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Universal HPX Perazzi

Universal HPX Perazzi

Called the Universal HPX Perazzi model by John Jeffries with 33” barrels. Like the Churchill, it is an English-inspired, long-barrelled, variant of the famous Italian gun. But, this month’s test is rather different when you compare it to the Churchill Perazzi – making this, especially for me, an interesting comparison. I like to explore the subtleties of modern gun design and where the important stuff comes out – the devil is always in the detail…

Significant Inch

O.K. Where do we start? The 1” difference in barrel length between this and last month’s 32” gun or, indeed, John’s own and well publicised 34” HPX Perazzi is more significant than you might think. The absence of joining ribs also gives the Universal an entirely different feel to more conventionally spec’d guns. It does not end there, as it’s not built on the fixed lock, MX12-type action like the Churchill, but rather, upon the classic MX8 drop lock. This, frankly, has always been my favourite Perazzi action, especially when it is combined with leaf springs as is the case here. It is also available in a coil spring variant although it does have the potential disadvantage of being a little wider to the rear and requiring more wood to be cut out of the stock.

The MX8 is, nevertheless, a brilliant design and much copied, not least by Kemen and James Purdey and Son amongst others. The latter using the generic Perazzi pattern as manufactured by Perugini and Visini (ex Perazzi employees) in association with Purdey as the basis for their new Sporter model. The Purdey gun for the record is 60% English-made (action, monobloc, and extractors) now, mostly in their factory in Hammersmith. It is interesting to note that our most famous firm under the guidance of Steve Murray, a very old friend, have also put several years work into refining the design. I hope they make money from the project, but the R&D budget has been huge, though, happily, it has resulted in a stylish and good shooting gun.

Time and Effort

The Purdey Perazzi story is relevant here too, because John Jeffries has spent a lot of time and effort refining his own long barrel Perazzi guns over the last few years as well. I should declare that I have had some modest input into them, as indeed, I have in the case of the new Purdey! Many years ago, moreover, John was the first man to come up with the idea of a long-barrelled dedicated sporter. He never gets enough credit for this. So, let’s put the record straight. If you shoot a 32” sporter – it has a lot to do with John Jeffries.

In the 1980s, I campaigned, fairly successfully with one of his DG2 Perazzis (bought off ex-BBC cameraman and very fine sporting shot – John Rosenberg – a committed Browning man). DG stood for Diamond Guns, John’s old company. The guns usually came with a set of 30 and 32” barrels and an unusual stock and rib design of John’s creation. I sold the 30” tubes, concentrated on the 32s, and won a fair few competitions with that MX8-based gun until someone shot the tip off the barrels in a flush! Kemens and my trusty Beretta 303 came after…

Multiple Applications

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Anyway, in those days, John Jeffries was primarily interested in clay shooting; today they have broadened into game as well. Though he still enjoys breaking clays and, indeed, runs his own clay club. Let him explain his new gun and just how it came to be named: “I called it the Universal Game, it has 33” barrels being 1” shorter than the HPX – my high bird 34” model – which is now quite well known. The shorter barrel length allows for a slightly, but significantly, lighter gun still affording great pointability and steadiness. One can address the tall birds with confidence but you can use the gun closer in on a conventional driven bird day too, or even for grouse or early season partridge. It also has an application for clay pigeon shooting too…” 

First impressions were really good – both aesthetically and in the handling department. The test gun was an SC3, scroll-engraved semi deluxe model and especially attractive. It felt nicely balanced in the hands with first class pointability. I am sure John will not be offended if I note that I preferred it to his 34 incher – which is still a great piece of kit (and which is in fact, John’s preference). It was just that bit lighter (hitting the scales at 7lbs 14oz). In particular, it pointed fabulously well and also moved with comparatively little effort.

Winning Specifications

The barrels show standard Italian proof for 2 3/4” (70mm) cartridges, and have a tapered, slightly raised rib, as noted. The bore dimensions are a fairly conventional 18.4mm (one might be tempted to increase this to 18.6 or 7 which John says is as usual with his guns, an option). Chokes on the test gun were fixed at half and half. Teagues or Long Briley chokes are also an option. The action is classic low profile Perazzi type sharing debts to both Woodward and Boss. There are stud pins at the knuckle. The bolting is classic Boss with draws and wedges on the action walls/monobloc (which lock together as the gun is closed), and half-moon projections to the rear dovetailing in the action face with bolts coming down over them to lock the mechanism down. The trigger is inertia-operated and the quality of pulls excellent.

The gun had John’s trademark pistol grip with palm swell and a short ramped, well tapered, sighting rib as discussed. I am not normally a fan of palm swells, this one felt comfortable though, as did the subtly tapered comb. Stock dimensions on the test gun were 14 ¾” for LOP – the industry standard. The comb was unusually high however with a rear dimension well under 2”. But, bear in mind, that this is a bespoke gun and you can have whatever you want – so all the dimensions are pretty academic, though they are a window into John’s thought process to a degree.

Shooting Impressions

The gun shot exceptionally, I did not miss anything on the sporting layouts and towers at Fennes, but, I did miss a few, strangely, on the skeet to begin with which is unusual for me. Then, I realised that I was shooting in front; long barrels reduce the perception of lead and that was most evident here with these considerable tubes. What of the rest? Trigger pulls were excellent and felt recoil was low. The Universal is ideal for medium to long range work, and I am sure that I would adapt to the close stuff quickly too. Let me end by noting that a lot of extra work goes into this gun. John likes to meet every client personally and give them a fitting before taking the order. He also completes the stock finish himself and hones the trigger pulls on every gun that goes out with his name on. You can tell that I am genuinely impressed – this is a very good gun.

We Reckon:
• A superb example of something good made even better
• The long barrels might take a bit of getting used to for some disciplines
• Expensive no doubt; but consider what you are getting at the end of the day…

PRICES: £13,650 as tested (£8,550 standard gun)

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  • Universal HPX Perazzi - image {image:count}

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  • Universal HPX Perazzi - image {image:count}

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  • Universal HPX Perazzi - image {image:count}

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  • Universal HPX Perazzi - image {image:count}

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  • Universal HPX Perazzi - image {image:count}

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  • Universal HPX Perazzi - image {image:count}

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gun
features

  • Name : Universal Perazzi HPX
  • Model : Universal Game
  • Action type : MX8 detachable lock leaf spring
  • Calibre : 12-bore
  • Chamber : 2 ¾” (70mm)
  • Proof : Standard Nitro
  • Barrels : 33”
  • Rib : short ramped – long ramp also available – both 11-7mm taper
  • Weight : 7lbs 14oz.
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