SHOOTING
by Terry Wieland
CHAPUIS ARMES 28-GAUGE FAISAN CLASSIC OVER/UNDER
The name Chapuis Armes is better-known in connection with double rifles than fine shotguns. Friends of mine, professional hunters in Africa, have Chapuis doubles in dangerous-game calibers and would not if they did not have absolute confidence in them. When I got the chance to shoot some new-to-America Chapuis shotguns, I was looking forward to it. Honesty compels me to report, however, that when I first shot the Chapuis Armes 28-gauge Faisan, I was less than impressed. It was pleasant enough aesthetically, sporting most features found on European over/unders in its price range. The walnut stock is nice but not extravagant; the laser ornamenta- tion is suitable for the gun, but will never make the Museum of Fine Art. Functionally? Quite stiff to open and close—alas, not uncommon in this era of CNC machining and tolerances so close they often interfere with some functions. But there you have all the bad. Now for the good. The more I shot it, the more I liked it. And the more I liked it…well, you know the rest. Being skeptical of my own first reactions, a couple of friends were enlisted for second opinions, and those—aside from the stiffness—were universally positive. There were some audible gulps when I told them the price, but that’s not unusual. Handing it around, we shot Skeet until the barrels were almost too hot to touch, but none of us wanted to stop or give up the gun. Tells you something. Suggested retail: $6,699. https://chapuis-usa.com
CHRISTENSEN ARMS MPR RIFLE
Big-game hunting is in a new era of high-quality rifles. The standards of two decades ago—wonderful walnut, reworked military actions, put together by master craftsmen in small shops—are being replaced by modern designs owing less to Paul Mauser than to the iMac, produced in high-tech factories. Abetting this transition are changing methods of hunting. Today, the most productive whitetail hunting is from fixed stands, and this approach is slowly encroaching elsewhere. The emphasis today is on pinpoint accuracy, especially at extended ranges. At the same time, there is a substratum of hunters who emphasize super-fitness and climbing off into the clouds with their homes on their backs, muscles rippling. For them, accuracy and power are important, but so is weight. In the past, super-accurate rifles were heavy and, even from a stand, too much is too much. Rifle designers have been trying to reduce weight and increase ease of use, while keeping costs reasonable. The use of synthetic stocks plays a major role in all three—accuracy, weight and usability. Christensen Arms has established a wonderful reputation in the world of chassis rifles and long-range target and tactical shooting. Its MPR (Modern Precision Rifle) bolt action sounds more tactical than hunting oriented but is a super-lightweight (less than seven pounds), super-accurate (sub-MOA, guaranteed) rifle that would be equally at home on a mountaintop, prowling a creek bed, or ambushing feral hogs. Carbon fiber everything, two action lengths, many calibers. This one is a 6mm Creedmoor. Starting at $2,499. https://christensenarms.com
MEOPTA MEOPRO OPTIKA5 4-20X50 RD
Optical equipment has never been better than it is today: never more variety, never higher quality. While the needs of snipers and ultra-long-range competitors are served by mammoth scopes with 35mm tubes, there remains a need for top-quality conventional scopes. The one-inch tube is still the most useful all-around scope size for the majority of hunting rifles, yet in the rush, first to 30mm tubes, now to 36mm, many manufacturers neglected their one-inch lines. An exception is Meopta of the Czech Republic. While it produces 30mm and 34mm tubes sporting features and reticles that are beyond what many of us need (or can understand), Meopta also goes to great pains to ensure there is new stuff for the rest of us— we who write our own checks and can’t depend on the Pentagon. The scope you see here is the MeoPro Optika5 4-20×50 RD. The ‘5’ denotes a magnification range of 5x, with others in the series having magnifications of 2-10×42, and 3-15×44. The 4-20 is currently perched on a pre-’64 Model 70 in .220 Swift, where it looks right at home. It has illumination and is available with two different (but unconfusing) reticles—one a variation on the familiar duplex, the other on the German #4. The reticle is in the second focal plane, meaning it does not get larger as magnification increases. The lenses are fully coated, including a hydrophobic treatment to repel water. Parallax correction, eyepiece focusing, everything. The price? $549. Yes, you read that correctly. https://meoptasportsoptics.eu
STANDARD MANUFACTURING SG22
Since the early 1900s, the Colt Woodsman has been the semi-automatic .22 pistol against which all others are compared—and against which, most are found wanting. It was one of the late designs of the great John M. Browning. Since it was in production from 1915 to 1977, and underwent periodic model changes, its history is far too long to detail here. Suffice to say, the series two guns (1947-1955) are considered by connoisseurs to be the best of the bunch in terms of design, workmanship and aesthetics. Tony Galazan’s Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company has mastered the art of recreating great guns from American history, starting with the A.H. Fox side-by-side, and continuing now with the Parker and Winchester Model 21. His subsidiary, Standard Manufacturing, specializes in “the production of tactical and classic firearms,” including both Colt 1911s and Peacemakers. Now, it has the SG22, which is a second-series Woodsman in all but name— down to and including magazines that are interchangeable with the originals, and even sporting the “tombstone” slide catch of the old Match Targets. This is no small thing, as anyone who has searched for original series-two mags will attest. The SG22 has a 6⅝-inch barrel, thumb rest walnut grips, and adjustable rear sight, and bears an uncanny resemblance to the wonderful Browning Challenger of the 1960s—itself a variation on the Woodsman. Standard Manufacturing’s SG22 has discreet engraving and a “royal blue” finish, but other embellishments are (or will) be available. List price: $1,499. https://connecticutshotgun.co
