Lincoln Premier game gun in 20 bore

This month’s test gun is a 20 bore Lincoln Premier with 28” barrels. It is, of course, a single-trigger, multi-choke, over and under, and it is brought into the UK by the well respected firm of David Nickerson of Tathwell Limited. David, the nephew of that famous shooting man sir Joseph Nickerson, has been in this business even longer than I have. Shooting is in his blood and his Lincoln range is synonymous with no-nonsense value (though, it might be noted, he has recently added some deluxe models). Nickersons also bring in Demas (from France) and Ugartechea guns (from the Basque region of Spain) as well as all sorts of accessories and air-guns.

All You’ll Need

On with our show. The test gun does not have too many bells and whistles. It does however boast within its specification, gold inlays, 5 multi-chokes and a practical plastic ABS carry case. The Premier weighs in just over 6lbs and is on offer for an RRP of £695 (though expect to pay a bit less in today’s highly competitive market place). Although £695 is not a lot of money by modern standards, you can get a perfectly serviceable Lincoln Basic grade without the gold birds, the plastic case and with only 3 multi-chokes for an RRP of just £595. This is bargain basement money today, all the more when you consider guns which are very similar mechanically may sell for four times as much with more decoration.

First impressions of the test are not bad. Frankly, gold does not usually do it for me on working guns. I am very conservative with regard to decoration and would prefer to see cheaper guns with blued or plain colour case hardened actions. My opinion on engraving, meanwhile, is that I would rather have none, or a very little, well executed, than more extensive coverage of indifferent or average quality. Now with all that said, I quite liked the gold birds on this Lincoln; the pheasant was particularly well executed and I also liked the scroll rosettes - probably applied by laser - around the hinge-pin ends.

A Familiar Italian Action

The action design is very familiar, and made, in one form or another, by at least half a dozen Brescian firms. This gun - like all the Lincoln range - comes out of the FAIR factory (the IR of FAIR standing for Isadoro Rizzini). There is no full width hinge pin, instead stud pins are mounted in the action walls near the knuckle. There is a full width bolt which engages with a bite beneath the bottom chamber mouth in the manner of a Browning Superposed. All machining is competent and the design is fundamentally sound. The action profile is not too deep either. This much copied design works well in a small bore, though it can appear a bit deep in a 12. The top lever was well formed and functioned well, as did the safety and combined barrel selector.

The barrels on the test Lincoln were 28”. They bear Italian proof marks for both 2 ¾ and 3” shells which shows the makers have confidence in the gun; in fact 3” chambers on both 12 and 20 bore guns are becoming the norm. We don’t use that many 3” loads in the UK but they are very popular in US and elsewhere (god knows why though, as there is little advantage to them unless you are using non-lead shot). The sighting rib is ventilated and 6mm wide - the industry standard for a game gun these days. The joining ribs are solid too as suits a game gun. The simple brass bead at the muzzles also got a thumb’s up. It did not dominate one’s vision, but was big enough to be a useful guide to subconscious alignment. Some people have a nasty habit of removing foresights on shotguns - they do this sometimes in emulation of Olympian Richard Faulds who is a wonderful shot and favours a sightless rib. BUT, what works for Richard will not necessarily work for mere mortals. I believe that a bead of some sort is not only useful but essential for most people, provided it is not so big or bright that it dominates your vision and brings focus back to the gun (a good rib design also encourages the eye to focus forward). A bead, properly used, is an important subliminal aid to alignment. I cannot shoot a gun without a bead nearly as well as I can a gun that has one. So, I have got that off my chest.

External finish of the barrels was especially good. Blacking was really lustrous and the joining of tubes to monobloc competent. I was also pleased with the barrel weight – light enough to be lively, but not so heavy as to impede a good swing. Five well machined multi-chokes are supplied with the gun. They are of the concealed type which is the norm for a game gun, though my preference is for knurled-front extended chokes, because they make cleaning so easy.

The Lincoln also scored well in the wood department. The gun is made from plain walnut but the stock shapes and measurements are good. I liked the grip a lot. It’s a full pistol but not too large, nor too tightly radiused and it also has a good even depth throughout its length, which should anchor the rear hand in recoil. The comb profile was good too; it is of true field form and not too thick. The forend was of a Schnabel design and good for its type. Chequering on grip and forend was exemplary (probably cut by laser - a technological boon that has vastly improved the chequering on cheaper guns in recent years). The only thing I did not like about the stock was the sliding forend release catch which didn’t look quite right and was fiddly to activate.

Shooting Impressions

I shot the Premier at the Broomhills Ground in Hertfordshire. The gun shot quite well, but it was let down a little by its trigger pulls which were not especially refined (but which might be modified by any competent gunsmith). Handling and pointing qualities were good. This would make a nice little pigeon gun, it would be perfect for walking up or rough shooting, and it might make a very good starter gun for a young shot (though the stock length might need to be reduced, and the comb raised). The gun offers good value for money.

These Lincolns in 20 bore are an attractive proposition for those who want a game gun without spending a fortune.  The action design suits a 20 especially well. I also note Lincoln offer a 32” version of this gun which is an interesting proposition and a 28 bore/.410 two-barrel combination.

My kind thanks to Lyalvale (Express) for the excellent cartridges used in this test, although of heavier than average 20 bore payload, they performed extremely well with less recoil than expected.

PRICE: £695 (28” and 30” - £725 for 32”)