01-Sep-2026
Few names carry the weight in competition shooting that Perazzi does. The Brescia gunmaker has been supplying Olympic and world-championship winners since the 1960s, and its guns occupy an unusual position in Britain: revered on the trap and sporting layouts, occasionally misunderstood everywhere else, and traded second-hand with the seriousness normally reserved for classic cars.
The range can be bewildering from the outside. MX8, MX2000, MX12, High Tech, HPX, MR57: the naming has evolved over sixty years, and models overlap. This guide sets out what each is for, who buys it in the UK, and how to think about the choice if you are browsing listings rather than commissioning a gun from Botticino.
What makes a Perazzi a Perazzi
Two things, mostly.
The first is the detachable trigger group. On most Perazzi over-and-unders, the trigger assembly drops out of the action, which makes servicing straightforward and lets a shooter carry a spare to a competition. Coil-spring and leaf-spring variants exist across the range, and shooters have strong views about both.
The second is the fitting philosophy. Perazzi is built around the idea that the gun should be made to the shooter rather than the shooter adapted to the gun. Stock dimensions, rib configuration, barrel weight and balance are all specified rather than assumed. That is why so many used Perazzis come with unusual stock dimensions; they were cut for someone specific, and why buying second-hand rewards patience and, ideally, a session with a competent stocker.
Browse the full Perazzi section to see what is on the market in the UK at the moment.
MX8: The benchmark
The MX8 is the model most people picture when they hear the name. It is the gun that built the reputation on the trap and skeet layouts, and it remains the default recommendation for anyone wanting a competition Perazzi without overthinking it.
It suits the shooter who wants a proven, mechanically simple, endlessly serviceable competition gun. Parts and gunsmith familiarity are widespread in Britain, which matters over a long ownership. Configurations vary enormously; trap, skeet, sporting and game variants all exist, with different rib heights, chokes and barrel lengths, so two guns wearing the same name can handle very differently.
If you are choosing between the two obvious rivals in the range, our MX8 vs MX2000 comparison goes into more detail. Current stock sits on the Perazzi MX8 page.
MX2000: The evolution
The MX2000 family took the MX8 concept and modernised it, revised rib and barrel arrangements, updated stock geometry and, in the S variants, changes aimed squarely at the sporting discipline. It is generally the choice of the shooter who wants the Perazzi handling with a slightly more contemporary feel and a fractionally different balance.
In the UK the MX2000 and MX2000S turn up regularly in sporting clays circles. Second-hand examples often represent a sensible middle ground: newer than most MX8s on the market, without the premium attached to the flagship models.
See the Perazzi MX2000 listings for what is available.
MX12: The game gun
Where the MX8 and MX2000 are competition guns, the MX12 leans towards the field. Lighter barrels, game-orientated stock dimensions, and a configuration intended for driven days and rough shooting rather than a hundred birds on a Sunday layout.
British game shooters who want Perazzi build quality in something they can carry all day tend to arrive here. It is worth noting that plenty of shooters happily use competition Perazzis in the field and vice versa, but the MX12 is the one designed for it. Have a look at the Perazzi MX12 page.
There is also the MX20, the 20-bore expression of the same thinking, which suits smaller-framed shooters and anyone drawn to the renewed enthusiasm for 20-bore guns in Britain. Current listings appear on the Perazzi MX20 page.
High Tech: The modern flagship
The High Tech is Perazzi’s contemporary competition platform, developed with adjustments to weight distribution and barrel design intended to reduce felt recoil and steady the gun through the shot. It has become a common sight at the top end of UK sporting and trap competition.
Buyers typically come to the High Tech from an MX8 or MX2000, looking for the extra refinement rather than a first Perazzi. It commands a premium new and holds it well used, which is why “Perazzi High Tech price” is one of the more frequently searched phrases around the brand. Availability changes constantly; check the Perazzi High Tech page.
HPX and MR57: The newer arrivals
The HPX develops the High Tech thinking further and sits at the sharp end of the competition range. Numbers in Britain are smaller, so listings are worth watching rather than waiting for. See Perazzi HPX.
The MR57 is the one generating the most curiosity right now. It is a distinctly modern take on the Perazzi competition gun, and comparisons with the High Tech come up constantly among shooters trying to work out where it sits. Our MR57 guide covers the model in more depth, and the MR57 over-and-under listings show what has come to market.
MR57 or High Tech?
This is the live question in British clay shooting at the moment, and the honest answer is that it depends on what you are trying to fix.
Shooters who love their High Tech and shoot it well have little reason to change. Shooters drawn to the MR57 tend to be after its handling characteristics and its more contemporary approach, or are simply curious about the newest thing Perazzi has done. Both are exceptional guns, and neither will hold you back.
The practical advice is unglamorous: shoot both if you possibly can, at a ground, with your own cartridges, before you spend. A gun that suits your build and your style is worth far more than a gun that suits someone else’s.
Buying a used Perazzi in the UK
Stock dimensions matter more than usual. Many used Perazzis were fitted to their first owner. Budget for the possibility of alteration, and check there is enough wood to work with.
Establish the trigger type. Coil or leaf, and whether a spare group comes with the gun.
Check the barrel configuration properly. Rib height, choke arrangement, forcing cones, and barrel length all vary and all change how the gun shoots.
Ask about round count and servicing. These are guns built for high volumes, but a competition gun that has shot a quarter of a million cartridges deserves an honest conversation.
Look at the whole market before deciding. Perazzi values reward comparison. Our guide to pricing a used gun covers the general principles, and what is my gun worth is useful if you are selling as well as buying.
Frequently asked questions
Which Perazzi is best for sporting clays? The MX2000S and the High Tech are the usual answers, with plenty of shooters doing very well indeed with a sporting-configured MX8. Fit and rib preference matter more than the badge. Our guide to trap, skeet and sporting explains how discipline shapes the choice.
Is a Perazzi worth it over a Beretta or Browning? It depends what you value. A Beretta DT11 or a good Browning will win competitions in the right hands. Perazzi’s appeal is the bespoke fitting, the detachable trigger and a particular feel through the shot that its owners find difficult to give up.
Are parts and servicing available in Britain? Yes. Perazzi has a long-established presence in UK competition shooting, and gunsmiths familiar with the marque are not hard to find, particularly around the major clay grounds.
Should I buy new or used? Used, for most people. Depreciation on a Perazzi is gentler than on almost anything else, and the second-hand market gives you access to configurations that are no longer built. New makes sense when you want specific dimensions from the outset.
Browse Perazzi shotguns on Rightgun.uk
Perazzi rewards the shooter who does their homework. Work out your discipline, be honest about your fit, and then look at as many guns as you can before committing.
See every Perazzi shotgun for sale currently listed on Rightgun.uk, or explore the wider shotguns section to compare against the rest of the market.
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