A kind invitation from Franchi in one of the most beautiful game reserves in central Italy, the AFV Valle di Fior di Monte, has allowed a selected team of operators in the sector to spend three days of particular interest with an elegant location near Camerino, shooting tests in a shooting range in the area and finally hunting in the AFV of Fiordimonte, all in the province of Macerata. Many properties both in different districts of Camerino as in a whole series of towns scattered in the valleys are still caged in the wooden structures and steel cables placed to contain the works damaged by the last earthquake: obviously all these buildings are uninhabited and the thoughts induced I am of heavy sadness. We hope for a reconstruction even if Adam, our wise hunting companion, points out with great regret that the greatest difficulty, perhaps insurmountable, is not so much in the money as in finding the workforce still capable of completing certain refined works. on structures of particular architectural and artistic value.
Here then is the collection of the various rifles, both rifled and smooth, at the Broglia armory in Camerino, which serves as a logistics base no longer located in the center of the beautiful city of the Marche, but in temporary structures, of considerable functionality, but still very different from the four walls between which the history and activity of the commercial company unfolded. Definitely appreciable the spirit of adaptation and the serenity shown by the people involved in this very hard story.
We come to the weapons: we are assigned an Affinity 3 semi-automatic in 12/76 caliber and a Horizon Wood in .308 Win caliber. One might think of a banality when it is not. Limiting ourselves at the moment to the rifled barrel, we have to think about what we may encounter during the hunt: with roe deer the 150 gr Hammerhead bullet mounted in the original Sako load is never destructive and has that decisive stopping power to stop on the spot this cervid, delicate in its shapes and movements, but tough and resistant to blows. The alternative is wild boar and here a little more energy to spend does not hurt at all.
The polygon test
In San Ginesio in a secluded valley and with excellent protection we are guests of the Mercorelli shooting range where we immediately appreciate the decisive friendliness of the director who arranges the stalls and rotation shifts on the lines. Equally appreciable are the counters made of concrete, therefore absolutely firm and stable, on which one can assume the preferred position, which is the one with both elbows well placed on the shelf, assisted by reliable front and rear supports on which to place the gun. Let's start with the calibration check, benefiting from the recommendation of the kind Mirco della Franchi, who has previously developed our weapon.
In fact, minimal corrections due to glasses are necessary, while others, during construction, produce strange results: we do not realize that we are alternating the shots between the target placed at 100 m and the one located at 200 ... In short, a little more attention is necessary in choosing the red disk on which to place the shots. Defined the question we observe a very dark brown squirrel, then our own, crossing in small leaps all the shooting lines, passing at the foot of the signs and not at all bothered by the shots that have just been fired. For our part, having made the few shots at the Steiner Ranger 3-12 × 56, we see the final couple well centered: the groups were all valid, however, maybe about ten cm low when with the optics calibration at 100 we ended up at 200. We do not hide the fact that this precision proves to be an excellent start to the day: in hindsight, from the very first releases, the Horizon has always provided outstanding performances and here they are further confirmed. In the time spent in the shooting range and then at the post office in the late afternoon we have the opportunity to re-observe the details of this rifle.
The Horizon in detail
The Wood model is presented in this 2021 with the intention of combining the modern ergonomic lines with the classicism of wood, always appreciated by a large number of enthusiasts: the surface treatment against atmospheric agents called Weathercoat Wood ensures the necessary waterproofness. Let's start now with the 56 cm (22 ") long barrel, cold hammered and floating mounted: there are all the prerogatives for handling, thanks also to the mass contained in 2.990 g, together with excellent precision for standard calibers such as the .308 Win. (rifling pitch 1:11 ") and the .30-06 Sprg. There are no metal sights, while for the base of the optics, here in a single piece, we rely on the anchor holes on the castle according to the Remington 700 standard.
Let's go back to the topic of precision and constancy of the beaten point considering the force discharge prism made of aluminum, inserted in the special pocket of the frame and stopped with a double hook to the ring of the action: the connecting screws are then closed with a predetermined tightening torque. We note how these choices are decidedly appropriate and provide the rifle's remarkable accuracy, guaranteed by the manufacturer with three shots in 1 MOA (which therefore subtend 28 mm at 100 meters, 56 at 200 and 84 at 300): in our tests we were within 17 mm at 100 m and in a valuable 26 mm (verticalized) at 200 m, and it is an excellent result. Let's now follow the classic type castle with round ring and closed bridge with two diameters, ejection window of limited size to allow any maneuvers on the cartridge or case and in the meantime remove little resistant material favoring the rigidity of the complex.
The chromed steel bolt has a body with spiral grooves to collect any dirt or snow without blocking, the head with three front tenons hollowed down with a deep recess to support the cartridge bottom, firing pin hole, elastic expulsion pawl and nail extraction with adequate gripping arc and orthogonal motion in its seat embedded in one of the fins. The handlebar with the comfortable oblong knuckle can be dismantled to facilitate cleaning: the junction with the cylinder relies on a through joint and the deep recess in the side of the castle and in the stem positions it well adherent avoiding entanglements. The three tenons then subtend a movement of about 60 ° so that the arm remains horizontal when opening, facilitating rearming. The rear profile of the tenons and together that of the bridge ensure a decisive primary extraction. The apical cap modeled on the profile of the two-diameter bridge is of good aesthetics and adequately customized: the shank of the firing pin protrudes from the center line for an immediate warning of armed mechanics.
The click as a distinctive element
The direct and adjustable trigger allows you to vary the calibration between 0,8 and 1,9 kg: in the Horizon we tested it was certainly under a kg with commendable sharpness and cleanliness A French schneller is available, but we have not heard of it. need. The two-position safety with button to the right of the yoke always leaves the bolt free to safely extract the chambered cartridge; moreover it is silent and easy to maneuver with the rifle already in the tappet. The 4-round polymer magazine is positioned flush with the barrel and a rocker button inserted in the guard releases it. We still observe the F engraved in the wood of the guard to highlight the authorship of the rifle placed in the rack.
The Evolved Ergonom-X platform based on the detection of the slinging habits of over a thousand hunters / shooters, has scientifically defined the Smooth Sense stock with four contact zones for the shooter to satisfy the five most usual postures in shooting and hunting. The fields with Allround Interlacement type knurling are placed near the butt of the stock, in the pistol grip, in the barrel and in the shaft. Absorber) ensures a 50% reduction in recoil: it is also supplied in three different thicknesses, optimizing the distance between the shoulder rest and the trigger. Last but not least, Franchi grants a 7-year guarantee on the mechanical parts of the weapon: and this is certainly not a secondary factor: it is always hoped that it will not be necessary to resort to it, but in the meantime we consider how the manufacturer has well evaluated the robustness of its product.
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