The V98 model
has been designed so as to avoid the defects of existing single
barrel rifle,
while preserving their
advantages.
Existing
models
Up to now (with the exception
of repeaters the magazine of which has been suppressed), all single-shot
rifle had, either:
Fixed,
or foldings barrel actions.
The fixed
barrel actions
The folding
barrel actions
There
are many fixed barrel actions.Most of them are more than one
hundred years old : Martni (1869), Farquharson (1872), Fraser
(1675), Heeren (1881).Such rifles are highly accurate, but their
main drawback is that they cannot be field stipped for transport,
or during the long walks out of the proper hunting configuration.
.
Such
guns can be field stipped in two parts by folding and removing
their barrels, for an easy transport. Unfortunately, they are
also loaded by folding their barrel, which is uneasy from a
rest, and highly difficult, when prone. Moreover, the amplitude
of the motion required may attract the game attention. Another
major drawback of this kind of action, is its lack of rigidity,
having a detrimental effect on accuracy.
The
V98 rifle specifications
Easy
of transport :
Very fast field stripping, by folding the barrel only, which involves
a great compactness for transport.
Easy
of handling : The very short
action ( 1.45'') of the V98, result into a 36.8'' lenght overall
for a 21.45'' barrel. Moreover, the gun is quite light (6.2 pounds,
approximately).
Easy
of loading :
easy loading and unloading, as it is the case with fixed barrel actions,
without risk of faulty handling, when shooting the rifle prone, or
from a rest.
Barrel
interchangeability :
The breechblock unit, specific to each barrel, remains attached to it,
upon field stripping, thus providing true barrel interchangeability without
detrimental effect on accuracy.
Sturdiness
:
As it is the case for the majority of fixed barrel designs, the V98 features
a falling block action, the best for the most accurate shooting.
Axial percussion :
Such device, usually specific to bolt action rifles, is known for providing
a perfectly centered percussion and, therefore, the most regular powder
ignition.
Free barrel expansion : On the V98
rifle, there is no contact between the free floating barrel and the forearm,
for best accuracy.
Trigger mechanism steadiness
: Single
trigger arrangment providing a direct let-off (so called "American",
in Europe), which must mandatorily be set on a bench.Such device is very
simple and can hardly be put out of order.Moreover, it is highly reliable.
A
self cocking, with optionnal hand cocking action:
The V98 single-shot rifle features
a cocking device, both highly sophisticated and very simple to operate:
A thumb-operated external
selector cocks and uncocks the internal hammer by easily shifting
its position
from "S" to "F"
The
"S" position
is necessarily felt by the thumb of the shooting hand when gripping
the stock. This specific feature of the V98 rifle advises the
shooter that is uncocked and that he must shift the selector
to "F", for bringing
it into the firing configuration.
Selector on "S"
The
mainspring is unbent,which prevents any percussion.The hunter
can, accordingly, safely move, with his gun loaded. This
configuration also allow a safe loading or unloading.
Selector on"F"
The
mainspring is bent and the gun is cocked, in firing configuration.
The main specific feature of this action is that it
is self-cocking with the selector in the" F"configurationenabling the hunter to double very fast.
If
the gun has been automatically cocked on loading, by only shifting
the selector from "F"
to "S", the mainspring
is unbent and the V98 rifle is again perfectly
safe.
50,
Chemin de Chantemerle - 38700 La Tronche - France. Fax : 04 76 88 04 28
alain@alainvaussenat.com