Perazzi TAS
Today we are looking at a John Jeffries custom Perazzi TAS – Twin All-round Special. It is an over and under, of course, and comes with two sets of barrels – 34” and 31.” There is a very interesting story to this gun. A long, long, time ago in a land that time forgot – the early 1980s – John, who used to own a firm called Diamond Guns, took the shooting world by storm with a new sort of gun – a 32” sporter. It may seem hard to believe now, but, in those days, people did not shoot with long guns routinely at sporting targets. A few top shots ‘sporterised’ trap guns by opening the chokes and lowering the stocks, but generally, speaking 27, 28 and 30” barrelled guns were the norm.
John changed all that with his DG range of modified Perazzis, these were notable not just for their long barrels, but because of their stock shapes and ribs too. Typically, the guns had quite acutely angled full pistol hands and slightly raised, fairly narrow, tapered ribs. I campaigned with a DG2 for many seasons and won quite a lot of silverware with it until someone shot me in the barrels during a flurry! The shooting position was poorly conceived and they over-swung towards me. I remember the sickening clang, and the tremendous vibration through the gun. Dazed but unhurt, I was left holding a mangled gun (the impact was about 6” from the muzzles). It could have been much worse; I ended up shooting a 32” Beretta semi-auto instead of a 25" Perazzi.
Recently, John, has got back into the gun business - he never stopped running a shooting ground - with a new Perazzi project. The TAS was born out of his concept for a gun specially intended for high bird shooting. This is called the HPX. But, John realised that there was a market for a clay gun too. So, he has offered the HPX with extra 31” barrels better suited for busting pitch disks and for closer live quarry work. Unlike his specially commissioned 34” barrels which are rib-less, these have conventional side ribs, but both sets of barrels have a near identical balance when fitted to the gun (part of the TAS concept). John can also supply his new gun with the 31” barrels only . Why 31” rather than 32? Because he found standard Perazzi 32” barrels unbalanced the HPX 34”gun as originally conceived. He is, however, working on a new HPX dedicated to clay shooting which will have side ribbed 32” barrels with the same sighting rib options - see below - as the rest of the range on a slightly heavier frame combined with a rounded forend design instead of the current Schnabel.
First impressions of the test gun when fitted with 34” tubes are of a very long, quite hefty beast, but one which seems surprisingly lively. It weighs in just over 8lbs, though one might guess less because so much attention has gone into the balance as noted. The plain black action is very much to my taste, although John offers SC3 and SCO engraved versions as well (which offer rose and scroll and game scenes respectively). The HPX and TAS are built around the classic Perazzi MX8 detachable trigger lock action. This is arguably the best over and under yet conceived, and good enough to be the generic base for the new Purdey Sporter (though Purdey build their gun in association with Perugini and Visini two former Perazzi gunmakers who make an MX8 clone of excellent quality).
The original MX8, meantime, is a superb gun. It has great trigger pulls and very strong Boss style lock up (combined with trunnion hinging and bifurcated lumps as seen in Woodward, Beretta and countless other guns today). Perazzi make the MX8 with both leaf and helical springs, but John, wisely sticks to the traditional V springs, which although slightly more fragile offer the best trigger pulls and lock times.
The barrels are monobloc and amongst the best in the business with near perfect joins and lovely, straight, tubes. Perazzi take more care with regulation than just about any other maker. The barrels are 2 ¾” (70mm) steel proofed and equipped with a red blade foresight. John’s pride and joy are his ribs. He spent much blood and sweat in their perfection. Our test gun had a long ramp tapered rib on its 31 barrels and short ramp pattern on the 34s (normally twin sets would be supplied with the same sighting ribs - but this allowed me to try both types). John thinks that slightly raised design leads the eye to the bird. My own preference, though I like John’s ribs, is for flat designs with or without taper and not too wide.
The stock of the HPX is distinguished by it full, fairly open radiused, pistol grip which is relatively slim too. The comb is quite full with a profile, which remains constant where face meets gun, the drop, moreover, shows only a 5mm difference when measure at comb and heel. This helps to keep the sight picture correct for any clothing change from summer to winter ensuring point of aim is also constant. The forend is of Schnabel type (though a rounded forend is planned as noted). Dimensions are academic as John offers a custom fitting service and final adjustment session with every customer who buys a gun (which is included in the purchase price. He also includes a free service after the first year's use. The 'shelf' dimensions on the test gun were 375mm for length with drop of 40mm and 45 at heel. So the stock is nearly parallel and quite high.
Shooting impressions
I enjoyed shooting the HPX TAS with both sets of barrels fitted. It is notable that some of our best shots now use 34" guns, not least, George Digweed (who shoots a Perazzi to boot). The very long barrels - and there are a few 36" guns being made now - certainly seem to make some targets easier - notably driven birds and long crossers. Personally, I think 34" barrels may be too much for most people, but I am great fan of 31 and 32s (another of John's projects is a 7 1/2 pound game gun with ribless 31" barrels). I shoot a 32" 12 bore and a 32" 20 bore these days (the former for clays and some game, the latter, exclusively for game). Long barrels reduce the perception of lead and make it easier to find line too.
We Like
The comfortable stock
The balance
The very pointable, lively, barrels
Tech spec.
Make: John Jefferies Perazzi
Model: TAS
Bore: 12
Chamber: 2 ¾” (70mm)
Rib type: slightly raised short or long ramp
Chokes: fixed with Briley or Teague option
RRP.: from £7,950 with one set of barrels, and from £11315 for the TAS with 2.
