Express rifles

Shooting Supplies : Ammo - Reloading - Firearms - Optics - Accessories
Greener Jim

Greener Jim

Well-Known Member
Supporter
I know a few on here have these and some who don't own one but know a fair amount about the market so after some advice.
Now there is the Browning 525 and the Heym 26 both a little over £3000 with the Heym being better from what I have seen however there are much cheaper ones out there.
We have Verney Carron, F.A.I.R, Sabatti and Zoli which all sell for under €2500; some under €2000.
Does anyone have experience with these? I have found one UK review on the VC but that's it.
 
I have a Unifrance Solitaire which is a Zoli Focus made for Unifrance and sold under their name. I'm not sure where you are getting your prices from Jim because this sells for over 3,000 euro new not 2,000.
I looked at many express rifles before I purchased mine and discounted the Verney Carron first, it just didn't do it for me. Many of the others such as the FAIR, Betinisolli, Sabatti and Franchi didn't seem to be of the same quality as the Zoli and I couldn't afford a new Browning, Beretta or Rizzinni at the time.

There's certainly no shortage of choice as just about every European shotgun manufacturer produces double express rifles. If you think of it most are simply 20 bore actions with as set of rifled barrels instead of shotgun barrels. I just wish that Unifrance had offered the additional 20 bore shotgun barrels at the time that I purchased my Solitaire which they started doing a couple of years after my purchase.

Be careful about buying express rifles though as they can be quite addictive as indicated by my return to France only a few years later to buy a side by side Chapuis to join my O/U Unifrance.
 
Last edited:
I'm sorry, I only have direct experience of shooting the Chapuis I have, but because you tend to shoot an express rifle like a shotgun, I think "fit" is far more important than that of a standard rifle.

It also depends whether you intend to shoot it open site, or with a scope/red dot, because the stocks are generally designed to be used open site, the comb is really too low with a site, and can take a bit of getting used to.

I would also speak to your local shotgun smith, to see if they have any experience of servicing/repairing any of the makes, and if spares are available. Check with the importer of the make you favour.

Erwin at Alan Rhone is an expert with this type of rifle, and it would be worth emailing him, and asking if there's anything you should avoid.
 
Lateral is quite right about fit as these firearms are generally intended for almost instinctive shooting at short range (50 metres) using open sights. That's not to say that it's not possible to use them at longer ranges using a scope just that a removable comb raiser may be required. Using them up close and with open sights as intended is the joy though, otherwise you might as well buy yourself a bolt action rifle or even a cowboy gun if you don't have any taste or style. :D

Personally I don't see there being any issues with repairs and maintenance as they are all based on typical shotgun actions, some of the less expensive ones are even simplified shotgun actions because the barrel selection facility is removed.

I will endorse what Lateral says about Erwen (Alan Rhone) he is certainly familiar with express rifles.
 
8x57, I should have been clearer, I don't know how much a Zoli costs but I got the prices for the others from here http://www.roumaillac.com/80-carabine-de-chasse-pour-le-gros-gibier-pas-cher#s[83][]:24702&s[9][]:849-3960&s[15][]:&s[10][]:&sid:4&h:leftColumn&ics:80&abs:YToxOntpOjA7aToyNDcwMDt9&ob:price&ow:desc

I just keep thinking about "one rifle to hunt the world" for everything that isn't the Big 5 and a 9.3x74r would fit that bill nicely despite the limitations of a express rifle. However, I don't really want to spend as much as a Browning or Heym (or similar prices rifles) and didn't know of the cheaper stuff was any good.
 
Hi Jim, If you have woodland stalking, then an open sighted double would be just the ticket in an 8x57 or 9.3x74 or such like - just the ticket for a left and a right, as prickets often seem to travel in pairs at this time of year.The only pricket I have seen so far this season I could not get a shot at. It was 30 yards deep in dark cover. And the cross hair disapeared. Then it was gone. A double would have been perfect - or that was the excuse I was building in my head!!!
I recently saw a beautiful 8x60 Berry, Leige which was perfect, coming up like a it was made for me. £3000.00, all the way home I was thinking how to get it home!!!
Cheers Karamoja
 
No it wasnt, though very similar, that looks slightly nicer! Oh god, I won't be able to sleep now for days, ahhhhhhh! Off to scheme now.......
Karamoja
 
Greener Jim said:
8x57, I should have been clearer, I don't know how much a Zoli costs but I got the prices for the others from here http://www.roumaillac.com/80-carabine-de-chasse-pour-le-gros-gibier-pas-cher#s[83][]:24702&s[9][]:849-3960&s[15][]:&s[10][]:&sid:4&h:leftColumn&ics:80&abs:YToxOntpOjA7aToyNDcwMDt9&ob:price&ow:desc

I just keep thinking about "one rifle to hunt the world" for everything that isn't the Big 5 and a 9.3x74r would fit that bill nicely despite the limitations of a express rifle. However, I don't really want to spend as much as a Browning or Heym (or similar prices rifles) and didn't know of the cheaper stuff was any good.
Click to expand...


The prices seem reasonable, but I guess you need to see them close up to check the condition, and see what fits. In general terms, with a good fit, the open sites will line up automatically.
 
It's not a bad idea to get the calibre you want on your ticket and have a trip to France,
You would be quite surprised has to what you might find trolling round the gun shops,
And at decent prices.
 
I have a Browning CCS525 Elite in 9.3x74R. I have used it for 3 seasons on the boar and accounted for my share of the bag. Managed several right and lefts and once got 3 out of a train using a bit of nifty reloading. It shares many parts with Browning 525 20ga's and is gunsmith friendly. It is a practical and cost effective weapon if you desire a double, it has I beleive been discontinued and there is one in 8x57R on guntrader for £2100 or there abouts. Lateral's Chapuis is head and shoulders over the Browning, a wonderfully hand made weapon with gorgeous timber and fantastic handling. Pays yer money and takes yer choice.
 
Some very interesting comments you make there Vigilaire especially about the Chapuis being a head and shoulders above your CCS525 as I have a Chapuis rifle. My initial interest in express rifles was ignited some 35+ years ago on a visit to the Browning factory in Liege where I saw rack after rack of Browning O/U double rifles in mainly.30-06 calibre destined for the U.S.

It was love at first sight, and for the next 30 years I longed after such a rifle my desire fed annually by romantic pictures of such rifles on European driven shoots in each new issue of the glossy Browning catalogue. The rifles that I saw in the factory were probably high grade guns and definitely out of my price range. I also noted that the Browning express doesn't appear in the latest Browning catalogue which rather surprised me. However thinking about it the express rifle has probably dipped in popularity in recent years since Blaser, Merkel and Maral straight pull bolt action rifles have become more popular. These rifles have larger magazine capacity, more flexibility and potential for longer range shots as most express rifles are only regulated for 50 metres or so.

Do I fancy something like a Helix or a Maral? Yes absolutely without a doubt I do, but in addition to my Unifrance and Chapuis not instead of them.
After all I'm still a romantic at heart and can still picture myself on a cold winter's morning in Europe waiting with my express rifle in hand for the driven boar to come straight at my stand.:love:
 
OK, here's an additional question. Double rifles are generally used for quite short range driven game these days. But there's no particular reason you couldn't configure it for stalking too, is there? I mean with an appropriate variable scope,you could zero say the right barrel at 100m just like a single barrel rifle and use that as a stalking rifle. If you did that, could you then have good enough accuracy at say 50m to use the rifle effectively as a double?
 
Using an express rifle as your stalking rifle shouldn't be problem. I used to do it, until I bought a single shot but that's another thread.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Modular chiller and cutting room- experience needed
Replies
19
Views
797
Mickeydredd
Mickeydredd
Browning A5 16 Bore
Replies
6
Views
465
Heym SR20
Heym SR20
Just a niche item.
Replies
3
Views
340
Bsmall1521
Bsmall1521
Pixfra Draco 635 Vs HIK Habrok HQ35 4K Review
Replies
8
Views
1K
slider
slider
REACH derogation in EU for muzzleloaders
Replies
7
Views
428
Liveonce
L
1967spud Reloading Supplies Ltd - UK Suppliers for Reloading Equipment supplies, We also stock Bullet Heads and Bullet Cases Guns Cabinets, Night vision and much much more...
Back
Top