12 Gauge Fabarm Lion H68

It was four below freezing when we arrived at the farmers gate in the South Waikato to shoot Parries. The wheels crunched through the frozen puddles as we drove across the frozen paddock and parked under a big Macrocarpa. The ice was shorting the electric fence with bursting sparks in the dim-light; click, click, click... We layered on every item of clothing we could find and the four of us walked out to find out exactly where the birds were sitting and to put the birds up and away. Hundreds of Paradise ducks sat on a newly planted grass paddock where maize had grown only weeks earlier. The farmer had called a few days earlier with a plea to give them a good hurry up; we were only too happy to oblige! We set up a camo net on simple poles as ducks circled close overhead. Big flocks were trying to land as I slotted in five rounds of 3 inch, no. 2 steel cartridges into the Fabarm; Note it will take 5 + 2 rounds with the mag extension of 2 ¾ shells plus another in the breech.

I was keen to test the fibre optic sights in the half light but I would have to wait for the late evening shot... "Absolutely no shooting until all the birds have gone," was Steve Campbell's explicit words. Long time shooting expert Steve Campbell shoots ducks by the hundred so we were not ones to argue. The theory is that a single shot will quickly educate the many ducks that were in the air that this is not a safe place to be. This method gave us much better shooting during the whole day as pairs and small groups returned to feed. As the big mobs slowly dispersed and disappeared we set up some seating behind our basic screen of netting and looked out to a set of about 40 Parrie silhouettes. The swollen pistol grip fitted nicely as I pushed the bolt release button (located on the LEFT side) smoothly slamming the first round home. The soft-touch finish of this Italian semi-auto offered good grip, even with gloves on and the trigger guard curves nicely away allowing it to rest comfortably when carrying it over your forearm (but tucked under your arm) with a load of other gear to carry. I used the clip-on sling when duck shooting a couple of weeks earlier, a nice little extra feature.

The first ducks were soon to arrive with just a few calls from Steve having them dropping like dive-bombers onto the silhouettes. Dean took out the first with a nice snap shot showing he doesn't spend all his time behind his retail counter at Te Awamutu! We all took birds (thanks to Steve leaving us a few!) out to forty metres and more with the Fabarm having the edge when larger mobs arrived, being a semi-auto against the others using underovers and quicker than the pump that Owen was using. An extra shot or two means more fun shooting and after all, that's what it's all about. Paradise ducks are more of a goose than a duck and substantially bigger than your average mallard. We used BB's and no.2's in steel and also tried 2 ¾ lead in 3's. It's fair to say that the Fabarm H68 actually LIKES shooting steel. I say this because it appears from consistent kills that it patterns best using steel with the Xtreme range choke (full choke) and the Long-range choke (improved- modified) which I had in for the day. The Short range choke (improved-cylinder or open) and the Medium range (modified) I feel were too open for steel, however I have plans to test pattern several different brands and types of ammo onto paper as there appears to be vast differences in patterning. The Fabarm H68 is a special gun in that it has been exclusively commissioned by the distributor, NZ Ammunition, for the demands of steel shot field use here in New Zealand. It can safely be used with tighter chokes using all steel loads including the 3" magnums that I was putting through her.

They have done this by using a new internal choke tube, trademarked as HP (hyperbolic profile) which replaces the conventional straight internal conical section with a hyperbolic curved profile inside a lengthened tube. They say that this creates a more gradual restriction and it appears to work a treat. The barrels are internally chromed and 28 inches long. They overproofed as well so they are stronger for the high pressures of steel plus they have another patented system they call Tribore. This is an over-bored section near the muzzle (18.8mm) thinning down gradually (18.4mm) to enhance patterns while maintaining high velocity, essential for steel shot. You won't find any warnings stamped onto the tighter chokes of this weapon! As the duck tally mounted we laid the bodies out flat amongst the decoys. This made the Parries come in even better, as any circling ducks above us would otherwise only see the thin profile of the silhouette cut-outs. I feel that the natural colours also work well but we soon learned that with limited cover it was more effective to call less. This is because if you call to incoming ducks they will look straight at the source of sound, taking their eyes off the decoys set out the front. If they are suspicious and circle, then they would circle us and notcircle the decoys. There is now a solution that I am going to have to try! I have been told it works so well you can sit out WITHOUT ANY BLIND at all! It's done using an electronic caller but with a difference. What you do is; place the unit or speaker out with your decoys and use the handheld remote to play the appropriate calls.

The theory is that when the birds are heading your way they will be focused on the sound and right on your decoys. When they circle they should be going around your decoys and right in front of your hide! A.J Productions have one with an interchangeable sound card for Mallards or Parries (www.huntingadventures.com) and an amplifier or you can use the Cass Creek caller with booster speaker (www. broncos.co.nz) and there may be others available as well. Even if you are over water it is better to place the caller away from your maimai or rig up in a hollow decoy (that you're not going to shoot!) with the unit or speaker inside. Makes a lot of sense to me. Now, where was I? Back to the Fabarm. The H68 is a gas operated semi that instead of the usual exhaust valve uses a unique piston that works like a break to adjust the speed of the bolt. Called a "Pulse Piston" this polymer insert is claimed to give faster cycling and reduced recoil. What I can say is that the recoil is far less than whenshooting my old under-over and everyone that shot with it agreed that it was nice and soft to shoot. Another advantage is that it is a breeze to clean without the usual exhaust valve. After several boxes of different ammo types and brands the H68 never missed a beat.

For me the fit was not quite right and I found it shot a little low but as this was just a test gun rather than a bought one I just aimed a little high! However, it can be tailored to fit with the stock-drop shims available for heel adjustment and removable 10mm stock length spacers all supplied with the gun. When buying any shotgun have it fitted for you at the time of purchase or take it to a good gunsmith to have it adjusted if it needs it. When hunting mate Owen had a few shots, it fitted him like a glove and he hit almost everything he aimed at. Trouble was, once we swapped guns, it was a fair while before I could prise it back from his cold clamped-tight-shut hands! At about $2000 recommended retail price (add $200 for the Wetland camo finish) and complete with a tidy ABS Cordura covered case, carry sling, soft touch stock, tough anti-corrosive finish, 4-choke tubes, stock spacers, magazine extension and the ability to shoot full choke steel magnum rounds the Fabarm H68 will be very hard to beat!