Fabarm entered the rifled barrel market in 2006. The Asper A2 express shotgun presented this year, made entirely by Fabarm, retains the elegance of that first Asper, namely the perfect proportions of the steel receiver, inherited from the 20-gauge Axis over-and-under. This entry-level version features a special and magnificent satin black finish, engraved with large curls, complemented by bright yellow shields on the sides and chest. This aesthetic has already been successfully tested on the Elos Notte over-and-under.
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Fabarm's Express features improved technical and ballistic qualities, as well as unique features demanded by the market. The barrels, cold-hammer forged from turned bar stock, are 553 mm long and are attached to the monoblock at the breech. They are Castolin-welded, with a solid rib, for part of their length because a worm screw connected to a wedge that tightens or widens the upper tube is positioned between the two muzzles. The convergence is therefore adjustable and performs very well: groups are guaranteed to be 3-4 cm at 50 meters with iron sights.
The locking mechanism is handled by the tried-and-tested low lug on lugs. The barrel is a classic Fabarm with a Merkel-style mount that leaves the upper barrel completely free. The first Asper was designed in collaboration with the German company Merkel, specifically for barrels. Fabarm offers accessories such as a short Picatinny rail for a red dot sight and a longer one with fixed jaws and 30 mm rings.
Another innovation is the manual extractor, a counter-trend choice motivated by the need to collect spent cases. The trigger is a non-selective, single-trigger inertia: this means it's not possible to select which barrel to fire first, something that's almost exclusively needed on smoothbore over-and-unders. It's not too heavy, about 2 kg, and quite predictable.
The safety is a slider type, engaged by sliding it rearward, and acts by separating the transmission bar connected to the trigger from the sear teeth. In this case, the trigger is not blocked, but firing is still impossible.
Classic chambers
The stock is hand-oiled, select walnut, with a boar's back and a rather high cheekpiece. A left-handed version is also available. The pistol grip is elongated. The checkering is laser-cut with diamond-shaped cusps. The polyurethane buttpad is very useful for dampening recoil, although the .30-06 is quite controllable.
The forend has a subtle beavertail profile, but more importantly, it tapers toward the front to provide a firm grip for the non-firing hand. The release button is deeply recessed, preventing any possibility of accidental activation.
The sights are typical: the ramped front sight features a red fiber dot and is mounted on a spring balance that allows elevation adjustment via a front screw. The rear sight, also mounted on a ramp located mid-barrel, has a U-shaped window with three green fiber dots. It is dovetailed and adjustable for windage.
The Asper A2 is 980 mm long and weighs 3.250 grams, and costs €2.890, including VAT. The chambering chosen for the test is classic: .30-06, the most popular in Italy. Also available are 9,3x74R, .30R Blaser, and 8x57 Jrs. The barrel length is the same for all calibers (553 mm).
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Our test was conducted in a tunnel at a distance of 50 meters. Using slow, aimed fire, supported by a rifle, we achieved two-shot concentrations (first and second barrel) at 15 and 20 mm, a very respectable result, using 170-grain Geco Soft Point ammunition. In short: easy, well-controlled, manageable, safe, and accurate.
Data Sheet
Producer: Fabarm spa, via Averolda 31, 25039 Travagliato (Bs), tel. 03.06.86.36.32, fax 03.06.86.36.84, www.fabarm.com
Modelor: Asper A2
Type: express overlapping
CALIBRO: .30-06 Sprg (also available in .30R Blaser, 8x57 Jrs, 9,3x74R)
operation: battery with internal rebound hammers
Closure: low gusset on crampons
Rod length 553mm
Strippers: manuals
Look: ramped fiber optic front sight, adjustable for elevation; windage-adjustable “U” rear sight with fiber optic references; provision for mounting optics
Shoot: non-selective inertia single trigger
Total length 980mm
Weight: 3.250 grams
Materials: forged steel, walnut stock
Football: pistol grip in selected walnut, 367 mm long (40 mm at the nose, 63 mm at the heel)
Finishes: blued barrels; satin-finished receiver with yellow shields; hand-oiled stock
Optional: optics slide, about 375 euros
Price: 2.890 euros, VAT included
