TEST REPORT BY NICK HARVEY

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Franchi’s Stylish New Horizon

LUIGI Franchi has been Today, Franchi offers a Kimber Hunter, Remington Franchi’s first making guns in Brescia Italy wide selection of , Model 783, Ruger American -action since 1868. In the world of fine with a wide range of over- (standard), Sauer 100 Classic side-by-side game guns, the unders, side-by-sides, pumps XT, Savage Axis, T/C hunting Imperiale Monte Carlo Extra, a and semi-autos. The Brand- Compass, , and the has handsome bar-action sidelock was a new Horizon bolt action is the Winchester XPR. famous ejector gun of the company's first-ever Franchi has been part of the contemporary postwar era. Modern over- centrefire sporting rifle and Beretta Holding Group since styling. unders such as the Franchi represents a tremendous 1993, which also includes Model 2003 were variations of departure from Franchi's Benelli, Stoeger, Uberti, "Dickson's" round trigger-plate traditional baseline. Steiner and Burris Optics action which have trigger and Franchi's Italian designers Like each of the other firms, lock components mounted and technicians have worked however, Franchi is a separate directly atop the trigger plate for the past few years entity, and competes against rather than inside the frame or developing the brand's first the others within their coupled to sideplates, thus bolt-action rifle that's respective markets. Now they rendering the frame amply intended to compete with are providing some serious strong for magnum loads other similarly configured opposition in the rifle world. and/or continuous economy-class guns in the The Franchi is available in clay-target shooting. U.S. These include the two different versions:

28 | SPORTING SHOOTER _ JANUARY 2019 "Horizon" is the name of the and is noticeably thicker typified by the Mauser 98 and rifle sold in Europe and where the recoil energy its derivatives. This results in Australia; the other model, contacts the shoulder which a low 60-degree bolt lift rather called Momentum is for sale minimises the kick. than 90-degrees. Cutting the in the U.S. The most notable This newcomer conforms to and locking difference is that the the current fat-bolt trend seat faces into the Momentum has spiral fluted characterised by a one- ring completes most of the bolt while that of the Horizon diameter bolt with three lugs interior machining is smooth-bodied. The that don't project out beyond operations. As a result, the Horizon also features a the diameter of the bolt body. Franchi's large diameter slimmer profile barrel with a The locking lugs are formed receiver ring renders muzzle given the European by machining away material unusually thick walls around metric thread pitch. The behind the bolt head. the breech. Momentum has a heavier The majority of new Because the locking lugs barrel with the 5/8x24 introduced in the past five don't extend beyond the outer threads for attaching years both American and diameter of the bolt body, a American .30 calibre muzzle European, have adopted the special longitudinal groove is devices and direct-thread tri-lug design along with a cut along its length for suppressors. cylindrical receiver which are guiding purposes. There is a The Horizon's stock is easier to manufacture. The cooperating lug on the rear of superior to the majority of cylindrical receiver requires the bolt release catch that polymer stocks I've come only polishing the basic enters horizontally from the across on a number of test boltway to final diameter so vicinity of the trigger. The rifles. It's very rigid and the that the round hole acts as the receiver ring is rounded, but fore-end has molded-in raceway. The single row of the upper surface of the reinforcing cross members three locking lugs are bridge is milled flat. Thus, the and a stabilising bar along the oriented on 120-degree rear scope base has to be bottom. A unique feature: its centres instead of the thicker than the front one in mid-section has solid bedding twin-opposed arrangement order to to level things up. points under the action which increases its stiffness. Outwardly, the styling of the Franchi's molded polymer stock features graceful lines with adroitly positioned ergonomic curves and The single- contours that certainly reflect its Italian heritage. This not stage trigger only makes it look good, but it's functional as well and has is adjustable a nice feel. Panels of molded- from 0.907 in textured squares on fore- end, -grip and the sides grams to of the stock on either side of the magazine well, take the 1.814 kgs.” place of diamonds to afford a 2 very secure grasp to wet or sweaty hands. One feature I'm ON THIS SPREAD not crazy about is molding the Franchi’s first bolt-action swivel studs to be an 1rifle boasts a stock with integral part of the stock. For stylish ergonomics and a modern those who want to attach a tri-lug action. , Franchi reinforced a section of the fore-end which The single stage trigger is crisp shows up as a semi-circular 2and breaks cleanly. It is adjustable from 0.907 to 1.84 grams. spot behind the front swivel stud to take a third Q/D style The Horizon’s two-position swivel for a bipod. Recoil is 3safety does not lock the bolt dampened by the TSA handle down, allowing the buttpad. TSA is an acronym to be unloaded with it engaged. for "Twin Shock Absorber" 3

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The Horizon's receiver is metal. The test rifle's drilled and tapped for magazine holds four .308 Remington 70-0 bases which ... unusually Win. cartridges and can be are universally available. emptied by pressing a catch The monolithic bolt has a thick walls inside the trigger guard that sleek, cone-shaped knob and lets the floorplate drop out. the root of the bolt handle around the The single-stage trigger is turns down into a notch in adjustable from 0.907 grams the rear of the bridge to act as breech.” to 1.814 kgs. The trigger on an auxiliary safety lug. The the test rifle broke cleanly at recessed bolt face is deeply 1.58kgs with nary the counterbored to surround the large shroud-type bolt sleeve. slightest hint of any creep or case head in steel The barrelled action is overtravel. The safety catch is and houses a sliding T-slot attached to the stock by two a serrated button level with extractor and plunger ejector. action screws through the the right side of the bolt The flat-faced bolt head polymer bottom plate. The sleeve. The forward or "fire" closely abuts the face of the screw at the rear of the position is indicated by a red ON THIS SPREAD barrel to limit escaping gas trigger guard threads into the dot embedded into the stock from a blown primer or action behind the trigger unit below the button, and the rear Franchi offers the Horizon in partial head separation. Lack to securely hold together the position, "safe" is marked 4a “Combo” that includes a of conventional full-length trigger guard assembly and with a white dot. Set on safe, 3-9x40 Burris Droptine scope in lug raceways inside the stock. The front screw passes the trigger is blocked, but the Burris ZEE rings attached to Weaver- style bases. receiver tends to dissipate through a metal V-block - bolt can be opened to remove most stray gas out of the molded into the stock - which a loaded round from the Franchi Horizon has an internal loading port and magazine engages matching cuts chamber. I've never cared for 5Mauser-type magazine with an opening before it could get machined in the underside of two-position safeties because Oberndorf-style floorplate release reach back into the bridge. the receiver ring to act as a many allow the bolt handle to inside the trigger guard. Pressure entering the firing cradle like recoil lug. The lift and the bolt to fall open V-Shaped recoil lugs molded pin hole is vented into the bottom “metal” frame is and drop out a chambered 6into the stock engage two magazine well by two large made of polymer, only the cartridge. This is unlikely to matching cutouts on underside of ports in the side of the bolt hinged floorplate, magazine happen with the Horizon as it receiver ring. and blocked at the rear by a spring and follower are requires considerable effort to

30 | SPORTING SHOOTER _ JANUARY 2019 SPECS

Franchi Horizon Manufacturer: Franchi, Urbino, Italy Type: push-feed bolt-action repeater Calibre: .308 Win. (tested) Magazine capacity: 4 rounds Barrel: length, 550mm; twist, 1:11” Sights: none, receiver drilled and tapped for Rem. Model 700 mounts Overall length: 1075mm 5 Weight: 3kg Stock: synthetic, length of pull, lift the bolt handle fully. Creedmore, 600mm, 1:8"; .270 No ammunition 350mm; TSA recoil pad The Horizon has a generous Win., 550mm, 1:10"; .308 Win. accompanied the Franchi Finish: ejection port which extends 550mm, 1:11"; .30-06, 550mm, Horizon, to test the rifle's matte blue barrel and reeciver over the top of the receiver, 1:11"; and .300 Win. Mag., accuracy I relied upon several Trigger: single-stage, adjustable allowing plenty of room to 600mm, 1:11". Files are loads I had on hand. Factory from 0.907 to 1.814 grams thumb an extra round into the available with threaded ammo included Hornady magazine in the event an muzzles, and protective caps American Whitetail loaded Safety: two-position extra shot is needed in a are fitted. Non-threaded with the 150gn Interlock Likely price: $950 hurry. The three-lug bolt's low barrels are offered on all bullet, Sellier & Bellot with bolt lift and short travel models except the 6.5 150gn SPCE, Federal Contact: Beretta Australia makes the bolt fast to cycle, Creedmoor, .30-06, and .300 Powershok with 150gn SP, Email: [email protected]. but like most similar three- Win. Mag. Winchester Varmint Special lug bolts designs the Franchi's The barrel on my test gun with 130gn Woodleigh PSP, bolt requires more cocking measured 30mm at the Winchester Deer Season force due to the abrupt receiver ring and was cocking system. Therefore, a gracefully tapered to reach stiff bolt lift makes it difficult 16mm at the capped muzzle. to operate the bolt with the It's free-floated from the rifle held to your shoulder to receiver ring to the fore-end get off a fast follow-up shot. tip with plenty of space While the Horizon is built allowed to clear the barrel in Franchi's Urbino factory, channel. There's not the near Italy's eastern coast, the slightest chance of the rigid cold hammer-forged barrel is fore-end flexing under recoil produced in the northern part enough to touch the barrel of the the country by Sabatti, and affect the point of in Gardone. impact. I'd rate the Franchi's Initially, the rifle is being stock with its unique offered in six calibres , and the ergonomics as one of the righthand rifling twist rate is most robust and practical determined by the cartridge: designs I've ever handled, .243 Win. 550mm,1:10" ; 6.5 and one of the best looking. 6

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LEFT: The Franchi’s cylindrical receiver has thick walls, note cutouts in the receiver ring for the cradle like recoil lug.

ACCURACY AND PERFORMANCE FRANCHI HORIZON Ammo Velocity Energy Accuracy Factory (fps) (ft/lb) (100 yd) Win. Varmint Special 2910 2523 0.89 130gn Woodleigh Hornady American 2820 2649 1.25 Whitetail 150gn Sellier & Bellot 150gn SPCE 2735 2492 0.98 150gn EP, Federal Gold Medal has many design features with 168gn Sierra MatchKing which are more conventional. Federal Powershok 150gn SP 2776 2567 1.12 and Hornady Full Bore 165gn The new Franchi Horizon is Winchester Deer Season 2724 2472 1.10 GMX. Accuracy results are not an expensive rifle, but I 150gn EP included in the chart. wholeheartedly recommend Sellier & Bellot Match 168gn 2638 2638 0.88 Summing up, I like this the rifle in the Game Hunter Federal Gold Medal 2699 2718 1.00 rifle, not only for its unique package as offering the best 168gn Sierra ergonomics, but the way it value. It includes a Burris balances and handles. Droptine 3-9x40mm scope Hornady Full Boar 165gn GMX 2556 2394 1.20 Accuracy is on a par with a with a pair of Weaver-type Win. Large Game 2595 2692 1.35 number of other European bases and one-inch Burris 180gn Woodleigh and American economy ZEE rings which are scaled Accuracy taken as the average of three five-shot groups fired from benchrest. Velocity model rifles I've tested and it to suit. measured with MagnetoSpeed chronograph at the gun's muzzle.

32 | SPORTING SHOOTER _ JANUARY 2019