CZ Yearbook 2019 /eng

72 | | 73 only a quick reaction to pick the right target but also a weapon that enables the shooter to fire repeatedly in a flash. A specif ic gun has therefore been created for battues, just as there is one for the hunting of big Af rican game – a rifle with two barrels. In Europe, a rifle with the barrels placed on top each other has become the ideal solution, it is a so- called over and under rifle, ge- nerically called the Express, af- ter a model of the same name. Express from Brno With its ergonomically friend- ly receiver, the BRNO COMBO rifle/shotgun was perfect as the basis for a new model that would be equipped with two NOT JUST A BATTUE SPECIAL One of the main animals hunted in Europe today is the wild boar. This highly intelligent and resilient animal has spread around most of the continent. Modern agricultural methods suit them, the boar has learned to live mainly in the night and they have prac- tically no natural enemy. Because of these factors, the number of wild boar has grown significantly over the last sever- al decades, which has resulted in some problems – damage in agriculture and recently also a risk of infection f rom Af ri- can swine fever. As a preven- tive measure, most authorities have suggested to radically re- duce their numbers. One way how to achieve this is by organized battues. During a battue, groups of wild boar are forced to move in daylight and hunters have a chance to hunt them down even though their senses are not as good as the boar’s. However, when a large number of potential targets materializes in front of a shoot- er, such hunting requires not rifle barrels. To fully exploit the potential of this gun, it was nec- essary to redesign the trigger mechanism so that the shooter wouldn’t have to reposition his or her finger, that is, to equip the model with a single trigger. The resultingmodel, theBRNO EXPRESS, also uses a thermo- stable barrel block, where the barrels are not soldered to- gether but are fixed in a sleeve. This means that when heated, they can f reely expand. Even when one or both barrels BRNO EXPRESS heat up substantially during rapid f ire, the mean point of impact doesn’t change in ei- ther barrel and neither does the barrel regulation. Another much appreciated quality of the thermostable bar- rel block is the option to exactly adjust the barrel regulation rea- sonably easily, using the desig- nated screws. Does the shooter want to have the intersection point of both barrels at 50 me- tres? They can have it. Do they want it at 150 or 200m? It’s up to them. Even if the shooter chang- es their ammunition, especially with regard to its weight, and the intersection point changes, again, it is possible to adjust the barrel block anew. All it takes is one visit to a shooting range. For prompt and accurate shooting The single trigger in the BRNO EXPRESS switches between the barrels mechanically. Un- like an inertial system, the sec- ond round f ires immediately after the trigger is pulled even if the first barrel misfires for some reason. To serve its purpose, a battue rifle must have sights that enable fast intuitive aim- ing even in low visibility and at a fast-moving target. The BRNO EXPRESS over and under rifle is therefore fitted with a fibre op- tic front sight so the shooter can find the point of aimquickly. Also, to fully exploit its great ac- curacy potential, the BRNO EX- PRESS is equipped with a rail for the attachment of a sighting de- vice – a collimator sight or a rifle- scope, depending on the prefer- ences of the shooter and the type of hunting. There is a choice of ei- ther a dovetail mount (identical to the BRNO COMBO rifle/shotgun) or themore popularMIL-STD-1913, also known as a Picatinny rail. The BRNO EXPRESS is made in European calibres intended for bolt action firearms, that is cal- ibres which have proven to be reliable in bolt action firearms as well as effective on large Eu- ropean hoofed game. And Zbro- jovka Brno relies only on tried and tested calibres. Versatility In the past, the complex and demandingmanufacture of the barrel block resulted in a higher price which prevented Express style rifles gaining wider popu- larity. Some shooters were also worried about having to carry out complicated adjustments of the barrels when switching ammunition. Neither of these arguments applies to the BRNO EXPRESS over and under rifle. You may feel that you do not have enough boar to deal with in your hunting district to warrant the purchase of the Express, but the BRNO EXPRESS is not just a battue special – it is an extreme- ly accurate and versatile rifle that can be used in the hunting of any hoofed game. It is a rifle that distils down the shooting expe- rience, enabling you to show off everything youhave ever learned. The BRNO EXPRESS has arrived and it is waiting for you. The de- cision is yours. In any case, the cost of entry is affordable for almost anyone.