for me to feel confident hunting with it at more than 25 yards, but if your gun and cartridge combination does, that's excellent.

Good hunting!

Comment by: Jules Posted on: 19 Jun 2012 at 10:47 AM
I have a G12 Pantom,
ive had it for about 2 years now, i got mine second hand but was like new. i was having a problem with the cartridge sticking in the chamber after it was fired, at the time i was useing Hull 2 1/2, 11gms shot 7. i changed to Eley 2 1/2" and 3" and it ejects every time no problems. My son now uses it when we go out, he hits rabbit and squirel's at about 25 yards. overall ive found it to be a good gun and i realy enjoy going out with it.

Comment by: john Posted on: 03 Nov 2012 at 07:53 PM
Ive shot eley, fiocchi and winchester cartridges through mine and never had a problem with cartridge ejection wont be bothering with 2.5 cartridges when ive used the last ones as they dont sound any quieter than the 3inch subs?? and im getting cleaner kills with the threes

Comment by: John Posted on: 03 Nov 2012 at 11:36 PM

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