“franchi”

Ever since its recent rebranding, Franchi has offered a variety of over/under shotguns with classic lines, great fit and finish, and excellent ergonomics. The new Aspire, a lovely round-action shotgun available in 28-gauge or .410, is no exception.

Introduced last year at SHOT Show 2016, the Instinct Catalyst and Affinity Catalyst are Franchi’s answer, or some might write “gift,” to women who want guns tailored to their needs.

Franchi has introduced the Momentum All-Terrain Elite bolt-action, a high-mobility, quick-to-action firearm that can be ready anywhere, any time—particularly when a coyote or a hog makes a brief appearance.

For 2023, Franchi has sweetened the Sideplate lineup by adding a pair of new sub-gauge models to the family—the Instinct Sideplate 16-Gauge and Instinct Sideplate 28-Gauge. 

One of the handful of new rifle designs for 2018 comes from an unlikely source—Franchi. The Italian firearm maker is best known for designing affordable and reliable shotguns, and those same principles carry over to the company’s first bolt-action centerfire rifle—the Momentum.

The Instinct features an aluminum receiver is fortified via a titanium insert on the breech face and a checkered forearm and Prince of Wales stock.

An upgrade to the original model, the new 12-gauge Affinity 3.5 sports design features that increase its appeal to the American hunter. It’s dependable, durable and lightweight, and with an MSRP around $1,000 and a seven-year warranty, it’s a shotgun you won’t hesitate to carry into the swamp.

The Affinity is this author’s definition of a bird gun.