NEW! Franchi Catalyst Shotguns for Women

by
posted on January 27, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Most women will rejoice that the Italian gunmaker's new shotguns sport an A-grade satin walnut finish instead of a color typically associated with gender. After all, if a woman is to remain competitive on the clays range or in the field, her gun must command the respect of her peers—men and women alike. But the real news about the Franchi Affinity Catalyst autoloader and Instinct Catalyst over-under is that they truly have been proportioned to fit an average woman's frame. For years women have been adapting to longer and larger shotguns for no other reason than availability, but these new models boast several key dimensions that are truly friendly to women—length of pull, drop at comb and drop at heel—dimensions that make a huge difference in shouldering a long gun and offering a better chance at hitting targets. Look for a complete review at AmericanRifleman.org in coming months, but in the meantime, watch this video from SHOT Show 2016, and check out the shotguns' specifications below. For more, visit franchiusa.com.

Franchi Affinity Catalyst 
Gauge: 12 
Action: Semi-auto
Chambering: 2-3/4" and 3"  
Barrel Length: 28" 
Stock: A-Grade satin walnut  
Color: Black anodized receiver, blued barrel  
Overall Length: 48.5" 
Weight: 6.6 lbs.
Capacity: 4+1  
Chokes: IC, M and F (wrench included)  
Sights: Fiber-optic red-bar front sight  
Length of Pull: 13-7/8"  
Drop at Heel: 1-1/2" 
Drop at Comb: 1-1/4" 
Minimum Recommend Load: 3-dram, 1-1/8 oz.  
MSRP: $999

Franchi Instinct Catalyst  
Gauge: 12 
Action: Over-under  
Chambering: 2-3/4 and 3" 
Barrel Length: 28"  
Stock: A-Grade satin walnut  
Color: Color case-hardened receiver, blued barrel  
Overall Length: 45"  
Weight: 7.2 lbs.
Chokes: IC, M and F (wrench included)  
Sights: Red fiber-optic front bead  
Length of Pull: 13-7/8" 
Drop at Heel: 1-1/2"  
Drop at Comb: 1-1/4" 
MSRP: $1,599





Latest

British Garate Revolver
British Garate Revolver

I Have This Old Gun: British Garate Revolver

World War I, as it would come to be known, rather took most powers by surprise. In 1914, Great Britain, which had not entered into a formal alliance with France and Russia, was expected by some to sit on the sidelines while the others went at it.

Beretta Commemorates 50th Anniversary Of 90 Series Pistol Family

Beretta's popular 90 Series handguns, including the iconic Beretta 92, celebrates 50 years of production in 2025, and to honor the milestone, the company has released a limited-edition variant.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 24, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Ruger & Glenfield: Revisiting The Budget Approach To Firearms

Decades ago, no-frills firearms were offered within the sporting-goods departments of many popular retailers. Does the return of the Glenfield Firearms brand by Ruger signal a return to those days?

Preview: Leupold VX-6HD Gen 2 3-18X 56 mm

Introduced earlier this year, Leupold’s second generation of VX-6HD riflescopes adds not just several additional features to the line but also a versatile 3-18X 56 mm model.

Pietta Revives Its LeMat Revolver Reproduction

Following a hiatus from the reproduction market, Pietta Firearms announced that it has officially reintroduced its LeMat revolver, which replicates the famous Civil War-era design, down to its centrally located shotgun barrel.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.