Shotgun Life | The Best in Wing and Clays Shooting

Archive: February 2026

Benelli’s New Models for Super Black Eagle 3, 828U, M2 Field and Ethos

Thursday, February 26, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: benelli, benelliethos, benellim2, benellisuperblackeagel3

In a sweeping set of announcements in January 2026, Benelli expanded and enhanced their Super Black Eagle 3, 828U, M2 Field and Ethos.

828 U Supersport

Developed as the ultimate over/under clay-crusher, the 828U SuperSport A.I. is built around Benelli’s Advanced Impact (A.I.) barrel technology— a decisive advancement that delivered tighter shot strings and patterns with up to 50 percent deeper penetration and increased velocity compared to conventional shotgun barrels. The result is unmistakable authority, even as targets stretch distance, speed, and difficulty.

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Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 A.I. — Expanded Sub-Gauge Line, Enhanced Controls

Thursday, February 26, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: 28gaugeshotguns, benelli, semiautomaticshotguns, superblackeagle

January 2026, Accokeek, MD — Benelli’s Advanced Impact (A.I.) evolution continues to gather momentum in 2026 as the Super Black Eagle 3 A.I. lineup expands with new 28-gauge models, new camouflage offerings, and purposeful operational enhancements. Built for demanding environments and uncompromising performance, the latest SBE 3 A.I. updates reinforce Benelli’s leadership in modern waterfowling shotguns.

Benelli’s Advanced Impact barrel technology has established a new benchmark in shotgun performance, maintaining higher pellet density while delivering increased velocity and penetration compared to conventional barrel designs. From open water to tight timber, and from first light to final shot, A.I. technology delivers decisive results—on both clays and birds alike.

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Longthorne’s Woodward-Inspired Foxcote Gets More Firepower

Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Written by Irwin Greenstein
Categories: Shotguns
Tags: 28gauge, featured, foxcoate, longthorne

First introduced by Longthorne Guns in 28 gauge, the Foxcote over/under pays tribute to Foxcote House, an 18th-century country estate in the village of Ilmington, England noted for the owner’s shooting parties dropping in by helicopter.

Now, the English gunmaker has upped the Foxcote’s firepower by adding a 12 gauge – certainly more apropos of us mere mortals for downing the plump high-flying pheasants of that lovely country manor. The 12 gauge continues the design and shooting principles of the growing Foxcote family.

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ALPS OutdoorZ Launches the New DU Legacy Waterfowler’s Bag

Monday, February 23, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #alpsoutdoorz, #duckhunting, #ducksunlimited, #fieldbag

For those seeking a classy field bag with premium performance, the new ALPS OutdoorZ DU Legacy Waterfowler’s Bag should be on their radar. From the blind to the hunt club, this exceptionally designed bag will be the talk of the hunt camp. 

The Legacy Waterfowler’s Bag is constructed from weatherproof waxed cotton, high-quality leather, and antique brass hardware and zippers. The attention to detail and elegant design will not only exceed the visual expectations of hunters but are built to stand up to the elements with robust construction. The final complement of well-designed internal and external storage will allow for outdoorsmen to keep their hunting accessories properly organized, protected, and stored.

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Federal Premium Introduces 28-gauge Heavyweight TSS Turkey Shotshells

Friday, February 20, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #federalpremiumshotgunshells, #tssshotgunshells, #tungstenshotgunshells, #turkeyhunting, #turkeyhuntingshotgunshells

Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS Turkey Loads with advanced buffering material are now available in two new 28-gauge loads: 2.75-inch with 1.25 ounces of No. 9 shot (1,100 fps); and 3-inch with 1.5 ounces of No. 9 shot (1,050 fps).

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A Fine Matched Pair of Woodward Side by Side Shotguns

Monday, February 16, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life
Categories: Shotguns
Tags: #connecticutshotgunmanufacturingcompany, #csmc, #galazanguns, #matchedpairshotguns, #woodwardshotguns

Major Malet Peyton Phelps was born in 1869 to Lieutenant General Arthur Phelps of Edgbaston, Birmingham. Lieutenant General Arthur Phelps had a distinguished military career, including serving under Lord Ripon.

Malet Peyton Phelps followed in his father’s footsteps and in his own right, had a distinguished military career serving as the Senior Major, the second-most senior officer, in the Sherwood Foresters 1st Battalion in 1911. During the outbreak of World War I, through various reorganizations, the Sherwood Foresters could be found on the Western Front, Malta, and Egypt. Fortunately, Major Malet Peyton Phelps survived the great war and lived until 1951, when he passed away at the age of 82.

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The Exquisite Famars Abbiatico & Salvinelli Shotguns

Thursday, February 12, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: Briefs
Tags: #famarsabbiaticoand salvinellishotguns, #famarsshotguns, #fineitalianshotguns

Famars Abbiatico & Salvinelli is one of Italy’s most prestigious fine gun makers, based in Gardone Val Trompia, the historic gunmaking valley in Lombardy — the same region that gave rise to Beretta and many other celebrated Italian arms manufacturers.

Few brands can rival the craftsmanship and artistry of Famars Abbiatico & Salvinelli. With a rich history dating back to the early 20th century, these Italian shotguns are renowned for their exquisite designs, precision engineering, and exceptional performance in the field. Let’s take a closer look at what sets Famars shotguns apart from the rest.

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RETAY Launches Gordion Gamekeeper Edition Shotgun at 2026 NWTF Convention

Thursday, February 12, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #retaygordiongamekeeper, #retayshotguns, #turkeyhunting
Gamekeeper

Easton, MD – RETAY, a leader in innovative firearm design, is proud to announce the official launch of the Gordion Gamekeeper shotgun. This highly anticipated addition to the Gordion lineup will debut at the 2026 National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Gordion Gamekeeper is engineered specifically for the dedicated turkey hunter who demands reliability and loves Mossy Oak. Building on the proven Gordion platform, the Gamekeeper Edition incorporates specialized aesthetics and performance upgrades tailored for the modern turkey hunter with a premium cerakote finish receiver and a Mossy Oak Original Bottomlands camo stock and forend.

“The Gordion has already established itself as the best-in-class inertia shotgun for price point and performance,” says Michael Narus, VP of Sales and Marketing for RETAY. “With the Gamekeeper Edition, we’ve listened to our turkey hunting community to deliver a timeless Mossy Oak look and feel on the best turkey shotgun platform on the market.”

Key Features of the Gordion Gamekeeper Edition:

  • Inertia Plus™ Bolt System: RETAY’s world-class system that prevents “bolt-bounce” and ensures the shotgun is always in battery, providing ultimate peace of mind when the shot of a lifetime presents itself.
  • Deep Bore Barrel™: Precision-drilled barrels (not hammered) that ensure perfectly straight bores and consistent, dense patterning for long-range ethical shots.
  • Enhanced Ergonomics: Over-sized bolt handle and release for easy operation with gloved hands.
  • Easy-Load/Unload Magazine: A specialized flat-loading gate designed for fast, snag-free reloading in the field, and quick unloading feature
  • Interchangeable Choke System: Includes a full suite of chokes, including a specialized turkey choke optimized for heavy-weight shot.

About RETAY: RETAY is located in Easton, Maryland, and is the premier manufacturer of high-performance firearms. RETAY, known for their deep bore dilled barrel, factory lengthened forcing cone, patented “Inertia Plus™ bolt system”, and limited lifetime warranty. RETAY continues to push the boundaries of firearm dependability and accuracy.

Banshee Brands Inc.
PO Box 281
Easton, MD 21601
P: 800-977-5749
www.bansheebrands.com

ALPS OutdoorZ to Introduce 3 New Products at the 50th Annual NWTF Convention

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Written by Shotgun Life Staff
Categories: News
Tags: #alpsoutdoorz, #nationalwildturkeyfoundation, #NWTF, #turkeyhuntinggear

New Haven, Mo. – ALPS OutdoorZ continues the legacy of turkey hunting innovation with the introduction of Mossy Oak Greenleaf products at the National Wild Turkey Convention held Feb. 12 – 14 in Nashville, TN. The roster of 3 products will be led by the new flagship, the Traditions Turkey Vest, while being complemented by the new Summit Seat and Turkey Tote accessories.

“With the exercise of renewing our ALPS NWTF Turkey Collection for the 50th Annual NWTF Convention, we turned our focus to a strong but manageable new turkey product lineup for 2026,” comments Adam Brune, Product Development Manager. “While all three products are sound, we are probably most excited about the new Traditions Turkey Vest. Our team enjoyed the challenge of developing a modern take on a timeless look.”

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