Waterfowlers demand a smooth swing, soft recoil, and rock-solid reliability. The Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler claims to deliver it all—and with champion shooter Travis Mears, who has thousands of rounds behind the XLR line, we get expert insight on how this shotgun really performs.

If you’ve shot the Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler, we’d love to hear how it fit you in the blind—share your story in the TFL COMMUNITY!

Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler

Travis and I had the chance to take this shotgun out on a duck hunt, and then we also ran it on clays to really see what it could do. The XLR5 Waterfowler comes from Fabarm’s competition background but is dressed up for the marsh—camo, Cerakote, and their Pulse Piston gas system. It’s only offered in 12 gauge with a 3" chamber, and you can choose either a 28" or 30" barrel. MSRP is $2,645 for the right-handed version, with a true left-hand model also available.

• MSRP: $2,645 (RH) / $2,895 (LH)
• Operation: Gas (Pulse Piston)
• Available Gauges: 12 gauge
• Barrel Length Options: 28" or 30"
• Chamber Size: 3"
• Weight: 7 lb 7.4 oz (30" model weighed on our scale)
• Length of Pull: 14.5" (adjustable with different pads)
• Chokes: 4 included, all steel-safe
• Extras: Soft Touch finish, shims for cast/drop, sling mounts

Ergonomics

The gun feels solid in hand—no cheap plastic inside. Controls are oversized for gloved use, with the bolt release sitting on the left side. At first I thought that might be awkward, but in the duck blind it actually worked slick—just tilt the gun, tap the button, and you’re ready. The Soft Touch stock has a rubbery, grippy feel that I really liked, and the raised rib extends the sight plane so you don’t have to crane your neck down as much.

Recoil and Reliability

We ran everything from light 1145 fps target shells to heavy duck loads. Recoil stayed mild across the board, which surprised me—usually a duck load smacks harder. The Pulse Piston system seems to do its job, balancing pressure. The extra weight of the 30" model (7 lb 7 oz on my scale) actually helps smooth things out in the field too.

Want even less recoil? I’ve had great luck with the FalconStrike recoil reduction pads.

Breakdown / Build Quality

Travis called this his favorite part—tearing it down. The action is all metal, polished, and easy to clean. Fabarm says you can run thousands of rounds before a deep clean (depending on circumstances). The quick-change plug is a neat feature, too, if you’re switching between waterfowl limits and snow goose extensions.

Shooting Experience

In the blind, it swung smoothly and shouldered well. On clays, the long rib and crisp trigger made it easy to stay on target. It does lean a little forward-heavy, but for waterfowl hunting, I actually like that—it helps steady the swing instead of feeling whippy. Travis has thousands of rounds behind the XLR line, and his feedback matched mine: this gun shoots like a sporting clays gun that just happens to wear camo.

Final Thoughts

At over $2,600, it’s not an entry-level shotgun. But side by side with a $1,000 gun, the difference in fit, finish, and performance is obvious. If you want a semi-auto that carries competition DNA into the duck blind, the Fabarm XLR5 Waterfowler is worth a serious look.

What do you think about the Waterfowler? Share your thoughts in the TFL COMMUNITY!

Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we’ll only hit what we’re focused on — live the #targetfocusedlife