Fabarm Elos

Fabarm, based in Northern Italy, make a very wide range of over and under, side by side, and semi-automatic guns (they also have a new rifle - the ‘Iris’ - in production). Their products are imported into the UK by Viking Arms of Harrogate who also bring in Merkels, not to mention Ruger shotguns and rifles.

Titanium Finish

Fabarms are typically well styled, and the Elos is no exception, with an RRP of £1240, it punches above its weight as far as aesthetics are concerned. Initial impressions are definitely good.

The lightly scroll engraved, rounded, and (unusually) titanium finished action looks fine. The engraving is sparse but attractive - more attractive than that on many similar guns aimed at this low to mid market slot. I also liked the shape of the trigger blade and the unusual contrast achieved by having a grey action (achieved by the titanium coating), and a black top lever and trigger guard. The trigger blade, forend iron, and safety thumb piece – bar its barrel selector – are all left grey and finished with a titanium coating like the action.

Mounting the gun – which hits the scales at 7lbs. 10 oz. – one notes a distinctly barrel heavy feel, but it feels solid nevertheless and the stock shapes are reasonable. The narrow rib presents a good picture to the eye, and, the small red translucent foresight is not too distracting (though I like metal beads because they do not get easily damaged).

The Elos is built on a strong, CNC produced, action that combines stud pins at the knuckle with a full width bolt. It is not quite as low in profile as a Beretta or Perazzi, but the Elos and other member of its family still manage to look smart (and significantly better than some that use a similar style of action).

Well Figured Walnut

The rest of the gun passes muster too. The walnut stock has more figure than one can expect at the price. Chequering is neatly cut in conventional panels (probably the result of laser technology), and there is a pleasant matt ‘oil’ finish.

The forend is of schnabel pattern and this is combined with a full pistol grip which is not too tightly radiused. The schnabel has a less pronounced lip than many – and is better for it practically speaking (although my preference is for a fore-stock without any protrusion at all).

Overall, the shapes of the stock are adequate, and the dimensions are sensible. Length of pull is 14 ¾” with a plain black pad ( I would guess there is about 14 ½” of wood). Drop is 1 ½” at comb and 2 ¼” at heel (my preference would be for 2 1/8”).  There is slight right-handed cast.

On the mechanical front the Elos presents no real surprises. It has the usual ‘Euro-action’ combining stud pins (which may be replaced by means of an Allen key) for hinging and a Browning B25 inspired bolt biting beneath the bottom chamber mouth. The barrels on the Elos, however, are ‘Tri-bored’. This is Fabarm’s name for a stepped back-bore which constricts towards the muzzles. You might describe it as a form of taper bore, the idea of which goes back centuries, but Fabarm’s development is nevertheless intriguing.

Tribore Barrels

Fabarm have innovated on a number of fronts as was clear to me when I visited the factory a little while back. It is an impressive place making no less than 30,000 guns a year. They run machines 24 hours a day (which may help set off the enormous capital cost of multiple axis CNC). Although their over and under actions are conventional, they have put great effort into improving production processes and they have put considerable effort into their barrel technology.

The Fabarm Tri-bore combines elongated forcing cones forward of the chambers with an over-bore of 18.7mm in the first part of the barrel. By the time one gets to the chokes, it constricts to a standard 18.4mm. The chokes, part of the Tri-bore system, are longer than the norm (something over 3”). They have a long cone which leads into a parallel section (as preferred by most London makers). The makers suggest that triboring results in a better pattern. I have certainly found that back-bored barrels can improve pattern and reduce felt recoil. The test gun seemed to break clays well and recoil was lower than average using Lyalvale 24 gram High Velocity shells (my usual test cartridge).

The Elos’s barrels are monobloc as so many others today, but, they are unusual in several respects. The barrel tubes themselves are made from steel which has been seasoned. They are not hammer forged, as is more common now, but deep drilled. Fabarm claim that this produces less stress in the metal (though I have no problems with hammer forged tubes). The barrels are well presented with solid joining ribs. I did note that the bottom barrel showed a little distortion, probably the result of heat being applied in the assembly process. This is quite common. I often see it in guns costing ten times the price. Chambers are 3” (76mm) as noted and the Elos bears Italian proof marks at the exceptionally high figure of 1630 BAR. This shows that Fabarm have a great deal of confidence in their product and this has been confirmed by the Italian proof authorities.

Shooting Impressions

I have quite a lot of experience of other Fabarm models such as the STL, Axis and clever XLR5 semi-auto. I once owned a Fabarm side by side. These are still made and most unusual in having four lumps instead of the usual two as originally devised by Purdey. So, what was the Elos like to shoot. Honestly? A bit disappointing, but, it has to be said that I have been spoilt lately! The Elos controlled recoil well, but the balance was indifferent and the trigger pulls could have been more refined. Elos offers a lot of gun for the money. Kills on clays were good, however. 

I don’t want to damn the gun with feint praise. The Elos offers value, great styling, and some interesting features such as the titanium plating and the Tribored barrel. Mechanical reliability was perfect. It would be an excellent first gun for game or clays and it would be useful to anyone wanting a workhorse without spending a king’s ransom.

My thanks to Lyalvale Express for supplying the cartridges used in this test.

PRICE: £1,240