12
Review Roundup
Fierce CT Edge
GUN TEST
Bruce Potts takes a look a factory rifle that guarantees the performance of a custom
Sporting Gun is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000
NEED TO KNOW “Fierce Firearms, based in Quebec, Canada, started producing high-precision items for the firearms industry and now produce precision rifles of their own. To this end, Fierce have manufactured an extraordinary range of rifles with guaranteed accuracy of 1/2 MOA at 100yds with recommended ammunition. “You can opt for the Rival model, which has a Remington 700-type footprint and a two-lug bolt, or the Edge model, here on test, with a Sako 85 footprint. But in both cases the build quality is more custom than factory. “The Edge rifles show their precision and custom credentials with a lightweight yet superstrong carbon-fibre constructed stock, and the
CONCLUSION “Carbon-fibre wrapped barrels and carbon-fibre composite stocks are here to stay and Fierce have used them to all their advantages, both in light weight for better handling and for strength with a consistent bedding from that stiff stock design. You can feel the precision built into these rifles.”
barrel is match-grade hand-lapped stainless steel with Fierce’s proprietary C3 carbon-fibre wrapped barrel technology. Add to this a superb trigger system and stainless steel detachable magazine, and you have yourself a really nice stalking rifle in your hands. Best of all, this rifle came chambered for the new 6.5 PRC round, so it will be really interesting to test.
“The Edge has a choice of stainless steel or titanium (on test) actions, this CT Titanium model, although pricey at £5,720, really makes the already light Edge into a nimble stalking rifle. You also have a tough black Cerakote finish, making it impervious to the weather. Carbon-fibre barrelled models weigh 6.6lb and the titanium actioned CT model weighs a scant 6.1lb.”
Zoli Kronos M-Sport
n MANUFACTURER: Fierce Firearms, Canada n MODEL: Fierce Carbon CT Edge 6.5 PRC rifle n TYPE: Bolt-action carbon-fibre sporter n CALIBRE: 6.5 PRC n MAGAZINE: 4-shot detachable n ACTION: Titanium n FINISH: Carbon fibre and Cerakote n BARREL: Carbon-fibre wrapped, 24” n OVERALL LENGTH: 44.5” n WEIGHT: 6.1lb n SIGHTS: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts n STOCK: Carbon-fibre sporter n TRIGGER: Single-stage adjustable n PRICE: £5,720
GUN TEST
This may not be the most eye-catching over-and-under in the gun rack, says Jonny Carter, but it performs up there with the big boys “In short, the Kronos M-Sport shoots very, very well. Before writing this, I took this gun out on three occasions—twice on clays at Barbury and once into the pigeon hide. The first standout with the gun was a proper ‘big boys pants’ stand, a teal shooting up and away starting at 30 yards, followed by a left-to-right looper at 60. Why start easy? With a gun that weighs 8lb 8oz, you have to walk into a stand with a plan.” “It’s a big, heavy gun and needs to be shot accordingly, moving hold points out and reducing movements down so that you’re not chasing clays in vain and tiring your arms out too. “I walked out of that first stand with a 9/10. This gun, when moved correctly, is as sweet a gun to shoot as they come, moving well with very smooth recoil. I went on to shoot five more stands and although there were some misses, they were few and far between. I was feeling it that day and the gun and I really got on. “Compare this to the next time I took it out,
16 /20 /20
ACTION AND BARRELS Solid action and great barrel spec
Shooting Times is published by Fieldsports Press and is available for wholesale from Seymour on 0207 429 4000
indeed. I even put my auto down in the end. On a day when most birds were not coming within 30 yards, the control on this gun actually helped out, although my arms were pretty tired at the end of the day.” when after a long day of filming I grabbed this gun and went for another 100 to see how I got on. This was a different experience again. Being tired, I found myself walking into stands and just hoping
I would hit some clays with little forethought and poor concentration. I missed a lot more than I did that first time out. “How did it get on in a pigeon hide? Very well
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83
HANDLING Amazing when used correctly
TRIGGER Almost perfect, I couldn’t fault it
STOCK Solid condition and spec but plain looks
VALUE Not expensive but no bargain
OVERALL SCORE Fantastic on clays but could be prettier
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NEED TO KNOW n MAKE: Zoli n MODEL: Kronos M-Sport n PRICE: £4,700 n CALIBRE: 12-bore n WEIGHT: 8lb 8oz n BARRELS: 29.5in and 32in n CHOKES: Multichoke n STOCK: Monte Carlo adjustable stock n FINISH: Matt-black finished barrels and action n FORE-END: Beavertail n WARRANTY: 10 years n IMPORTER: edgarbrothers.com
