The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris showcased not only the remarkable skill and precision of the world’s top shooters but also highlighted the exceptional shotguns they used in the quest for Olympic glory. This post takes a closer look at the shotguns that made all the difference in clinching those medals.
Olympic Gun and Cartridge Rules
Any type of smoothbore shotgun may be used for Olympic Skeet and Olympic Trap shooting, provided that it does not exceed 12 gauge, is a semi-automatic or pump action shotgun, or has a camouflage finish. You may use a shotgun that is smaller than a 12 gauge, however 12 gauge is the most commonly used.
Cartridges must not exceed 24g and the pellets must be made out of lead or a lead alloy and must not be larger than 2.6mm (shot size 6) in diameter. Coloured wads are prohibited, only transparent or translucent wads may be used.
A full list of the rules and regulations can be found in the ISSF Shotgun Rules Book.
Customisation and Personalisation
Customisation is a significant aspect of competitive shooting. Top athletes often modify their shotguns to optimise performance, including adjustments to the stock for a better fit, and fine-tuning trigger mechanisms.
The stock is the most notable part of the shotgun you will see that differs from standard models. You will often see custom stocks on athletes’ shotguns to ensure that the gun fits perfectly and mounts the in same position every time (click to find out more about gun fitting) – Manuel Ricardo is one of the companies that fit custom stocks for Olympic Athletes such as Lucy Hall and Sebastien Guerrero.
You will often find small stickers on the bottom and sides of the stock. These are ISSF competition inspection stickers to show that the equipment has passed inspection.
Winners of the 2024 Paris Olympics
| Position | Medal | Name | Country | Shotgun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Trap | ||||
| 1st | 🥇 | Nathan Hales | Great Britain | Beretta DT11 |
| 2nd | 🥈 | Ying Qi | China | Beretta DT11 |
| 3rd | 🥉 | Jean Pierre Brol | Guatamala | Beretta DT11 |
| Women’s Trap | ||||
| 1st | 🥇 | Adriana Ruano Oliva | Guatemala | Beretta DT11 Black |
| 2nd | 🥈 | Silvana Stanco | Italy | Beretta DT11 |
| 3rd | 🥉 | Penny Smith | Australia | Perazzi High Tech 3 |
| Men’s Skeet | ||||
| 1st | 🥇 | Vincent Hancock | United States | Beretta DT11 Black Pro |
| 2nd | 🥈 | Connor Lynn Prince | United States | Beretta DT11 |
| 3rd | 🥉 | Meng-yuan Lee | Chinese Taipei | Beretta DT11 Black Pro |
| Women’s Skeet | ||||
| 1st | 🥇 | Francisca Crovetto Chadid | Chile | Beretta DT11 |
| 2nd | 🥈 | Amber Rutter | Great Britain | Beretta DT11 Black Pro |
| 3rd | 🥉 | Austen Smith | United States | Beretta DT11 Black Pro |
| Mixed Skeet | ||||
| 1st | 🥇 | Diana Bacosi Gabriele Rossetti | Italy | Beretta DT11 Beretta DT11 Black Pro |
| 2nd | 🥈 | Vincent Hancock Austen Smith | United States | Beretta DT11 Black Pro Beretta DT11 Black Pro |
| 3rd | 🥉 | Jiang Yiting Lyu Jianlin | China | Beretta DT11 Beretta DT11 |
The Winning Shotguns of the 2024 Paris Olympics
Beretta was the standout manufacturer this year, with its guns clinching all bar one of the medals! Perazzi was the only other manufacture to see one of its guns on the podium.
The Beretta DT11
The Beretta DT11 (in one model or another) has proven to be the standout shotgun of the Olympics, clinching all bar one of medals across the shotgun shooting disciplines, further reinforcing its title of “the most victorious shotgun ever”.
This over-and-under shotgun features a robust cross-bolt locking system and thicker receiver side walls (+3 mm) which enhances stability during swings. Its wide, well-shaped extractors ensure consistent and efficient shell ejection. The DT11 also boasts an interchangeable forend washer for a perfect barrel-to-forend fit, and interchangeable barrel locking shoulders.
A nickel-based surface finish provides exceptional durability. The shotgun’s components are meticulously balanced for optimal swing and pattern distribution. The adjustable trigger makes it possible to get the perfect finger placement and the B-Fast® system allows you to adjust the weight and balance of the gun.
Its Steelium® Pro barrels ensure smooth ballistics, reduce recoil and muzzle rise, and deliver perfect, dense patterns with all types of ammunition (including lead, steel, and High Performance Steel). The barrels are made from beretta’s exclusive tri-steel (consisting of Ni, Cr, Mo) and go through deep drilling, cold hammer forging and vacuum stress relieving. In Steelium® Pro 30 inch (76cm) barrels the length of the triple cone is extended to 450mm.
The Beretta DT11 Black Pro
Just like the DT11, the DT11 Black Pro has increased sidewall thicknesses to enhance stability whilst swinging, an interchangeable washer on the forend which guarantees a perfect fit with the barrel, a nickel finish which is highly resistant to corrosion, and Steelium® Pro barrels with interchangeable chokes.
Where the Beretta DT11 Black Pro does differ from the standard DT11 are the black finishes that alternate between matte and glossy, the addition of two removable muzzle weights, and the choice between fully adjustable Skeet, Trap, and Sporting stocks developed in conjunction with TSK. This stock is 100% made in Italy with CNC machines. The bridge, grip, and comb are super light (the Skeet stock weighs 750 grams, the Trap weighs 850 grams, and the Sporting weighs 940 grams); to help balance the gun Beretta’s B-Fast Balance weight system can be fitted. To further help with the overall weight and balance of the shotgun the ribs on all models are made from carbon fibre.
Perazzi High Tech 3
Perazzi was the only other manufacturer to have a shotgun win a medal at the Olympics this year. The High Tech 3 (shot by Penny Smith who won bronze in the Women’s Trap event) is described by Perazzi as having “a resolute and innovative character” with a “sporty and futurist look”.
Available in 12 bore only the Perazzi High Tech 3 can be customised with a range options from: flat or coil springs in the removable trigger group, High Tech (HT) design, adjustable, standard, or custom stock, and barrel lengths from 27 9/16 inches to 31 ½ inches. You can even adjust the rib between three heights.
