25-Sep-2026
Rizzini occupies an unusual place in the UK gun trade. Ask most shooters to name an Italian over-and-under, and they will say Beretta, then Browning (who are Belgian-Japanese, but never mind), then perhaps Perazzi. Rizzini rarely makes the first three, and yet walk into any well-stocked gun shop from Cornwall to Inverness, and you will find a rack of them, and the staff will often tell you they are the best value guns in the building.
This guide is for the shooter searching for Rizzini shotguns in the UK who wants to understand the range: the difference between the entry-level BR110 and the BR220 and BR440 above it, where the Artemis and Aurum sit, and why the Round Body Regal is the Rizzini that serious game shooters ask about. It also covers what to check when buying used and how the guns compare with the Berettas and Brownings they are usually cross-shopped against.
Which Rizzini? Battista, Emilio and Fratelli
A word of clarification first, because the name causes confusion. There are several gunmaking Rizzinis in the Val Trompia, and they are separate businesses. The guns in this guide are made by Battista Rizzini, usually written B. Rizzini or Rizzini B. on UK listings; they are the mid-priced over-and-unders and side-by-sides you will find at most dealers. Fratelli Rizzini is a different firm making very expensive, best-quality guns and double rifles in tiny numbers. Emilio Rizzini guns were sold in Britain in the 1990s and 2000s and still turn up used. If you see a Rizzini listed at a price that seems either implausibly low or implausibly high, check which Rizzini it is.
Battista Rizzini’s guns are built around a low-profile boxlock action with a Boss-style bifurcated lump locking system, and the range is tiered by grade of finish and, further up, by action type. Every model shares the same basic mechanical DNA, which is why the entry-level BR110 has a reputation for reliability that belies its price.
Browse: All Rizzini B shotguns · Rizzini BR110 · Rizzini Round Body · Beretta 686 · Browning B525
BR110: the entry point
The BR110 is Rizzini’s volume seller and the gun most UK dealers use to compete with the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon I and Browning B525 at the affordable end of the over-and-under market. It comes in Field, Sporter and, in some years, Light and Small Gauge versions, with a plain coin-finished or lightly engraved action, a single selective trigger, ejectors and multichokes as standard. Walnut is the plain, practical grade you would expect at the price.
What you get for the money is a gun with the same action as the more expensive Rizzinis and the same barrels, built to a slightly less lavish standard of finish. In the hand, it is a touch slimmer than a 686, and many shooters find it points more naturally. It is available in 12, 20, 28 and .410, and the 20-bore BR110 is a very popular first game gun in Britain. On the used market, it is where most Rizzini listings sit and where the best value is found; a two- or three-year-old BR110 Sporter with multichokes is one of the cheapest routes into a proper Italian competition-capable gun.
Browse: Rizzini BR110 · Beretta 686 · Browning B525 · Fabarm Axis · Zoli Z-Sport
BR220 and BR440: the same action, better dressed
Move up to the BR220, and the mechanics do not change, but the presentation does. The action carries scroll engraving, the walnut is a grade or two better, and the fit and finish is noticeably tidier. It is the Rizzini for a shooter who wants the value and handling of the BR110 but a gun that looks the part on a smart-driven day or a sporting layout. In the UK, the BR220 is offered in field and sporting configurations and is a common alternative to the Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon III and Browning B525 Grade 3.
The BR440 sits above that with higher-grade wood, more elaborate engraving and, in the sporting versions, a more competition-oriented specification. Some BR440 models have side-plates that give the gun the look of a sidelock at a fraction of the price. It competes with the Beretta 687 EELL at the affordable end and Caesar Guerini’s mid-range guns, and for a buyer who wants a handsome, well-finished Italian gun without paying for a name, it is a persuasive choice.
The point to hold onto across all three BR models is that you are paying for finish, not function. A BR110 and a BR440 will shoot the same and last the same. Decide how much the appearance matters to you and buy accordingly; on the used market the difference in price between the grades narrows considerably, which makes a used BR440 an especially good buy.
Browse: Rizzini BR220 · Rizzini BR440 · Beretta 687 · Caesar Guerini Summit · Miroku MK60
Artemis and Aurum: the game guns
The Artemis and Aurum are Rizzini’s dedicated game guns, and they are the models most British game shooters encounter first. The Aurum is a light, fast-handling field gun with a gold-inlaid game-scene action and good walnut, offered in 12 and 20-bore and in a Light version that is particularly popular in 20-bore for walked-up shooting and grouse. The Artemis is the more elaborate of the two, with fuller engraving, better wood and a slightly more traditional look; it is the gun for the shooter who wants something with a bit more presence in the gun bus.
Both are built on the same reliable action as the BR series, and both are noticeably slimmer and lighter than the sporting models, which is exactly what you want for a long day carrying a gun and snap-shooting at driven birds. If you are cross-shopping a Beretta 686 or 687 Field, an Aurum Light 20-bore is well worth handling alongside them.
Browse: Rizzini Aurum Light · Rizzini Artemis · Beretta 687 · Browning B525 · Caesar Guerini shotguns
Round Body Regal: the one to aspire to
The Round Body is where Rizzini moves from good value to something special. Instead of the squared-off boxlock action of the BR series, the Round Body has an action with the lower edges rounded into the stock in the manner of the classic English round-action guns, which makes it exceptionally comfortable in the hand and gives it a lithe, elegant profile. Rizzini offers it in several grades, of which the Regal and Regal de Luxe are the best known in the UK, with deep scroll engraving and exhibition-grade walnut.
In 20 and 28-bore especially, the Round Body Regal is a superb game gun: light, quick, beautifully balanced and finished to a standard that stands comparison with guns costing far more. It is not cheap by Rizzini standards, but measured against a comparable British or Spanish round-action gun it remains excellent value, and on the used market a well-kept Round Body is a gun that holds its value. If you are searching for a Rizzini RB Regal or Regal de Luxe, this is the model to prioritise, and small-bore examples are the ones to move quickly on.
Browse: Rizzini Round Body · Rizzini BR550 side-by-side · Beretta SL3 · Caesar Guerini shotguns · Perazzi shotguns
Buying a used Rizzini in the UK
Rizzinis are well made, and there is nothing exotic to worry about, so the usual checks apply. Make sure the action closes with the top lever slightly right of centre, look for play between the barrels and the action face, and check the ejectors throw evenly. Bores should be bright and the barrels free of dents; the monobloc construction is robust, but a dropped gun can still damage the tubes. On multichoke models, ask whether the full set of chokes and the key are included, because replacement Rizzini chokes are not always easy to find quickly.
Identify the exact model from the action marks rather than the listing title, because UK sellers sometimes describe a BR110 as a “Rizzini Sporter” without the model number, and the grades are worth different sums. Check whether the gun was sold through the official UK importer, which makes servicing and spares easier. Finally, look at the stock: Rizzini walnut is generally sound, but the finish on older guns can wear at the grip and the fore-end, and a re-finish is a cheap improvement to a gun bought at the right price.
Browse: All Rizzini B shotguns · Rizzini BR110 · Rizzini BR440 · Gun parts and accessories · Safes and cabinets
Frequently asked questions
Are Rizzini shotguns any good? Yes. Battista Rizzini guns are well regarded in the UK trade for reliability and value, built on a proven low-profile boxlock action that is shared across the range. They are commonly recommended as an alternative to the Beretta 686 and Browning B525 at the affordable end, and the Round Body models compete with far more expensive game guns.
What is the difference between the Rizzini BR110 and BR220? Mechanically nothing. The BR220 has a more elaborately engraved action, better-grade walnut, and a higher standard of finish. Both shoot and handle the same, so the choice comes down to how much appearance matters and the price gap on the day.
Which Rizzini is best for game shooting? The Aurum Light in 20-bore is the popular choice for walked-up and driven days, with the Artemis a step up in finish. For a shooter who wants something special, the Round Body Regal in 20 or 28-bore is the pick of the range.
Is Rizzini the same as Fratelli Rizzini? No. Battista Rizzini (B. Rizzini) makes the BR-series, Artemis, Aurum, and Round Body guns covered here. Fratelli Rizzini is a separate firm making best-quality guns and double rifles at a very different price. Emilio Rizzini guns were imported in earlier decades and appear on the used market; check which maker a listing refers to before comparing prices.
Browse Rizzini shotguns on Rightgun.uk
From a used BR110 Sporter as a first competition gun to a Round Body Regal for the season’s best days, Rightgun.uk lists Rizzini shotguns from UK dealers and private sellers in one place. Explore the Rizzini B listings to compare models, gauges and asking prices, and if you have a Rizzini to sell, a dedicated UK shooting marketplace puts it in front of buyers who already know what the name means.
Further reading: Caesar Guerini shotguns compared, Beretta 686 vs Browning B525, Best side-by-side shotguns in the UK by budget, Best shotguns under £1,000 in the UK and Buying your first shotgun in the UK.
