The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Perazzi
MX8

A competition over-and-under with a removable trigger group

MX8 · US

Drawing of a Perazzi MX8 from the right: two vertically stacked barrels with plain muzzles and partly ventilated side ribs, a tapered top rib, a dark boxlock action, one trigger, a walnut pistol grip and a beavertail fore-end.
Drawing: 12-bore MX8 sporting, 31½ in, right side

he MX8 is Perazzi’s competition for , Sporting and .1, 2, 3, 4 It has a removable group.5 All three versions have custom stocks and beavertail fore-ends, and the 20- MX8/20 has a smaller frame.2, 3, 4

The group holds all the firing mechanism except the firing pins.5 It comes out when the safety thumbpiece is pushed beyond its normal fire position.5 Its springs are flat or coil, and Sporting guns have a single selective unit.3 The combination has a spare barrel set designed for -reduction tubes.6

Specifications

12-bore · trap

LockworkRemovable group with flat or coil springs5, 3, 7, 1
TriggerSporting: single selective; selective and non-selective systems available5, 3, 7, 1
Ejectors on the reviewed configuration5, 3, 7, 1
Made inBotticino, Italy8, 9, 10
Introducedby 196811, 12
Bore12-bore
Barrels29.5, 30.75, 31.5 in

2 Compare specifications

Specifications

ConfigurationBoreBarrels, inFore-endGradeMarketsStockFinish
Trap
Trap212-bore29.5, 30.75, 31.5BeavertailMX8Beavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Trap220-bore29.5, 30.75, 31.5BeavertailMX8/20Beavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Trap14, 1512-bore32, 34, 35BeavertailAmerican Trap combo top singleUSBeavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Trap14, 1512-bore29.5, 31.5, 34BeavertailAmerican Trap combo over and underUSBeavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Sporting
Sporting312-bore27.5625, 28.375, 29.5, 31.5, 34BeavertailMX8Beavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Sporting320-bore27.5625, 28.375, 29.5, 31.5, 34BeavertailMX8/20Beavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Skeet
Skeet412-bore26.75, 27.5625, 28.375, 29.5BeavertailMX8Beavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Skeet420-bore26.75, 27.5625, 28.375, 29.5BeavertailMX8/20Beavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action
Skeet1612-bore28.375, 29.5, 31.5BeavertailSkeet comboBeavertail fore-endBlued or nickel plated action

Scroll for more columns.

Identify and date

On a gun sold at auction as lot 544 (serial 51633), the maker’s name and Italian address appear on the left side of the top barrel, above a gold MX8 marking.17, 18 The MX8 Vintage has a case colour hardened frame and a high step .13 The MX2000/8 also has a removable group, but adds an engraved frame and, on the blued version, a gold name.19 Italian proof stamps are on the rear underside of the barrels and on the .20

WhereMarkings
Left side of top barrel on auction lot 544Maker’s name and Italian address above a gold MX8 marking17, 18
Rear underside of barrels and Italian proof stamps20

Proof date

The stamp gives the year of proof. CZ applies up to 31 May 2020, and 20 from 1 June 2020. The later stamp encloses the year’s last two digits in a rectangle.21, 22, 23

Proof date codes

Before you buy

  1. Check the against the configuration: Sporting guns have a removable single selective unit, and the American combination a selector.3, 14
  2. On a V-spring gun, check the detachable spring assembly; the springs can wear and break, and the assembly can be changed.24
  3. On a combination, check that the second barrel set is the one designed for -reduction tubes.6
  4. Find out which arrangement the gun has; Perazzi lists fixed constrictions, constrictions to order and interchangeable .2, 3, 4
  5. Check that an MX8/20 has Perazzi’s smaller frame.2

History

Mattarelli took an MX8 to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.11 To counter heat distortion along the sighting plane in Mexico City, the original gun had a higher and .25 Perazzi overcame V-spring wear and breakage with a detachable assembly that could be replaced.24 Perazzi’s range includes 12- and 20- , Sporting and guns, all with removable groups.2, 3, 4

Sources

  1. Perazzi MX8 shotgun: a true classic, published-configuration. Shooting Times / ShootingUK, 2023-01-10. magazine · Archive
  2. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, olympic-and-double-trap. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  3. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, sporting. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  4. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, skeet. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  5. A close look at the Perazzi MX8 – a blast from the past, trigger-group. Shooting Times / ShootingUK, 2018-08-01. magazine · Archive
  6. Perazzi MX8 skeet combo product page, configuration. Armi Perazzi. maker website · Archive
  7. Perazzi MX8 shotgun: a true classic, trigger-choices. Shooting Times / ShootingUK, 2023-01-10. magazine · Archive
  8. Armi Perazzi: Company and production departments, botticino-factory. Armi Perazzi. maker website · Archive
  9. Armi Perazzi: Company and production departments, departments. Armi Perazzi. maker website · Archive
  10. Armi Perazzi contact address, botticino-mattina-address. Armi Perazzi. maker website · Archive
  11. A close look at the Perazzi MX8 – a blast from the past, results-and-mx8. Shooting Times / ShootingUK, 2018-08-01. magazine · Archive
  12. Perazzi MX8 trap product page, configuration. Armi Perazzi. maker website · Archive
  13. Perazzi MX8 vintage product page, configuration. Armi Perazzi. maker website · Archive
  14. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, american-trap-combo. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  15. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, american-trap-headings. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  16. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, skeet-combo. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  17. Perazzi MX8, Australian Fine Arms November 2025 auction lot 544, lot-544-markings. Australian Fine Arms, 2025. auction lot · Archive
  18. Perazzi MX8, Australian Fine Arms November 2025 auction lot 544, lot-and-serial. Australian Fine Arms, 2025. auction lot · Archive
  19. Perazzi MX8 configurations in the undated general catalogue, mx2000-8-comparison. Armi Perazzi. maker catalogue · Archive
  20. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, shotgun-stamp-positions. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  21. Beretta USA catalogue 2004: National Proof House Year Stamp Markings, proof-year. Beretta USA; PDF hosted by BerettaWeb, 2004. maker catalogue · Archive
  22. Conarmi: Italian proof marks and year codes, code-table. Consorzio Armaioli Italiani. magazine · Archive
  23. Cambio marchio anno di prova, numeric-stamp. Banco Nazionale di Prova, 2020. proof house · Archive
  24. Perazzi MX8 shotgun: a true classic, v-spring-wear. Shooting Times / ShootingUK, 2023-01-10. magazine · Archive
  25. Perazzi MX8 shotgun: a true classic, original-rib-and-stock. Shooting Times / ShootingUK, 2023-01-10. magazine · Archive

Revised