Gaining impetus: Franchi Momentum Elite Review

Franchi is well-known. Take a look at the Franchi Momentum Elite enhanced hunting rifle. The Affinity is the best semi-auto shotgun. It’s affordable, inertia drive, and has a host of over/unders that leave no room for error. It was quite a surprise when the Italian gunmaker took a shot at the budget hunting rifle market in 2018. You might as well get in on the action and make a polymer-frame, striker fired pistol. The rifle end is even more competitive. They are not only affordable, but they also allow newcomers to compete against the powerhouses like Ruger, Savage and Browning. You might ask a Ford or Chevy guy if he would give a Fiat another go. It’s a tough sell. Momentum has proven to be a formidable opponent to the old guard. Three years later, Franchi is looking to grab another piece of the pie with its upgraded and improved flagship. The Momentum Elite is a line expansion that is priced at $899. After spending some time with the 6.5 Creedmoor Elite, you’ll see that the package offers many benefits and is well worth the investment. The Momentum Elite also continues to challenge the shotgun specialist in the hunting rifle market. It sports a polymer stock, as is typical in the bolt-action market. Although it doesn’t seem to bend my nose, my traditionalist streak tends towards hunting rifles. Franchi offers four camo patterns on the Elite version of polymer: Realtree Excape (what was on my rifle), TrueTimber Strata and Optifade Elevated II. These options blend well with most of North America’s environments. Pull the barreled and you’ll find a pair of recoil-lugs embedded in a V-shaped near the front action screw. The slots are milled into bottom of receiver. The lugs interfacing perfectly center the rifle in stock and ensure rigid mate-up. The Momentum Elite is straight and unaffected by recoil. Although the Momentum Elite is not intended to be a long-range hunter rifle, its mechanical consistency sets it apart. Franchi recesses sling studs and offers a low profile design that won’t impede gear movement. The rifle has enough room to allow a standard sling its job. Bipod users will appreciate the fact that the forend extends beyond the front attachment point. This is a departure from the standard rifle design. This extra space gives the accessory more surface to attach to and creates a solid base. This may seem like a small feature, but it’s not. The rifle’s pistol grip makes it easy to tuck your Elite into the shoulder. The fore and buttstock also have grid texturing. However, the forend is much flatter and wider that the blade-like ones found on most hunting rifles. The rifle can be used as a rest, whether it is a backpack or a fence post. The Elite’s rear has a nearly pistol grip, textured with a touch swell. Franchi, relying on their shotgun knowledge, finishes the entire thing with a TSA recoilpad. This makes the Elite very responsive. This design is more cost-effective than traditional machining, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t affordable. The system provides unparalleled lockup with maximum case head to bolt contact when stripping a round from the magazine. This reduces the possibility of misfeeds. Yes, please. It’s quick and compatible with almost any scope. The 60-degree bolt throw is what makes the push-feed stand out. The rifle cycles quickly due to its slightly larger bolt handle and chrome-plated spiral-cut bolt. It runs like a mustang. It has a greater clearance for large optics. This is a trend in recent years, as precision glass becomes more affordable. I put it to the test by running an Athlon Helos Gen2 6-24x56mm in a set Talley Modern Sporting rings in the Picatinny rail. It’s quite a lot of glass, especially for this rifle style. This glass is better suited to a chassis rig or long-range build. The Momentum Elite was able to withstand the elements and not lose a single round cycling. The rifle can eject spent brass like no tomorrow, and it does so by ejecting cases to the side, which saves expensive optics from further abuse. Although most hunters will use a more serious scope, I found that the Momentum Elite’s Athlon was the best choice. Trigger, barrel and other stuff are all good assets, but a rifle without a good trigger is a bad weapon. This is an area that the Momentum Elite excels in. Although it doesn’t have a catchy brand name, the trigger can be adjusted with a range of 2 to 4 pounds. The switch was easy to use and didn’t require any further modification. My model arrived at the factory with a slight break of 2 1/2 pounds, according to my Wheeler Trigger Pull Scale. This is perfect for range testing. The trigger’s performance was flawless. It didn’t show any creep and broke like autumn ice. It’s difficult to imagine what more a hunter could need. The Momentum Elite is a two-position safety that features a large switch and a large trigger. It can also be used with any caliber (Franchi offers eight). The barrel of the Momentum Elite is either 22- or 24 inches cold-hammer-forged. The longer fire tubes are available on magnum and Creedmoor models. This increases accuracy and range. Franchi threads the muzzle, but it does more than protect modern shooters. The rifle comes with a removable muzzle break. The rifle’s light weight (7.5 pounds unloaded and with no scope) makes it a bit sluggish, even when firing mild-mannered cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoor. The polymer stock is available in four camo patterns. Franchi can also be fitted with a receiver and barrel with a choice of Burnt Bronze or Midnight Bronze finishes. The ceramic coating is beautiful and provides the rifle with a lot of resistance to weather conditions. The new rifle comes with a removable box magazine. The original Momentum had its problems with the internal mag and hinged floor plates. This rifle is now the 21st century. The magazine is single stack and polymer. It holds 3+1 rounds, allowing you to quickly reload your rifle. The box is not flush fitting, but it doesn’t protrude far from the magwell. This keeps the rifle’s overall slim profile. Side note: The small-bore Varmint Elite offers seven- and eight-round magazines. The rifle was able to show its inherent accuracy at The RangeI by using a lead sled. It was impressive at 100 yards. The rifle ran through several hunting loads and produced impressive groups. Its favorite load was Sellier & Bellot 140-grain SP load. It averaged.59 inch groups. This is a great hunting rifle. The rifle was well-fitted and responsive. The grip was extremely well angled and provided a great leverage point to insert the buttstock into my shoulder pouch. The Elite’s wide base meant that the bags didn’t move at all. This is a clear advantage for an iron that will traverse hills and dales to fill a tag. However, it also amplifies the recoil. The 6.5 Creedmoor is not a harsh cartridge. However, the rifle’s light build made it more recoiling. Franchi added a high-quality recoil pad to his rifle, which was appreciated by hunters. They are utilitarian and have little to no personality. The Franchi Momentum Elite is different. It’s more precise than most hunters need, has a longer range than most hunters, and offers extras that most hunters have not considered. The rifle is a great choice for hunters. It’s a good value for money and has the potential to be a real hunting weapon. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Get Free Targets