I have been practicing hunting in hunt practically since I was born both on the post office side and on the brazier side, so I was curious to try the express Chapuis, to tell the truth I had used one many years ago in France, but on that occasion I wasn't lucky. This year, the juxtaposed express was given to me by Franchi Chapuis Progress X4, the latest evolution of wild boar models, in 8 × 57 JRS caliber, which I consider one of the best for wild boar in Italy. Unfortunately, given the Covid situation, I did not have the opportunity to use it often even if I still managed to throw some animals into it.
As you can see from the photos, it is a side-by-side with elegant lines, particularly compact and manageable, immediately ready to be held and with a clearly visible and quickly aligned notch and front sight. The peculiarity of the Progress X4 model is the possibility of changing the convergence of the barrels both horizontally and vertically, a delicate but very useful operation if you decide to use ammunition with a different weight than those used for factory calibration.
This weapon is produced in the five classic calibers 8x57JRS, 9,3x74R and 30-06, although the latter, although excellent, I do not consider it suitable for an overhead firearm, if desired it is also available in 30 Blaser and .308 calibers. Win. The express is contained in a practical abs case with combination locks, as soon as it is opened I am struck by the compactness of the weapon, the quality of the woods and the finishes, always considering that it is a production and mid-range shotgun, all 'inside we also find the guarantee, the shooting test and the certificate of the Test Bench of Saint Etienne.
The woods are in high quality walnut, the pistol butt has the classic rifle cheek, the checkering ensures a firm grip for a safe swing, the butt plate is of the same walnut wood with checkering on the support surface with the shoulder. The whole is secured to the action by means of an internal tie rod. The beavertail shaft, with the checkering that occupies most of the surface, houses the cross with the pins for arming the dogs and the release system with lever placed in the center of the shaft, also, as the cross bearing the name “Chapuis Armes” is engraved with an elegant floral motif.
The very elegant receiver engraved with floral motifs is reinforced with the classic "whiskers" that strengthen it and lighten its shape, the recess with the stock is particularly accurate and graceful by the undulating design of the receiver. The breasts are not very pronounced and are flattened in the upper area so as not to obstruct the view of the target. Inside the receiver there is the particular locking system developed by Chapuis in the '70s, characterized by a 22 mm block positioned at the lowest point of the receiver that rages under the barrels and by the pins for rotation and opening the weapon. This is the same system used on the 416 Rigby and 470 NE caliber “African” express cars. We also note the possibility of disassembling the strikers by acting on the dowels where they are housed. The battery is of the box look type and the express can have the classic double trigger or single trigger for those who prefer this solution. In the upper part we find the opening key, well proportioned and comfortable to operate and the safety button, sliding as on all classic side-by-side shotguns.
The rods represent the main novelty of the Express Chapuis X4. The left barrel remains fixed and is not subjected to significant stress. It carries an adjustable wedge that contains an adjustment system which, by exerting pressure on the floating right barrel, regulates the vibrations and the inevitable movements during the shot. A floating rib fills the space between the barrels and an alignment ring, near the muzzle, guides the right barrel without constraining it.
The result of this particularly innovative design is a surprising consistency in the quality of the shots, combined with a great ease of adjustment according to the various ammunition a hunter may need to use from one season to another. This adjustment must be entrusted to a gunsmith, who can do it quickly and without complex tools. When a lens is mounted, there is no longer the risk of disturbances related to the mass or the constraints of mounting the lens.
This is the first time that the floating barrel principle has been successfully implemented in a side-by-side express. Whether four, six or eight shots are fired in a very short period of time or just two, the point of impact of each of the two barrels does not vary and convergence is assured. In the monobloc the crampons for the rotation of the barrels are obtained and between them are housed the Ejector, a unique design by Chapuis, with the mechanics entirely integrated on the monobloc, with hammer and leaf spring operation.
In the rib there are the housings for the optics attachments and the sights, which consist of a wide "V" notch with red optical fiber commonly called "cat's eyes" while the round viewfinder is always in fiber but white in color and adjustable. Overall a beautiful weapon with elegant lines that even when hunting proved to be ready for use and precise in shooting, as demonstrated by the wild boars killed on three different occasions at varying distances from 10 to 50 meters, even if a quarter has gone away ... . but the gun was not to blame. The shot patterns obtained by shooting at 50 meters with notch and front sight fell within 5 cm both with Sako cartridges with 200 grs Hammerhead bullet and with reloaded cartridges with 188 grs Vulcan bullet, and I assure you that at 50 meters the target is really small !
DATASHEET
Manufacturer: Chapuis Armes (Beretta Group)
Model: Express Progress X4
Type: Parallel
Caliber: 8 × 57 JRS (9,3x74R available; 30-06; 308 Win; 30 Blaser)
Trigger system: Box look batteries with two triggers or single trigger of your choice
Rods: two parallel and floating rods with convergence adjustment
Sights: Wide “V” notch with red fiber optic inserts and glossy white front sight
Rib: Full, knurled and designed to house the bases of the optics attachments
Woods: In walnut of superior class.
Rod length: 55 cm
Weapon weight: 3,3 kg
List price: € 4.820,00