LUIGI Franchi has been making guns in Brescia Italy since 1868. In the world of fine side-by-side game guns, the Imperiale Monte Carlo Extra, a bar-action sidelock was a famous ejector gun of the postwar era. Modern over-unders such as the Franchi Model 2003 were variations of "Dickson's" round trigger-plate action which have trigger and lock components mounted directly atop the trigger plate rather than inside the frame or coupled to sideplates, thus rendering the frame amply strong for magnum loads and/or continuous clay-target shooting.

Today, Franchi offers a wide selection of shotguns, with a wide range of over-unders, side-by-sides, pumps and semi-autos. The Brand-new Horizon bolt action is the company's first-ever centrefire sporting rifle and represents a tremendous departure from Franchi's traditional baseline.

Franchi's Italian designers and technicians have worked for the past few years developing the brand's first bolt-action rifle that's intended to compete with other similarly configured economy-class guns in the U.S. These include the

Kimber Hunter, Remington Model 783, Ruger American (standard), Sauer 100 Classic XT, Savage Axis, T/C Compass, Tikka T3, and the Winchester XPR.

Franchi has been part of the Beretta Holding Group since 1993, which also includes Benelli, Stoeger, Uberti, Steiner and Burris Optics Like each of the other firms, however, Franchi is a separate entity, and competes against the others within their respective markets. Now they are providing some serious opposition in the rifle world.

The Franchi is available in two different versions:

Franchi’s Stylish New Horizon

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Franchi’s first bolt-action hunting rifle has handsome contemporary styling.

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TEST REPORT BY NICK HARVEY

"Horizon" is the name of the rifle sold in Europe and Australia; the other model, called Momentum is for sale in the U.S. The most notable difference is that the Momentum has spiral fluted bolt while that of the Horizon is smooth-bodied. The Horizon also features a slimmer profile barrel with a muzzle given the European metric thread pitch. The Momentum has a heavier barrel with the 5/8x24 threads for attaching American .30 calibre muzzle devices and direct-thread suppressors.

The Horizon's stock is superior to the majority of polymer stocks I've come across on a number of test rifles. It's very rigid and the fore-end has molded-in reinforcing cross members and a stabilising bar along the bottom. A unique feature: its mid-section has solid bedding 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 contours that certainly reflect its Italian heritage. This not only makes it look good, but it's functional as well and has a nice feel. Panels of molded-in textured squares on fore- end, pistol-grip and the sides of the stock on either side of the magazine well, take the place of diamonds to afford a very secure grasp to wet or sweaty hands. One feature I'm not crazy about is molding the sling swivel studs to be an integral part of the stock. For those who want to attach a bipod, Franchi reinforced a section of the fore-end which shows up as a semi-circular spot behind the front swivel stud to take a third Q/D style swivel for a bipod. Recoil is dampened by the TSA buttpad. TSA is an acronym for "Twin Shock Absorber"

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1 Franchi’s first bolt-action rifle boasts a stock with

stylish ergonomics and a modern tri-lug action.

2 The single stage trigger is crisp and breaks cleanly. It is

adjustable from 0.907 to 1.84 grams.

3 The Horizon’s two-position safety does not lock the bolt

handle down, allowing the chamber to be unloaded with it engaged.

ON THIS SPREAD

and is noticeably thicker where the recoil energy contacts the shoulder which minimises the firearms kick.

This newcomer conforms to the current fat-bolt trend characterised by a one-diameter bolt with three lugs that don't project out beyond the diameter of the bolt body. The locking lugs are formed by machining away material behind the bolt head.

The majority of new rifles introduced in the past five years both American and European, have adopted the tri-lug design along with a cylindrical receiver which are easier to manufacture. The cylindrical receiver requires only polishing the basic boltway to final diameter so that the round hole acts as the raceway. The single row of three locking lugs are oriented on 120-degree centres instead of the twin-opposed arrangement

typified by the Mauser 98 and its derivatives. This results in a low 60-degree bolt lift rather than 90-degrees. Cutting the barrel threads and locking seat faces into the receiver ring completes most of the interior machining operations. As a result, the Franchi's large diameter receiver ring renders unusually thick walls around the breech.

Because the locking lugs don't extend beyond the outer diameter of the bolt body, a special longitudinal groove is cut along its length for guiding purposes. There is a cooperating lug on the rear of the bolt release catch that enters horizontally from the vicinity of the trigger. The receiver ring is rounded, but the upper surface of the bridge is milled flat. Thus, the rear scope base has to be thicker than the front one in order to to level things up.

The single-stage trigger is adjustable from 0.907 grams to 1.814 kgs.” 2

3

4The Horizon's receiver is drilled and tapped for Remington 70-0 bases which are universally available.

The monolithic bolt has a sleek, cone-shaped knob and the root of the bolt handle turns down into a notch in the rear of the bridge to act as an auxiliary safety lug. The recessed bolt face is deeply counterbored to surround the cartridge case head in steel and houses a sliding T-slot extractor and plunger ejector. The flat-faced bolt head closely abuts the face of the barrel to limit escaping gas from a blown primer or partial head separation. Lack of conventional full-length lug raceways inside the receiver tends to dissipate most stray gas out of the loading port and magazine opening before it could get reach back into the bridge. Pressure entering the firing pin hole is vented into the magazine well by two large ports in the side of the bolt and blocked at the rear by a

large shroud-type bolt sleeve. The barrelled action is

attached to the stock by two action screws through the polymer bottom plate. The screw at the rear of the trigger guard threads into the action behind the trigger unit to securely hold together the trigger guard assembly and stock. The front screw passes through a metal V-block - molded into the stock - which engages matching cuts machined in the underside of the receiver ring to act as a cradle like recoil lug. The bottom “metal” frame is made of polymer, only the hinged floorplate, magazine spring and follower are

metal. The test rifle's magazine holds four .308 Win. cartridges and can be emptied by pressing a catch inside the trigger guard that lets the floorplate drop out.

The single-stage trigger is adjustable from 0.907 grams to 1.814 kgs. The trigger on the test rifle broke cleanly at 1.58kgs with nary the slightest hint of any creep or overtravel. The safety catch is a serrated button level with the right side of the bolt sleeve. The forward or "fire" position is indicated by a red dot embedded into the stock below the button, and the rear position, "safe" is marked with a white dot. Set on safe, the trigger is blocked, but the bolt can be opened to remove a loaded round from the chamber. I've never cared for two-position safeties because many allow the bolt handle to lift and the bolt to fall open and drop out a chambered cartridge. This is unlikely to happen with the Horizon as it requires considerable effort to

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ON THIS SPREAD

TEST REPORT

... unusually thick walls around the breech.”

4 Franchi offers the Horizon in a “Combo” that includes a

3-9x40 Burris Droptine scope in Burris ZEE rings attached to Weaver- style bases.

5 Franchi Horizon has an internal Mauser-type magazine with an

Oberndorf-style floorplate release inside the trigger guard.

6 V-Shaped recoil lugs molded into the stock engage two

matching cutouts on underside of receiver ring.

lift the bolt handle fully.The Horizon has a generous

ejection port which extends over the top of the receiver, allowing plenty of room to thumb an extra round into the magazine in the event an extra shot is needed in a hurry. The three-lug bolt's low bolt lift and short travel makes the bolt fast to cycle, but like most similar three-lug bolts designs the Franchi's bolt requires more cocking force due to the abrupt cocking system. Therefore, a stiff bolt lift makes it difficult to operate the bolt with the rifle held to your shoulder to get off a fast follow-up shot.

While the Horizon is built in Franchi's Urbino factory, near Italy's eastern coast, the cold hammer-forged barrel is produced in the northern part of the the country by Sabatti, in Gardone.

Initially, the rifle is being offered in six calibres , and the righthand rifling twist rate is determined by the cartridge: .243 Win. 550mm,1:10" ; 6.5

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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

Weight: 3kg

Stock: synthetic, length of pull, 350mm; TSA recoil pad

Finish: matte blue barrel and reeciver

Trigger: single-stage, adjustable from 0.907 to 1.814 grams

Safety: two-position

Likely price: $950

Contact: Beretta Australia

Email: info@berettaaustralia.com.

SPECS

Creedmore, 600mm, 1:8"; .270 Win., 550mm, 1:10"; .308 Win. 550mm, 1:11"; .30-06, 550mm, 1:11"; and .300 Win. Mag., 600mm, 1:11". Files are available with threaded muzzles, and protective caps are fitted. Non-threaded barrels are offered on all models except the 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06, and .300 Win. Mag.

The barrel on my test gun measured 30mm at the receiver ring and was gracefully tapered to reach 16mm at the capped muzzle. It's free-floated from the receiver ring to the fore-end tip with plenty of space allowed to clear the barrel channel. There's not the slightest chance of the rigid fore-end flexing under recoil enough to touch the barrel and affect the point of impact. I'd rate the Franchi's stock with its unique ergonomics as one of the most robust and practical designs I've ever handled, and one of the best looking.

No ammunition accompanied the Franchi Horizon, to test the rifle's accuracy I relied upon several loads I had on hand. Factory ammo included Hornady American Whitetail loaded with the 150gn Interlock bullet, Sellier & Bellot with 150gn SPCE, Federal Powershok with 150gn SP, Winchester Varmint Special with 130gn Woodleigh PSP, Winchester Deer Season

5

6

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TEST REPORT

150gn EP, Federal Gold Medal with 168gn Sierra MatchKing and Hornady Full Bore 165gn GMX. Accuracy results are included in the chart.

Summing up, I like this rifle, not only for its unique ergonomics, but the way it balances and handles. Accuracy is on a par with a number of other European and American economy model rifles I've tested and it

has many design features which are more conventional.

The new Franchi Horizon is not an expensive rifle, but I wholeheartedly recommend the rifle in the Game Hunter package as offering the best value. It includes a Burris Droptine 3-9x40mm scope with a pair of Weaver-type bases and one-inch Burris ZEE rings which are scaled to suit.

ACCURACY AND PERFORMANCE FRANCHI HORIZON Ammo Factory

Velocity (fps)

Energy (ft/lb)

Accuracy (100 yd)

Win. Varmint Special 130gn Woodleigh

2910 2523 0.89

Hornady American Whitetail 150gn

2820 2649 1.25

Sellier & Bellot 150gn SPCE 2735 2492 0.98

Federal Powershok 150gn SP 2776 2567 1.12

Winchester Deer Season 150gn EP

2724 2472 1.10

Sellier & Bellot Match 168gn 2638 2638 0.88

Federal Gold Medal 168gn Sierra

2699 2718 1.00

Hornady Full Boar 165gn GMX 2556 2394 1.20

Win. Large Game 180gn Woodleigh

2595 2692 1.35

Accuracy taken as the average of three five-shot groups fired from benchrest. Velocity measured with MagnetoSpeed chronograph at the gun's muzzle.

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