Each year during the month of May, a whole passel of hunting and shooting industry manufacturers along with writers and editors who turn out a number of InterMedia Outdoors publications (one of which is Shooting Times) gather at a shooting facility called PASA Park, which is located near the sleepy little farming village of Barry, Illinois. We writers gather there to be introduced to and to wring out a variety of new products, including rifles, shotguns, handguns, optical gear, knives, reloading equipment, clothing, ammunition, and about everything else you can think of. In other words, we have the opportunity to shoot the latest loads in brand-new guns, some of which are wearing scopes that are shown for the first time.

During those five days this year I shot about everything manufacturers brought, and while I would like nothing better than to file a detailed report on each, space limitations simply do not allow it. So instead, here are nutshell reports on guns that either surprised me most or I found most fun to shoot.

1. CZ 550 Safari Classic
The Safari Classic in .505 Gibbs holds the distinction of being the rifle that was most fun to watch someone else shoot. Pushing a 525-grain bullet along at 2,300 fps, the .505 is not a bad cartridge to shoot in a heavy rifle, and while the Safari Classic in that caliber is rated at almost 11 pounds, my built-in painometer indicated it to be much lighter. And it seemed to become even lighter with each squeeze of the trigger.

Wearing nicely figured walnut and express sights, it is a very handsome rifle, and it has a good feel to it to boot. The front sling-swivel post is forward of the forearm and out on the barrel, right where it belongs on a hard-kicking rifle.

Everything considered, including shooter comfort and target discomfort, I'd pick the .425 Westley Richards and .416 Rigby as enough cartridges for this rifle, with the grand old .375 H&H Magnum just about ideal. Other caliber options include .500 Jeffery, .416 Taylor, .416 Remington Magnum, .338 Lapua, .338 Winchester Magnum, and .300 H&H Magnum. A pair of these rifles in .300 H&H and .375 H&H would be about as close to ideal as you could get for hunting anything anywhere in the world.

According to the author, FNH USA’s Mark I gas-operated shotgun is more personal-defense gun than anything else. It’s a reliable firearm for serious work.

2. FNH USA SLP Mark I
The Mark I was not the most handsome shotgun I shot, nor was it the most interesting, but it was the most fun to shoot. The shooting station was located on the action pistol range, and the routine was to fill the extended magazine with a handful of 12-gauge shells and mow down steel plates at warp speed.

So I did just that a number of times.

Like all FNH USA shotguns, the Mark I is gas-operated and more personal-defense gun than anything else. Barrel length is 24 inches, either smoothbore or rifled depending on the model. Three variations have a front sight and a cantilever-style scope-mounting base attached to the barrel, while the Police wears a fully adjustable aperture on its receiver. All models come with three interchangeable chokes and two gas pistons for light and heavy loads. It's a reliable gun for serious work.

3. Para USA PDA
I have a personal-defense gun for every place and occasion. I have a gun for deep concealment, and I have a gun for carrying in a fanny pack. I have a gun for carrying on a 100-mile bicycle ride into remote areas, and I have a gun that resides in the console of my SUV. Other guns placed strategically throughout our home are within easy reach of both my wife and me at any time during day or night. In other words, I absolutely do not need another personal-defense gun.