The market for shotguns - Italy

1.1 Definition and presentation

The shotgun market is a submarket of guns and particularly rifles.In many countries, hunting is regarded as a hobby, in others as a sport; either way it is an activity regulated by law, otherwise it is considered poaching.

A shotgun is a weapon with a long barrel; it consists of a shoulder stock and has a smooth bore. These weapons are also used for sporting purposes to a lesser extent, particularly in skeet shooting. Different types of rifles are available on the market, according to the type of barrel: smooth or rifled, and the mechanism: automatic or non-automatic. Because it employs ammunition called cartridges with various metal balls inside to maximize the probability of hitting the target, the shotgun traditionally has a smooth barrel. The market value varies widely depending on the gun law in force; in some states in the United States it is very easy to own a gun, while in European states it is necessary to have a national hunting license, which, in addition to having a significant price tag, also requires qualification. The three largest shotgun manufacturers in the world are: James Purdey & Sons, Holland & Holland and Italy's Beretta.

The global shotgun market (which includes hunting and shooting rifles) is expected to increase with a CAGR of 2.5 percent from 2020 to 2027, from $1.8 billion in 2020 to $2.1 billion in 2027.

To own a shotgun in Italy, you must comply with the law. First of all, you need to be of legal age and obtain a gun permit specifically for hunting, called in Italy "porto d'armi per uso venatorio," which allows you to use the gun only during the hunting season and in authorized areas, with necessary renewal every 5 years.

Italy is one of the largest producers of rifles and exports to almost all over the world. In the 1970s, there were about 2.3 million owners of a rifle with a hunting license, compared to about 700,000 in the current period. Beretta is one of the world's largest manufacturers of rifles and shotguns and the largest exporter in Europe;