Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler 12 Gauge, Part One

This is part of what Fabarm USA has to say about their new XLR5 Waterfowler. “If pure performance is the heart of the XLR5, the extensive list of user friendly features are the brains. The oversized trigger guard, safety, magazine cut off and extended bolt handle are purposely designed to allow for full control of the firearm with even the bulkiest winter gloves. The competition bred LR (Long Rib) concept has a top rib that increases the sighting plain by 4” and allows the shooter to see down the rib with a more comfortable head-up posture. To reduce glare we have masked off the top surface of the rib to provide a camo free matte black finish and added a high visibility fiber optic front sight.”

“Water and mud can destroy a shotgun quickly. To reduce the possibility of rust and corrosion the barrel extension and bores are chrome plated. We have also PVD coated the bolt, nickel plated the chokes and covered the external metal surfaces with camo to reduce rust. The synthetic stock is also coated with a Soft Touch camo process to create a rubberized feel.”

Model	FABARM XLR5 Waterfowler
Gauge	12
Operation	PULSE PISTON™
Barrel	TRIBORE HP™
Barrel Length	28" – 30"
Barrel Rib Height	10.4mm
Chamber	3"
Chokes	Inner HP (3) Medium, Long, Extreme and one EXIS DK™ with Kryptek™ camo
Stock	Synthetic
Stock Finish	Kryptek™ Banshee™ Camouflage + Soft touch finish
Length of pull	14.5"
Average weight*	7 lbs.
Case	INTEGRALE™ Case
Proof Test	1630 BAR
Warranty	5 years
Left Handed	Available
Sight	Front red fiber optic
Trigger	Standard
Safety	Oversized
Accessories	Stock and trigger wrench, choke case, friction choke wrench

The tested Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler 28 inch comes well-presented in an included, $110 Integrale hard case, along with four choke tubes. The tubes are a 5/10 (Mod), a 7/10 (Full), and two 9/10 (Extra Full) tubes. As is the case with all Fabarm Tribore barrels, all choke tubes are approved for steel shot. Three of the choke tubes are flush, however one of the 9/10 choke tubes is extended. The extended portion is camouflage-finished to match the gun, a nice touch.

Further, the camo extended choke is marked “Optimized Patterning With Steel Shot.” I have no idea what “optimized” means, of course, no one does, and no choke tube produces anything without being mated to a specific shell at a specific range. As measured by Skeets Bore Gage, the extended choke tube has .002 inch less constriction than the flush tube. What differences between pattern diameter there might be, or might not be only the pattern board can discern. We will find out, though.

Contrary to the published spec, the XLR5 Waterfowler weighs 7-1/2 lbs. on the nose, not 7, and that's likely a good thing for the duck blind. The Fabarm L4S 26 inch weighs 6-3/4 lbs. for comparison. The Waterfowler trigger breaks at about 5 lbs.

Fabarm did a clever thing with the rib, in this case the “Long Rib” that extends on top of the receiver inspired by the popular XLR5 Velocity LR target gun. The top of the rib is black, not camo, and that offers a very crisp reference point in your peripheral vision compared to just an all-camo rib. I'm surprised no one else thought of it, but as far as I know Fabarm is the first. It is just the ticket for those dingy, dusky, misty moments in the blind.

The Waterfowler comes with 28 inch or 30 inch barrels. Even with the tested 28 inch barrel, the gun is a bit muzzle heavy. With the “Long Rib” configuration, I do think that a 26 inch barrel would be ideal, for my applications.

The overall fit, finish, and assembly of the Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler, as you might expect, is superb. The combination of the molded-in but crisp checkering and the softer ('rubberized') overcoat gives the gun a very comfortable, no-slip, solid feel to it.

More to follow in Part Two.

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