André
.333 member
Reged: 28/06/04
Posts: 254
Loc: Brussels (Belgium)
|
|
I drive hunt with a Belgian handmade (custom shop) FN-Browning O/U in 9,3x74R. Engraving is signed by José Baerten, former FN's head master engraver. It has been scoped with a Swarovski 1,25-4x24 ("battue" circle dot reticle)in Sühler clawmounts and, after re-regulation, both bbls. shoot in the same hole at 60 m.




Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 11:14 AM)
|
AzGuy
.333 member
Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 388
Loc: Prescott, Arizona, USA
|
|
Andre,
SWEET!!!
Beautiful rifle and a shooter. Congrats!
-------------------- Hike the Grand Canyon, you will never be the same!
|
JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
|
|
Very nice - those real Brownings are lovely.
|
ozhunter
.400 member
Reged: 18/08/04
Posts: 1692
Loc: Sydney, Australia
|
|
Thats a rifle I would love to use tracking Eland in Zim or Mozambique with... Has It been to Africa?
|
André
.333 member
Reged: 28/06/04
Posts: 254
Loc: Brussels (Belgium)
|
|
Correct Jabali, you're a connoisseur. This is indeed a genuine CCS 25 built on a differently machined and heat treated B 25 20 ga action forging (not a recent B 525 20 ga shotgun fitted with a pair of rifle bbls.).
Ozhunter, this rifle never left its original country (I'm reluctant to travel with it) and only shot -but then, lots of them- Roedeer, Red deer, Wild Boars during drive hunts.
-------------------- André
---------------------------------
3 shots do not make a group, they show a point of aim or impact.
5 shots are a group.
|
ducota
.275 member
Reged: 27/04/07
Posts: 75
Loc: Portugal
|
|
This is indeed a genuine CCS 25 built on a differently machined and heat treated B 25 20 ga action
Hi, that's an interesting issue, it is definitely a FN 25 but from the photos you can not state that it was built on a 20 ga action. In fact some FN 25 doubles were/are built on B25 20 ga actions but others are made specifically as double rifles and these are the true CCS25. There are some minor but distinctive differences. As some of us are interested in these obscure themes, I will be back with some photos to point out the differences. Meanwhile here go some pics of my CCS (which is a CCS25 built from the begining to be double)




Pictures 2 and 3 are important to determin if the action was built for a shotgun or a double. Picture 4 helps to set 25 models apart from 125 ones. I'll be back soon with the explanation.
Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 11:19 AM)
|
JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
|
|
I'll look forward to that - thanks
|
André
.333 member
Reged: 28/06/04
Posts: 254
Loc: Brussels (Belgium)
|
|
I believe Ducota is referring to the different machining between 20 ga sized shotgun and rifle actions. In a rifle destined action lateral walls are much thicker and the bottom is not hollowed out, making for a much sturdier and heavier action. Of course, subsequent heat treatment is also adapted to the higher rifle pressures. To illustrate the point, here's a pic of my rifle action (R) next to one of my B25 shotguns (L):

Although the shotgun is a 12 ga, the comparison with the "smaller" 20 ga sized rifle action still points to the latter's thicker walls and full bottom devoid of lightening cuts. One more difference is the presence of hollow gas screws in the right side of the action to provide a lateral escape route to gas, should a case burst or a primer leak. One has to hold the rifle in hand and look very closely to locate the screws for the screw heads are covered by the engraving.
-------------------- André
---------------------------------
3 shots do not make a group, they show a point of aim or impact.
5 shots are a group.
Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 11:21 AM)
|
ducota
.275 member
Reged: 27/04/07
Posts: 75
Loc: Portugal
|
|
André, you have said it all, there is no point on loading my photos because yours is perfect to show the differences. Congratulations on your babies.
|
JabaliHunter
.400 member
Reged: 16/05/07
Posts: 1958
Loc: England
|
|
I discovered this and thought I would post it here for posterity:
Browning Express This over-and-under double rifle has roots going all the way back to 1931, when FN/Browning brought the original Express rifle based on the B-25 shotgun. The original Express was built only for 7x65Rmm (a rimmed version of the 7x64mm Brenneke) and 9.3x74Rmm, with 25.625" barrels. It has a raised rib on the top of the barrel that has a folding rear sight and is drilled and tapped for a scope. Express barrels are of chrome-molybdenum steel joined together with a rib and silver solder. The Express has intricately-engraved side plates and a box lock.
From 1978 to 1994, the Express Continental joined the standard Express; this rifle was made for .30-06 Springfield and 9.3x74Rmm cartridges, with exchange barrels for 20 Gauge shotgun shells. In 1987, a version of the Express firing either 9.3x62mm Mauser or .375 H&H Magnum was added; the 9.3x62mm Mauser version used the same 25.625" barrels, but the .375 H&H Magnum version used shorter 23.625" barrels. In 1992, the Express Europa was introduced; this is virtually the same weapon as the standard Express, but also comes in .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 9.3x62mm Mauser versions, each of which have 24-inch barrels.
The Express CCS European Classic (later known as simply the Express CCS) appeared in 1996, made for 8mm JRS and 9.3x74Rmm, with 22-inch barrels. The Express CCS Herstal appeared at the same time, in the same chamberings, but with 23.625" barrels (reduced in 1998 to 23.25 inches). Also appearing at the same time was the Express CCS-25, chambered for a wide variety of cartridges and with either 24-inch or 25.625-inch barrels. The Express CCS-375 African was introduced in 2000; it chambers the .375 H&H Magnum round, has 23.625-inch barrels, and is much heavier than most of the Express line.
The Express Erice was introduced in 2001 as a luxury version of the Express; it chambers only two rounds, with 22-inch barrels, but the artwork on the weapon is first-class and gold-inlaid, and the stock is of the finest walnut root. The Express Erice can also change the convergence of its rounds by means of moveable spacers for the barrels. The Express Erice Duo was the final version, introduced in 2001; it has the fine quality of the Erice, plus interchangeable barrels that allow the shooter to fire either twin barrels of 8mm JRS, 9.3x74Rmm, or a 20 Gauge shotgun rounds. It also has long 28-inch barrels.
FN Express Double Rifle This rifle is an improved version of the old Browning Superposed shotgun, turned into a rifle. It is an over-and-under design, and has the addition of a reduced-wear breech and a top-lever system for selection of the barrel to be fired. Most of these rifles are built with expensive woods and intricate engraving on the action. Because of the design of the weapon, only one barrel may be fired at a time.
|
André
.333 member
Reged: 28/06/04
Posts: 254
Loc: Brussels (Belgium)
|
|
To complete the story, I was told once by FN that the 1st Express rifle ever made was a special gift to a celebrity (who ?), with no intent to go into production. That single rifle got such a publicity that it created enough demand for FN to start making them on special order. The original CCS25 has always remained a custom shop project. Inventory was low, prices very high and waiting time quite long. Each rifle was issued with an authentification certificate identifying the craftsmen who worked on the rifle.
-------------------- André
---------------------------------
3 shots do not make a group, they show a point of aim or impact.
5 shots are a group.
Edited by DRarchive (30/07/08 11:22 AM)
|
hoppdoc
.400 member
Reged: 02/03/06
Posts: 1791
Loc: Southeastern USA
|
|
A handsome fine weapon to hunt with,enjoy and cherish!! Uniqueness and real quality are a great combo!!
-------------------- An armed man is a citizen of his country, an unarmed man just a subject.
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
FN makes a fine rifle, my father loves his combo 9.3x74r and 20ga. He has taken much game with it in Spain, and Mongolia. Congratulations to you my friend.
|