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Perazzi MX2000-3

Perazzi MX2000-3

Until now most Perazzi shotguns have never been quite right for me regarding fit. As a rule whether trap or sporting they’ve always shot high for me and taken far too long to become familiar with. That was until Perazzi introduced the new adjustable rib MX2000-3, an all-rounder competition trap gun with some serious pretensions towards sporting.

The design idea is nothing particularly new, to a degree that two other manufacturers already have established models, the concept being to make a fully adjustable higher rib gun that errs towards one discipline but can be used for both. Yet where the others have succeeded, Perazzi in my opinion have triumphed, this new longer barrelled 12 bore taking the objective to a new level.

Custom Fit

Delivered in a custom fit Negrini case, buyers will find a complete kit. Besides the gun and velvet slips, a full set of flush fit multi-chokes, two stock keys, a small case with spare firing pins, V springs and rib adjusting tool are complimented by a full, easy to understand instruction book, a tube of Perazzi grease plus one or two other goodies, all in for around £8,650 dependant on specifications and options.

As regards the MX2000-3 itself the look are distinctly Perazzi, dark, well grained, well fitted wood mated to the familiar black, lightly engraved Boss-style action with the model name inlaid in gold. The black theme continues around the top and bottom tangs, short throw top-lever and broad manual safety and trigger guard, only the gold-plated, non-adjustable trigger blade shining out from the slightly sombre, functional exterior. Little if anything differentiates this Perazzi from any of their other competition variants.

The one option this particular gun had fitted was the detachable trigger group. With the gun closed and the muzzles pushed gentle against a firm, soft surface, by pushing the safety – catch forward, the complete group will gently fall into your other hand allowing for quick maintenance, drying and lubrication. A word of warning though, this facility is mainly for the benefit of a gunsmith, not for you to keep fiddling… no matter how fascinating a Perazzi’s legendary triggers might happen to be, so unless it’s a necessity leave them alone and in situ.

Up’s and Down’s

In the case of the MX2000-3, apart from the adjustable stock, it’s the barrels and rib that are of importance. A mid-gloss black with a vented centre rib, the top barrel is fixed choke at Full the restriction Perazzi regard as the definitive second-barrel requirement, the bottom, multi-choked barrel allowing the shooter to choose from matching Full all the way down to a slightly tighter than normal ¼. But it’s what sits atop the 31½” tubes that give this gun its ability to adapt. Pivoting around a central point the 6 – 11mm tapering top rib can be raised or lowered within seconds.

Attaching to posts just above the muzzles and a ramp at the point where the barrels joint to the 3” chambers, by inserting the supplied tool into the small holes and drawing it gentle backwards, the elevation of the rib can be raised or lowered. The basic theory is that in the lowest rib setting the gun will throw a shot pattern of 60:40, the middle position 70:30 with an 80:20 distribution at its highest. The rib can also be set to raise or drop the physical positioning of each end independent of the other, once again determining how the shooter and gun combination will see the target in relation to the muzzles and the position – dispersal of the perceived shot pattern.

Similarly it’s suggested that for each increment you apply to the rib the stock’s comb should be raised or lowered by 2mm by using the supplied spacers. This as I’ve said is the theory but the MX2000-3’s rib and stock adjustments can be set anywhere in between Perazzi’s basic configurations to suit the individual shooter, the only additional accessories you need are someone experienced in gun fitting to assist, a pattern plate and sufficient time to ensure the job is carried out correctly. Apply yourself, do the job right and both you and the Perazzi will arrive at a setting that’s as near perfection as you’ll ever get.     

Fit For Purpose

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My first port of call with the MX2000-3 was Yorkgate GC and shooting instructor Bob Agar. If anyone was going to be able to set this Perazzi up for me to shoot both sporting and trap it was Bob, whilst the amount of time it took impressed the both of us, the gun’s simplicity working with, not against, the shooter.

Dimensionally, the overall weight of the MX2000-3 is an exact 9lbs which can be divided into 4lbs 2oz for the stock and action, the remaining 5lbs 10oz for the barrels and fore-end which gives the MX2000-3 a balance point directly beneath the hinges. This means the gun’s basic weight distribution was ideal as an all-rounder from my perspective. Add to this an excellent length of pull of 15” with a starting point of 1 7/16” drop at comb that’s can be raised an exact 1¼”, a fixed 2 1/16” drop at comb plus a trigger that breaks at a consistent 3lbs 6oz on both barrels and you have the basics of an already well conceived trap gun.

Personally I like shotguns to shoot as flat as possible so the basic rib setting was at its lowest. From there, with the gun mounted for Bob to sight from the muzzles to my right eye, the comb was given a 1½ increment right-hand shift at the front with a 2 increment shift at the rear before moving to the pattern plates plus ten DTL birds and five pairs of sporting. The end result was that for trap the comb needed to be raised 7mm but only 2mm for sporting, the appropriate spacers quickly added or removed.

In all other respects the stock still felt conspicuously Perazzi, slightly larger than others with a still very comfortable though slightly oversized semi-pistol grip and hand filling palm swell complimented by a matching grain Beaver style, Anson latched, trap fore-end all of which have neat, finely cut chequering. 

On The Layouts

But the fit, feel and balance are nothing if the gun doesn’t perform and like all new guns this one still had to prove itself around the layouts. Loaded up with Express World Cup fibres and Supreme plaswads, forty-eight of Yorkgate’s fifty DTL birds were decimated followed by just one less on the sporting, the MX2000-3 balance and heft seemingly transforming target acquisition and the resultant kill into slow motion, the weight reducing the occasional tendency to snatch to a degree its almost imposes a measured fluidity on the shooter’s behaviour whilst the gun’s weight and overall balance meant that virtually all felt recoil was eliminated, the basic fit and angles of the MX2000-3 exemplary in this respect.

Having settled into the Perazzi, the gun emphasized it’s abilities a day or so later over fifty of Rishton SG’s sporting and a further fifty compact, the MX2000-3’s ability to inspire and improve scores once again immediate, highlighting why this model is enjoying success. Already in the hands of some of the world’s top shooters, be it DTL, Double – Rise, Double – Trap, OT and ZZ, the MX2000-3 is turning in championship winning scores whilst the world of sporting will soon be following suit.   

Like No Other

From my own perspective the new 31½” barrelled MX2000-3 is already my shotgun of 2010, Perazzi having redefined the benchmark by which all other competition shotguns of this type will in my opinion be judged. Yes, it’d probably be fractionally better if it was half a pound lighter and yes, I’d take RUAG UK’s advice and have Teague modify the top barrel and have a full duplicate set of flush-fit multi-chokes along and have the gun fully regulated.

On the other hand why not take Perazzi up on their standing invitation to all their customers. Hop onboard a cheap flight to Italy, visit the factory and have your new MX2000-3 built to your own, no extra cost dimension. That said, the temptation to specify barrel selectors, an adjustable trigger-blade along with upgraded woodwork would probably prove irresistible but why not, you don’t buy a gun like this every day, so push the boat out and come away knowing you’ll soon own one of the most unique, high-performance competition 12 bores to be found anywhere.

It’s a given that all Perazzis are for serious shooters but after virtually luxuriating in a month’s albeit temporary ownership of the new MX2000-3, the appeal of this Perazzi was instantly obvious. And if further proof were needed, if this gun had been for sale I could have sold it five times over, a handful of perspective owners ready and willing to hand over the full asking price, testament to this Perazzi’s instant ability to score in anybody’s hands.

PRICE:  £8,650 srp

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  • Perazzi MX2000-3 - image {image:count}

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  • Perazzi MX2000-3 - image {image:count}

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  • Perazzi MX2000-3 - image {image:count}

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  • Perazzi MX2000-3 - image {image:count}

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gun
features

  • Name: Perazzi MX2000-3
  • Calibre: 12 – bore
  • Capacity: 2
  • Barrels: 31½”
  • Action: O/U Boxlock
  • Stock: Sporter
  • Weight: 9bs 4oz
  • Chokes: Fixed Full top, flush – fit multi bottom
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