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Breda Shotgun Barrels
The Best Shotgun Barrels In The World
Breda is unmatched in the art and science of barrel production - Our shotgun barrels are the foundation of our excellence.
What sets a Breda "Precision Drilled" shotgun barrel apart from the rest?
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Breda’s sporting competition shotguns, semi-automatics for hunting, and over-and-under models are among the most cherished firearms by competitors and hunters worldwide. The common thread uniting all Breda shotguns is the exceptional attention to detail in the design and production of our renowned barrels—crafted through a proprietary, months-long process that profoundly enhances both the shotgun’s performance and its overall value.
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Ballistic superiority - expertise drawn from advanced military production and testing.
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Metallurgical knowledge - superior barrel harmonics produced by our “Acciaio Breda” alloy.
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Mechanical precision - accurate and careful machining and meticulous processing.
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Chemical expertise - advanced treatments that ensure lasting durability.
We Begin With The Finest Steel for Breda Shotgun Barrels
Every barrel used in Breda’s semi‑automatic and over‑and‑under shotguns is crafted from our proprietary Acciaio Bredatri‑alloy steel. Acciaio Breda was developed to exhibit specific chemical and physical properties that — after drilling and precision processing — produce superior ballistic patterns. This premium raw material requires extended lead times because of our natural aging process and the repeated, rigorous inspections needed throughout production; it therefore demands precise, organized planning.
Our Quality Control department evaluates, identifies, certifies, and tracks incoming materials before directing them to the various stages of shotgun barrel production.
The Cutting, Drilling, and Machining Processes Are Completed In House.
Our shotgun barrel manufacturing continues with cutting the Acciaio Breda round‑bar stock to length, followed by a time‑intensive deep‑bore drilling operation that forms barrel tubes to our exacting specifications. This deep‑bore drilling—combined with our specially formulated steel—yields a highly elastic, high‑performance barrel free from detrimental surface tensions and molecular irregularities. Because of this process, there is no need for secondary “stress‑relieving” treatments that only attempt to mask deficiencies created by production methods that prioritize speed and cost over quality and precision.
Production then proceeds through a series of internal and external mechanical operations on the chamber, forcing cone, barrel core, and choke. The barrel is finished with a honing step using porous ceramic inserts, known as “stones,” which polish surfaces to minimal roughness and a mirror‑like finish. Our time‑intensive honing process was developed specifically for Acciaio Breda, ensuring smooth pellet formation, optimised velocities, and superior patterning characteristics.
Binding and Welding of the Shotgun Barrels
Our team of skilled artisan barrel craftsmen meticulously bind the rib and tenon to the barrel, by hand taking extreme care to avoid creating tensions that could cause damage during the oven welding process. The barrel ribs of Breda's shotguns are welded using our specially developed method of “Castolin Welding”. Our process uses a specially formulated alloy composed of silver, copper, zinc, and tin with a melting point that does not interfere with the barrel's molecular structure, thus preserving the elastic properties that create Breda’s desired barrel harmonics.
Hand-Finishing The Shotgun Barrels
Our painstaking barrel‑creation process concludes with final hand finishing by experienced craftsmen. These barrel artisans possess deep technical expertise passed down through generations of tradesmen. This last stage includes fine‑tuning the barrel tube, surface polishing, external finishing, and additional treatments such as bluing and internal chrome plating. The dedication of our artisan barrel department ensures that Breda’s over‑and‑under, semi‑automatic sporting, and hunting shotguns deliver superior accuracy, shot velocity, and pattern density.
Final Testing and CPI Certification
In the final step, every Breda shotgun barrel is sent from our factory to the Italian National Firearms Proofing House, where independent Italian state authorities test each barrel to ensure it exceeds Italian and European Union pressure‑test standards. After a successful proof, the barrels receive the Proof House marks as well as the CPI stamp. This critical third‑party inspection is performed on all Breda shotgun barrels before they are released for sale to the consumer market.