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Fabram Elos

Fabram Elos

Launched at last year’s IWA Show the talk of the event was Fabarm’s new range of Elos shotguns. Just as stylish as their established siblings, they encompass all the familiar values and a selection of their familiar styling cues, yet priced to attract a new generation of shooters to the brand with both game and competition versions.

Bang in a Box

Let’s face it, if you want to reduce retail costs the first thing that has to go is the case, the Elos coming in a rather ornate cardboard box although two cotton gun slips are still included. Fitted with hand-oiled, grade-2 walnut, the grain of what’s best described as a mid tan colour was straight and reasonably pleasing. The fit more than up to Fabarm standards with the familiar angular details around the Schnable forend irons. Nicely chequered and a soft rubber recoil pad rounding off the sporter stock, the entire furniture is more than acceptable.

Extra Large

Boasting Fabarm’s latest trend of being guaranteed to withstand up to 1,630 bar pressures, the steel, box lock action is satin-finished with vestigial acanthus scroll to both sides. The Elos name and grade to the bottom, a simple plain black top lever and oversized manual safety adorns the tang. Internally, the over sizing continues in the shape of the under lug that locks into the groove beneath the lower of the two 3” chambers so holding the 28” monobloc, multi-choked tubes into position. Well struck and properly blacked, they show Fabarm’s internal Tribore over-boring which, along with extended forcing cones, contribute significantly to reduced recoil. Gloss black - so matching the barrels - the more traditional shaped trigger guard houses a neat, chequered, non-adjustable, inertia-driven blade that breaks at a crisp 5lbs 2oz. 

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Bouncy, Bouncy

Shot round 50 of Rishton SG’s sporting birds and loaded up with 28g Express Supremes, the first few stands were less than auspicious. Reason being that although the Elos weighs 7lbs 8oz the muzzles tend to flip between shots so increasing recovery time. The cure was simple either pull the gun in tighter or, since this version is a game gun, fire at the first bird, relax then re-mount as I would do on a pair of driven pheasants.

The physical aspects that become instantly apparent are the stock dimensions, this particular gun having what I consider to be some of the best measurements Fabarm have yet produced. A drop at comb and heel of 1½” and 2¼” combined with a pull length of 14½”, a nicely angled grip with just a hint of palm swell and gentle cast should suit most people. The view down the vented 7 – 10mm rib is classic game whilst the balance point just forward of the hinges allows the Elos to move swiftly and freely, fast appearing birds are quickly acquired to a degree you may find the need to slow down your swing.
Another 50 compact and the Elos characteristics were finally learnt, ¼ and ½ chokes all that were required to make short work of even the longest birds whilst the strength and timing of the ejectors was impressive to say the least. Initially, the Elos is different to shoot even when compared to the already established Fabarm shotguns; this gun is imbued with its own behavioural qualities due to weight distribution influences and the obvious clean sheet of paper they started with. Once determined, the Elos is as competent a 12-bore as any you’ll pick up, the overall sensation being of a gun that should theoretically cost significantly more.

Making the Grade

Whilst embodying many of their technical features Fabarm have seen fit to keep the grade variations well within reach of the buyer, the B-Grade as tested is yours for a recession busting £1,146. That said, for just £94 more you can opt for the slightly more ornate Elos C or £83 less you get the A, identical to the B but with extractors instead of ejectors. Similarly, for those who feel they’d make a difference, the set of four, flush-fit,  InnerPlus chokes can be replaced with their internally curved ‘Hyperbolic’ tubes. 

What makes the Elos particularly interesting is that unlike others, Fabarm’s more economically orientated design has been methodically conceived. A new shotgun in its own right, it looks good, offers potential and doesn’t make the shooter feel subservient perchance they’re stood alongside the owner of the more expensive Axis Elite. OK, the grade 2 walnut isn’t marvellous but the additional application of stock oil over time will improve matters no end whilst the fact it’s a more basis quality actually adds to its strength, durability resilience.

All in all the Elos B is a nice gun, the fact it took a while to get into how it shot was down to me. Once hooked up, it came alive on snap shot targets whilst the balance and weight more than highlighted the fact it’ll be useful on extended walked – ups or those long, late season driven days. Well worth considering and here’s looking forward to trying the competition version.

PRICE: £1,146 srp

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  • Fabram Elos - image {image:count}

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  • Fabram Elos - image {image:count}

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  • Fabram Elos - image {image:count}

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  • Fabram Elos - image {image:count}

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gun
features

  • Name: Fabarm Elos B
  • Calibre: 12 – bore
  • Barrels: 28” over – under
  • Action: Steel boxlock
  • Stock: Walnut Sporter
  • Weight: 7lbs 8oz
  • Chokes: Inner Plus flush – fit multi
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