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1. CHASSE 4 4 Sm ty a 7 SS A N ATN WINO MOD Wy My TON N 103 N y AA gt VA V Ni my nil XV Mil AUTOUR DE i WAG LA BETE NOIRE A W 2 rembucher Sus scrofa en 2 W du Petit Roger y r CP Wy Msa cath drale ae q E n a d Ss 3 J 4 ul NS far CU A SS W e La FACCC prend 25 RSS PREN la voie du cerf ar N SNS eZ Ds Vili M lt SSS ur K Ki LH 7 nF Lem Ke AW thy NES Ay Ni PA A eee Millevaches et des sangliers a a PE Parabine rearmement lineaire A quelques encablures V4 Browning Maral calibre 30 06 de la grande bleue Les jumelles Kite Lynx HD economiques et performantes INCGG A Ollef avenir pour le grand gibier Q oc qp mel LA L16022 103 F LL ve a S LO LA BE A ER 1 D j o nN e E Co D a D X lt D OD 5 O 1 O M Te m Z M lt m Ta To o lt Qp SE Co Z UO A The Browning Maral 50 06 calibre straight PULL rifle rue SEM AUTO THATISNT When the Blaser 93 was launched other manufacturers took the plunge with their own straight pull models such as the Mauser 96 the Heym SR30 and the Browning Acera The idea was original and smart but the designs were rushed did not have the bene2. the old male popping his jaws Whether he heard me or smelt me don t know Out he comes and wheels around I ve forgotten to cock my Maral and lose two tenths of a second My first shot misses his heart and now he s in front of me charging to demolish the bogeyman who has hurt him step aside out of his way like a matador experience in the field The barrel of the Maral is almost touching him as put a 180 gr Power Max behind his ear He s struck down but does another metre before falling at my feet The base of his tail lies over my right boot With the adrenalin pulsing catch my breath The hounds had stayed back and now they come up They get their revenge by growling and biting at the brave animal s remains The trackers arrive pleased with the outcome Time for photos This boar hardly ever left the wood of thick black thorns and brambles and apparently killed one dog and very seriously wounded two others a fortnight earlier We reckon he is about 5 years old He tips the scales at 210 Ib all in His coarse and worn grey bristles and the scars tell us that he knew how to defend himself My first bullet would have killed him but not before he had got his own back While he was being cleaned every hunter there noted the lack of fat This wasn t a reared pig fed on maize and synthetic feed This was a real boar the kind you can still find around here The type of animal that y
3. Browning plant in Viana do Castelo Portugal and are finished and fitted to a very high standard
4. and secured to the breech carrier by a hex screw The walnut ball end is very practical and pleasing on the eye and hand When our Maral arrived It is quite easy to keep within a 25 mm group from 50 metres using the same scope if you are proficient in the intricacies of shooting The Maral s trigger pull contributes to the accuracy As long as your eyesight is still good the Maral still hits the inner target rings when sighting through the battue type ribs off a soft support The reviewer shot the target an outline of a whitetail deer resting on elbows from a distance of 100 metres on a hazy windless day in temperatures of 23 C Four Norma Oryx bullets made a large hole in the centre of the heart 4 Geco T Mantels would have grouped inside a coffee cup The difference in height is deliberate and due to the author s aiming for greater clarity These two different cartridges and bullet fire at almost the same point in our Maral range but O shown are there was a bit too much free play in the lever We tightened it up and it didn t move again even after we had fired off several boxes of 30 06 at slow and rapid rates The Maral barrel The barrel is cold hammered a process in which FN Excels and is chambered for the 30 06 Springfield cartridge a wise choice that makes for a versatile rifle even though as has been said before it
5. bya double The flat spring actuated breech draws unmodified firearm although some winding mechanism with a flat steel and chambers the next cartridge from the military firearms have been altered to spring much like a dressmaker s or magazine gunman s hand is already in produce near similar operation carpenter s tape measure located between position to fire the next shot The flat the operating rods spring delivers a smoother faster motion than a hand operated coil or spiral spring The double winding mechanism maintains a constant sprung tension The steel used to make the spring is highly resistant to overheating as proven in a The breech similar This simple to those on semi The strip spring is automatics maintains y et j ng en I ous attached to what acts as both of its operating S ys tem re cocks the gas block on BARs rods parallel under the Maral in one This simple yet ingenious cocks th fore m ie ti ue nds series of running boar shooting sessions the Maral cocks action As with the Merkel Helix the breech a snook at gas assisted operation pistons The user just has to pull on the breech to inside the receiver does not hinder the helical recoil springs and guide rods eject the spent cartridge and then let go shooter s aim during rapid firing and is a bonus passive safety feature Of Gatimel gunsmith shop in March and I ve just Marseille on the last driven hunt the balance We re near the agreed
6. Like Browning s semi automatic rifles the Maral is assembled at the company s ultramodern plant in Portugal where some sections are also built The front sight can be adjusted horizontally os A PT and vertically AT The independent cocking system is an increased safety feature A clear red dot shows when the rifle is cocked the remainder is shipped in from Liege Receiver Breech The Maral s receiver is practically indistinguishable from the one on the Zenith which was itself based on the famous BAR that was designed in 1966 and released to market in 1967 It is made from a light aircraft grade alloy has an ejection port that extends into a slit for the cranked cocking lever to slide into when fully opening the breech Chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grands Gibiers juin juillet 2014 43 The bolt release lever is not needed on the Maral and so does not feature in contrast to Browning s other semi automatics The sides of the receiver are designed to hold the same walnut inserts as the ZenithWood The upper section of the receiver is tapped to mount all types of optical sights The base retaining screws fit in steel inserts to ensure long service life This was a source of concern with some Short tracs and Vulcans but Browning was quick on the trigger with the necessary adjustments The breech is derived from those on the semi automatics The principle is unchanged with a 7 lu
7. e packaging assembly is unsurprisingly straightforward The screw tightens quickly and secures both sections of the Maral together without having to be forced The result seems sturdy and designed to stand the test of time but more of that later Once assembled and seen from the left hand side the Maral is virtually indistinguishable from the Zenith Wood The right hand side is surprising and may nonplus regular users of Browning semi automatics The long slender cocking lever seems odd and baffling as it looms backwards Its slightly over elaborate shape is the trade off for the straight pull action that rewards users with a quick reloading system FRY chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grands Gibiers juin juillet 2014 The Maral comes with a carefully designed battue type rib With the Maral closing the breech to chamber a round is a thing of the past the breech is self closing like a semi automatic But the most surprising aspect is the rifles inherently light feel and balance that belie the 7 23 lb of the model we tested The Maral also looks longer than the Zenith and our tape measure shows that at 44 inches it does outstrip its semi automatic cousin by 2 inches The media as a whole and most gunsmiths portray the Maral as a battue rifle but our impression after getting to grips with it for the first time is that the Maral is more than that it s a genuinely versatile rifle an aspect we ll look at again later
8. f better quality than you find on many models that cost nearly twice the price The Bavarian cheek piece features a prominent grip with a curvaceous swell that will suit most hands The fore end provides outstanding grip Alth ough not None of this will come our favourite type of gun this rifle did impre SS Tracs The experience as a surprise to anyone who knows their Zeniths and Short is inimitable To Browning s credit the stock is not too long for rapid fire from a standing position while also being practical for shooting off bags from raised hides supports and crouched or prone positions Those with long arms can extend the stock with the insert provided The Inflex butt plate does exactly what its designed to do The Maral is very comfortable to shoot in the test calibre The stock is removable so that the rifle can be carried unobtrusively but it isn t intended to be removed and refitted endlessly It screws easily into place with the T handle screwdriver provided and seems to hold securely in place but as with any removable item it PTY chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grands Gibiers juin juillet 2014 has to be done with care to avoid it working permanently loose and to prevent premature wear Part of our tests involved removing and refitting the stock a number of times and did not reveal any issues either with the strength of the assembly or the accuracy of the shot All the wood components are made at the
9. fit of field trials and were devoid of practical considerations The fast reloading action was spoilt by poorly r F A AL amp ri i TE 5 i positioned levers that required users to have arms as long as an T orang ut an s if they were to get the full benefit of the straight pull movement Maral Wood The quality of the wood in the featured model is outstanding for a rifle at this price When one of my friends a gunsmith and long standing Browning dealer received the Acera his first impression was that it interchangeable heel pad adjustable rear sight for users who don t like the battue D grips type rib removable ball locking sling The first impressions swivels a padlock for transport and a on seeing the Browning detailed user manual Fe hh T a JOLi ai ei was not clever by Browning If they d put Maral are positive despite some As with Browning s semi automatic in two springs they d have had a rifle that preconceived expectations The rifle is Zenith Wood the wood is the result of a reloaded automatically almost a semi delivered in a Browning carry case with discerning selection process and pleasing automatic with a removable magazine the stock removed complete with to the eye At first glance the finish seems Fifteen years later along came the Maral accessories screwdriver interchangeable more than decent for a mass produced gun With the stock out of its protectiv
10. g rotating bolt in the Brownings that is derived from the Armalite Colt AR10 15 This system gives a highly trustworthy sturdy locking mechanism and can endure high pressure Magnum cartridges while the initial turn of the breech head during the unlocking action results in an impressive primary extraction The lugs are seated in a barrel extending steel insert the only purpose of the alloy casing is to house the breech and hold the barrel Before the action begins Removable 4 round magazine with one in the chamber what many look outs want This is familiar tried and tested territory based on over a million rifles sold nearly all of them still in use today The relatively deep bolt face wraps around the base of the cartridge which is held by the sturdy and reliable extractor claw Spent cartridges are ejected by a spring loaded ejector Ejection is clean and reliable but with less punch than you get with a semi automatic an aspect that will please reloaders who like to get more use out of their cartridges he shooting tests were held over a number of sessions giving us the opportunity to have the Maral tested by several different shooters against running boar and fixed targets and to rate its practical accuracy rate of fire and ease of handling We only used Winchester Geco and Sellier amp Bellot factory cartridges with conventional 180 gr rounds and some Norma Oryx bullets of the same weig
11. g the rear sight or the battue ribs The semi floating barrel provides excellent accuracy over reasonable distances of 0 to 300 metres depending on the sighting system used and whether the user knows what he is doing It comes with an adjustable elevation battue type rib and a front sight that can be adjusted on two axes Green and red optic fibre inserts are a boon for fast aiming Stock bolt and cocking mechanism Not for the cack handed accuracy separate safe and silent cocking action and its practical removable magazine more out of place than a Sauer 303 that is pitched as multirole gun thanks to its high practical Chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grand The steel flat spiral spring The breech is open The Maral also comes with a rear sight that can be used in place of the battue type rib if preferred The rifle seems to be preset for a 98 yard shot to target Purchasers would be well advised to carefully read the user manual which covers this topic in some detail especially the position of the front sight in relation Two rods guide the return spring and the breech in a smooth motion to the rear sight when adjusting In 30 06 calibre 180 gr Winchester Power Point rounds are used All the metallic parts are flawlessly finished to the standard of the BAR Zenith Operating system The Maral has a novel operating system that is unique for a hunting rifle or any These have all been replaced
12. hen the magazine holds 5 or more cartridges This magazine is similar to the one on Browning semi automatics used in countries with a less paranoid attitude than France and has successfully stood the test of time and of loading action which can be far more The hunt has veered around they re on my right in another woodland across a field The Peltor makes it easy to keep track of the movement at bay ready to bolt The boar waits for the hounds and then bolts as the trackers approach The animals have the lead over the hunters The shouts from the trackers betray their fear for their young and inexperienced hounds which could be drawn into a head on fight with the young boar Finally the boar charges across the field Even from afar he looks imposing a mature animal and self assured He s too far away for me to shoot at and the following trackers would be along my line of fire He s about to go into the woods A dog barks in pain or fear a sign that it has been butted The boar swings around crosses on my right and straight into the brambles behind me If the boar and hounds mix it up in there it s going to be medieval There s only 3 me the trackers are far behind leave my position quickly and quietly There s a noise of bustling brambles barking hounds and a snorting dark beast get to within 20 feet of the brambles and hear the distinctive clacking sound of
13. ht It is this type of round that built the 30 06 s_ reputation for effectiveness since it was first used for hunting These standardised loads due to their use with old and semi automatic guns can travel at speeds of 2 690 to 2 756 fps ina 24 inch barrel The average speed of the ammunition used is around 2 690 fps in the Maral s 22 inch barrel The Norma Oryx were the fastest and most consistent rounds at 2 749 fps The times were registered using two different calibrated chronographs to ensure reliable results The temperature fluctuated between 22 and 24 C Manufacturers are increasingly upfront with this information and factory ammunition is of a high standard and hard to beat for hunting use a point worthy of note We fitted our test gun marketed as a battue rifle with an Aimpoint Micro H 1 2 MOA dot scope providing 6 cm of cover at 100 metres mounted on a Warne steel base From a distance of 100 metres the five shots of each test cartridge grouped within a maximum 50 mm circle with the Norma Oryx just edging jt on accuracy Accustomed as we are to adjusting vast numbers of rifles ncluding many Browning BAR and Short Tracs this level of accuracy comes as no surprise MA chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grands Gibiers juin juillet 2014 The cocking lever is an unorthodox shape but it does its job well It is slightly on the slender side
14. ic battue rifles lead us to conclude that the designer plans on the Maral being a versatile weapon together with the stock to show that the Weaver Picatinny mount maintains zero no notable variation in accuracy was found at distances of 50 100 and 150 metres against game the size of roe deer or a 30 kg boar Another myth from the world of guns and hunting held by people who mistake dreams for reality We had no problems with the semi floating barrel when firing off a soft rest or bags or froma freestanding position As with most modern guns ammunition and scopes when the game gets away were the ones to blame Getting back to the Maral the action is extremely fast thanks to its recoil spring but most of us who were putting it to the test including yours truly did not find it to be quicker than other straight pulls because of its relatively long breech stroke Now for hunting it is certainly more than adequate The real speed is still the accuracy of the first shot Despite its weight and look of a quasi semi automatic the Maral is perfectly uited to stalking and hide hunting and would be no A left hander firing a right hand version A special stock is available for left handed shooters The barrel ts rifled along 2 3 of its length pleasing on the eye and lighter in the hand A of Another benefit and a major one is that the tube extends the aiming line increasing accuracy when usin
15. is by no means the best calibre around Check whether this is the case with your Maral but it s good to know if you re running short of ammunition All those who used the Maral with the H 1 on the running boar target found it easy to handle cock and manoeuvre and a comfortable shooting experience At just under 8 Ib when loaded this is something that can definitely be put down to the gun s weight The accuracy was excellent The rifle was disassembled a number of times to check how well the stock fits Several series of rapid fire shots were performed including double shots in aim at a moving target to test how the spring and the winding mechanism resisted heat Operation was flawless 3 The Aimpoint H 1 scope was also removed and refitted sometimes The Maral s 22 inch barrel gets near perfect performance from the bullet and keeps muzzle waves and their damaging effects from the firers usually unfortunately unprotected ears Serious tests have shown that an additional 4 inches of tube cut the perceived noise level by 2 or 3 decibels in other words by around half depending on the calibre and ammunition used The barrel is rifled along two thirds of its length primarily for aesthetic purposes and to lighten the gun for perfect balance rather than to reduce heating as many sellers and users claim These extra two inches compared to the barrels of semi automat
16. ou often only kill by sheer luck because they know how to avoid humans and stand up to them if have to In any event this was a good baptism of fire for the Browning Maral and an excellent end to the season for the reviewer who had not wanted to go on the hunt As the saying goes It ain t over till it s over Chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grands Gibiers juin juillet 2014 47 Like the Zenith HC the Maral is cocked via an easy to use pushbutton positioned apart behind the receiver which makes it completely safe to carry the rifle with a round in the chamber The rifle is cocked using the thumb of the firing hand when shouldering as with a Blaser Merkel or Sauer This separate cocking system results in a lighter crisper higher quality trigger pull compared to a us conventional semi automatic Although not on a par with certain aforementioned German rifles which sometimes border on the silly and can even be dangerous on driven hunts the Maral s trigger pull is clean and ensures excellent accuracy The uncocking action is straightforward Of course the safety pushbutton behind the trigger guard is not used Stock and fore end The stock and fore end of the Browning Maral and 4 the inserts that gracethe ff a4 casing are made from high quality walnut that rather flatters a rifle with this price tag ee E A enalin rush i our reviewer sand the last boar sc MES and are o
17. to join my of the season the next day Durance river close to the on driven hunts for six years friend Nicolas Bonniel owner Ro don t want to go but he Luberon hills and it s a hot Through the wonder of convinced me when he morning There are 7 look outs electronics soon hear an animal RE slipping away perhaps a fox listen in even harder No it s a large hare that s stopped 50 feet ahead then it s some roe deer A goat also stops by waiting for last It was this last point that tipped Then I switch on my Peltor which has been my constant companion 3 trackers anda pack In action ejection is reliable of young hounds training for the next season Our aim for the day is to have fun shoot some young boars and year s kids to catch up wondering what an odd creature like me is doing here in its wood Suddenly 3 they all spring away out of sight the shooter can keep the rifle told me that Maybe even a fox or two I m into the woods We let them go shouldered and maintain aim There wontbe FESSES Le nel nooo ae The hounds bark as the trackers gt during the action many of us a few safe wide shooting angle anda Gall them back on the trail of the friends a beautiful good view of the hunt Off OISE boars They pass by The hunt landscape some boars MY Jacket and start taking some goes on Some fifteen minutes and an opportunit
18. y for photos Then the trackers loose later two shots ring out bang R you to get some photos te hounds put the Nikon down bang followed by barking of your Maral chamber a 30 06 and insert the shouting and two more shots magazine with its four rounds FTA chasse SANGLIER PASSION amp Grands Gibiers juin juillet 2014 er 2 i e i j The Maral Sina i the Peltorear defenders were a a great help to the reviewer during this e BER hunt P Ps The cartridges are fed in from a inconvenient The apple green almost Here too the benefit of having the removable steel magazine with a synthetic bottom The sides have been carefully shaped to restrict the amount of forward creep due to recoil Although most huntsmen think that the nose of the bullet is deformed in this kind of situation this is of little consequence for a battue shoot However a c artridge that has slipped forwards in the magazine can impair the fluorescent follower is a good indicator of the gun s status when the breech is open and reassuring for hunt companions Such small details add up when it comes to purchasing or using a hunting rifle This is a reliable 4 round standard calibre dual column magazine that is easy to reload detach and insert cartridges fed axially from a single stack magazine does not bear comparison to a dual column magazine like the one on the Maral especially w
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