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essais
Our selection for hunters
The Maral rifle by
Browning
BIG G AME
NTING
BATTUE HU
photo : lcf/a.magny, ill.: j.konatowicz
The Belgian giant has come back to rifles with a straight-pull
action by borrowing most of the components from the Bar
rifle. By Francis Grange
Browning has already produced a
straight-pull rifle between 1999 and
2009 – the Acera. It was a good gun,
efficient and reliable, but a little
“rough” to handle. This is what
probably explains its limited success.
And also what motivated the firm to
endow the Maral with an original bolt
forward-return system, which makes
all the difference in firing when
compared with other rifles of the same
type. Other than that, the Maral
borrows most of its parts from the Bar,
especially in the latter’s latest version,
the Zenith Wood HC with manual
cocking (“Plein feu sur” in the January
2013 edition). This choice guarantees
that, technically, the new Maral has
been perfectly mastered from the very
beginning and that it is presented at a
very attractive price. The version lent
to us for testing has a 9.3x62 chamber
and was equipped by Browning with a
very high-performance scope, the
Leica Magnus 1-6,3x24 with a 4AL
illuminated reticule. As a result, the
weight of the gun is increased from
3.080 to 3.920 kg. Which, when
associated with pivoting assembly of
the unit which is too high, transforms
the Maral into the ideal gun for firing
perfect shot patterns on the shooting
range … but is frankly not ideal
for battue hunts.
Whereas the gun’s natural use is for hunting in groups, even if it can
make a very good impression when stalking or still-hunting, due to its
remarkable accuracy. Especially, when only talking about the
ammunition used in our tests, with Geco cartridges with a 16.5g TMR
bullet; the 15.0 g Norma Vulkan, also used, was clearly less suited to the
Maral’s barrel. This brilliant new model, most certainly destined to live a
magnificent commercial career, is on sale at a price of about 2,390€
(4,990€ with the Leica scope already mounted and adjusted).
An
entrancing,
terribly
effective gun!
Juin 2013 - LE CHASSEUR FRANçAIs
45
essais
Nos choix pour le chasseur
Calibre : 9,3x62.
Barrel: 56 cm, piped, bronzed black.
Stock : Asymmetrical pistol-grip with a slight
“hog’s back", mechanical chequering, and semi-gloss
oil-rubbed; full anti-recoil pad in black composite
material.
Fore-end : Semi-anatomic tulip-shaped
Sights : battue type rib with a V cross-section and a
‘U’ shaped notch, framed by two luminous green
dots and underlined by a long white line; thin,
circular section, red fluorescent foresight,
surrounded by a black circle (test model: Leica
Magnus 1-6,3x24 scope with a 4AL illuminated
reticule; rotating mount).
Mechanism :, straight-pull bolt mechanism with a
forward return spring and 7-lug, rotating head bolt.
Manual cocking, with a central push-button located
at the back of the breech-box.
Breechbox : in light alloy with a black satin finish
and walnut side-grips; bases provided for easy
scope-fitting.
Magazine: removable, for holding three cartridges;
unlocked by a lever located in front of the trigger guard.
Trigger: direct, gold-coloured.
Safety: none (manual cocking).
Weight: approx 3.080 kg (without scope; with scope:
3,920 kg).
Versions: Winchester magnum calibre 300 (with a 58
cm barrel); luxury finish.
Price: Approx. 2,390 € (with Leica scope mounted and
set: 4,990 € approx.).
Producer: Browning International, Parc industriel des
Hauts-Sarts, 3e avenue, 25, B-4040, Herstal, Belgium
(Phone 00.32.42.40.52.11.
MANUAL COCKING
BUTTON, Very reassuring,
combines discretion in use with
perfectly convincing ergonomics.
Even so, it could be improved by
a little more smoothness in use.
46 LE CHASSEUR FRANçAIS - Juin 2013
The Maral captivates by the
sensations it creates when in
action.
Once the Leica scope – heavy and
mounted a good centimetre too
high – was removed from our gun
as its weight pulled the whole gun
dreadfully to the side, shouldering
became lightning-fast. And the
breech’s automatic forward return
system gives the rifle incredible
flexibility and ease of handling.
These two key-points make the
Maral a master-piece of
functionality and efficiency for
battue hunting. It goes way beyond
expectations in terms of accuracy
for this type of hunting. The only
criticisms concern its trigger action
and its “automatic” percussion
with the shortcomings created by
this type of system, when the Maral
is, of course, a bolt-action rifle. But
what does it matter, this Browning
rifle is fantastically talented and it
gives promise of fabulous success
in the field for its future users.
ct
i
Verd
THE FINE GOLDEN TRIGGER
borrowed from the Bar is closer – by
the feeling it gives – to the trigger on
an automatic rifle than to that of a
bolt-action gun.
A pity
Excellent
• Prestige of the brand
• Brilliant design
• Precision manufacturing
• Safety in use
• Handling the breech
• Comfortable positioning on the
stock
• Ease of handling-vivacity
• Sights (open)
• Weights
• Accuracy
• Magazine
Good
• Fore-end holding
• The cocking system
• Lines
• Wood
• Finish
Average
A star is born!
• Trigger
• Percussion
To be reviewed
• Stability when using a scope
OUR MARKS
Handling, comfort in use, sights
Barrel, quality of shot patterns
Reloading mechanism
Trigger, firing, safety
Aesthetics, wood, finish
PRICE : 2 390 € approx.
Good-feeling
mark:
16,5/20
Technical
mark
15/20
Excellent value
for money
photos : lcf/a.magny
a
Dat et
e
sh
AN ELEGANT PIPED
BARREL,, Even if its usefulness
remains to be proved, the barrel
gives the Maral an accuracy
considerably better than what is
required when hunting big game
in a group and firing at normal
distances.
THE BOLT
LEVER,studied
solely for providing
optimal
functionality, is,
even so, by no
means ungainly. It
fits in well with the
gun’s lines
(relatively complex).
Juin 2013 - LE CHASSEUR FRANçAIs
47