Fousty Dia SLX 28 Gauge Review: A Slim, Light Side-by-Side for Upland Hunting

Introduction

There is something special about opening the box on a new shotgun, especially when it is a side-by-side made in Italy. The Fousty Dia SLX 28 gauge is a classic piece with a long heritage behind the name. It is built on a true 28 gauge frame, which makes it slim, trim, and light, and that is one of its major features.

The 28 gauge has often been overlooked by shooters who default to 12 or 20 gauge, but it has been gaining recognition over the last 10 to 20 years. It seems to shoot all out of proportion to its size, particularly when it comes to taking upland game birds. This review takes a close look at what makes the Fousty Dia SLX tick, from its action and engraving to its barrels and shooting performance.

First Impressions

The Fousty Dia SLX is a beautiful shotgun right out of the box. The coin finish scroll engraving on the side plates is a classy touch, and the Fousty name is visible on the side. On the bottom of the action, there is a small gray partridge or Hungarian partridge scrolled into the metal. The engraving is likely done by laser machine rather than by hand, which helps keep the price down, though this is not an inexpensive gun.

The extended tang coming off the trigger bow carries a bit of engraving, and the gold logo for Fousty appears on the trigger bow, on top of the tang, and in the end wood as a small black oval. It is a classy look that is not ostentatious, and it helps you know exactly what gun you have. The wood is nice AAA grade, not overly done, but something to have pride in.

Action and Engraving

The Fousty Dia SLX uses a box lock action based on the Anson and Dee system from 1874 or 1875. This simplified system creates a really strong locking mechanism inside the action. The side plates on this gun cover the working parts, which are actually hanging inside the action rather than off the plates. This design provides a beautiful platform for the scroll work.

The name Dia comes from the Italian word for goddess, and this shotgun certainly lives up to that name with its slim, trim profile. The wood to metal fit is absolutely perfect, with no gaps anywhere, even in the tight corners and curves. This level of fit suggests computer-assisted machining is doing precise work. The recoil pad is just a hard black rubber, but with a 28 gauge, there is hardly any recoil to worry about.

Barrels and Chokes

The barrels on the Fousty Dia SLX are nicely struck. Looking down them with a light reveals no wiggles, wobbles, or ripples, indicating quality manufacturing. There is a solid rib on top and a solid rib underneath, silver soldered in place.

The gun comes with five screw-in chokes: cylinder, improved cylinder, modified, improved modified, and full. This gives you a versatile little tool even though it is just a 28 gauge. Whether you are hunting quail and grouse or taking on pheasants and even sage grouse, this shotgun can handle the job. The 28 gauge has proven effective out to 45 yards in the right hands.

Single Trigger Design

One thing that is not traditional about this shotgun is its single trigger. Most side-by-side shotguns have two triggers, but the Fousty Dia SLX uses a single mechanical trigger. This means that even if the first barrel does not go off, the second one will still fire with that one trigger. It is reportedly quite reliable, and the design is something the company is proud of.

There is no selector switch on the tang to choose which barrel fires first. Some shooters prefer to select a specific choke for a given shot, but many find that they simply swing and shoot without thinking about switching. This is one of the non-features of this shotgun that some might be concerned about, but it is easy to adapt to.

Shooting Impressions

The Fousty Dia SLX is a very pleasant shooter. The 28 gauge is light and easy to shoot, and there is no subliminal fear of recoil like you might get with a 12 gauge. This allows you to concentrate on your target without thinking about the gun or any recoil. The gun fits well and looks where you are looking when you throw it up, which makes hitting targets feel automatic.

During patterning tests, the improved cylinder choke tube produced a pattern that was a bit bottom heavy, with about 60 to 65 percent of the shot in the bottom half. The spread was fairly even, and 30 yards seems to be the maximum effective range for that choke tube. The modified barrel from 30 yards produced a good dense pattern, though it shot a little low and slightly to the right. Even with those characteristics, there would be no trouble taking birds with this gun.

Buying Advice

The Fousty Dia SLX 28 gauge is an heirloom piece that you can shoot for a lifetime and hand down to the next generation. It is a classic side-by-side that says something about a classy upland bird hunt. If you are looking for a shotgun that is slim, light, and efficient, and you appreciate fine craftsmanship and classic styling, this is a strong contender.

The single trigger and lack of a choke selector may take some getting used to, but they are not deal breakers. The five screw-in chokes provide versatility for different hunting situations. This shotgun is best suited for upland bird hunting, particularly quail, grouse, and pheasants, and it can even handle larger birds like sage grouse.

Conclusion

The Fousty Dia SLX 28 gauge side-by-side is a beautiful, well-built shotgun that performs admirably in the field. Its true 28 gauge frame makes it slim and light, and the 28 gauge cartridge shoots all out of proportion to its size. The coin finish engraving, AAA wood, and perfect wood to metal fit give it a classy, heirloom quality. If you appreciate classic side-by-side shotguns and want something that is both elegant and effective for upland hunting, the Fousty Dia SLX is worth serious consideration.