doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Opinions of B Rizzini BR 550 round action shotgun

Does anyone own one or has handled one? I'm thinking of getting a 16 GA pistol grip gun. I like the round action from what I see in photos. Any actual experience with one?

I have two 20 gauge BR550's, but the earlier field version with case hardened frames not the round body. No real difference except the frame shape. I really like them but had to make a few adjustments. The guns were a little long for me so I cut the stocks and added 1/2" rubber recoil pads. The stocks are pretty straight so I bent them about a quarter inch for cast off. Keep in mind that these guns have a stock bolt. On a very personal feel. I felt the guns were to stiff on cocking. All the springs are coil so it's unlikely that that they would relieve any with use. I cut a few coils off the hammer springs. I disassembled the ejectors and decided not to clip those springs at that time though they are a bit longer than necessary for reliable ejection.
The guns open a bit lighter and I won't mess anymore. I really do like them. The fit and finish are very good and are light for a 20 gauge with a 29" barrels at 6 pounds 4 oz. The balance is around the hinge pin after my modifications perhaps a bit more forward. They swing well and steady. The choke tubes are a plus and now that the international covid rules are relaxing they are steel capable for the UK and Europe. In general I really like them.

I have a heavy 20 with 30" barrels and pistol grip. Really great guns for the money. Not without flaws. I had to send mine to Utah to fix forend, which was done without charge. I shot mine in heavy rain at Medford one year and when I got home took the stock off to clean and oil, which is a nice feature of a stock bolt gun. It was completely dry inside, which shows the good fit of wood to action. I would love to have this gun with hand engraving and nicer wood, keep the internals as is. It would rival my Dickson RA.

I have one in .410/30". I haven't shot it a great deal, but it hasn't missed a beat in the few hundred rounds I put thru it. As you can see, the checkering is laser cut and the "engraving" is some form of either chem milling or laser, with a few cuts here and there to make it look "real".

I have seen your Dickson RA, Jeff, and it is a very nice gun, so the comparison is very telling, IMO. Wonder could you order a BR550 without checkering, then have it done the way you want it here? That wouldn't deal with the engraving but would add a lot to the wood appearance.

Best to you, Stan

Good to hear from you too, Chuck. Wishing you a good upcoming hunting season.

Chuck your wood is outstanding. A friend , after seeing my BR550 ordered a 2 barrel set 16 and 20 from Gordy and Sons, I think. Anyways, his wood is much better than mine. I am torn between case colored which mine is and the silver, which shows the engraving much better. After shooting a friends .410 even though an O/U, I would like a BR550 in .410, especially with long barrels, what fun to shoot.
Stan, I expect to be coming through your part of the country again in late Jan, hope we can get together, as I owe you a round of clays.

I'll be looking forward to it, Jeff.

Thanks for the pictures Chuck H. The action appears nicely scaled to the .410.

I also had questions on which finish to select when I was looking at the RB O/U guns.
I finally decided on the silver finish as it just makes the engraving pop! I ordered a 28 gauge RB Deluxe with the pistol grip and grip cap and later went back and got a 20 bore RB Deluxe with the sideplates and long tang and grip cap.
I shoot the 20 gauge really well, the 28 not so good. I suppose because it is so light.
I have thought on special ordering a BR550 in 28/410 with a beavertail and 30" barrels, long tang, English grip. Just can't take the leap of faith to do it.

Does Rizzini make 32” barrels for the small bores?