With the help received from my fellow CGNers on my first Chiappa Double Badger, I thought I'd offer the range review below on this newest $500ish toy. Before I get into it, I should note that this is my second DB; not out of favour, but instead a replacement after I sent the first one back due to some really bad finishing defects on the receiver when it was brand new out of the box.
The combo market as I understand it is quite small, ergo the highly limited choices in this genre of firearms, but this second DB certainly does not disappoint. I'm personally a big fan of drillings, and wanted a rabbit gun that is something different than the levers that all my buddies have, so landed on the Chiappa DB. Yeah yeah Savage made one, but they are not the most atheistically designed in my mind.
Just as most other reviewers have found, she came folded in a slim box, and the was covered in corrugated box dust. No matter, a quick tear-down and clean, as I do with any new acquisition, easily addressed the minor nuisance. The wood is obviously not Winchester grade of any level, but sufficiently solid with enough checkering for grip. Some complain about the inherent weight of this setup, but I think wooden stocks are of proper decorum for the woods, and in any case the weight yields a much more stable platform than its sibling, the Little Badger. I think I read somewhere that the receivers are milled steel and not some cheap alloy - and after dropping her on concrete on this first trip out (doh), the damage was indeed barely noticeable. The fibre-plastic sights are cheap and I anticipate easy breakage without due care, but they do work surprisingly well for what they are worth. The rear sight is solidly fixed with a couple of screws and sits on dovetail millings, so can be dismounted and replaced with powered optics. I'm thinking a pistol style red dot so as not to disrupt the form factor too much when collapsed - the DB does indeed fit inside larger CamelBaks for those who are wondering.
Range performance was excellent: she spits out .22LR CCIs with little fanfare, almost scoffing at the lack of challenge doing 1" groupings out to 50m even when freehanded. Winchester 20 slugs were equally impressive, and the primary calibre of intent for the DB is authoritative and predictable. I have some confidence in her ability to stop larger beasts, with the right load and if really needed. The 20ga has replaceable chokes over the .410. Unfortunately, range I was at today does not allow birdshot, but I look forward to a live test on a lucky grouse.
To be honest, I'm not sure I'm a convert of Chiappa just yet; indeed, I had my reservations on initial order, given the lacklustre reviews elsewhere on their general build quality. This is consistent with my version: can't say that the upper and receiver mate perfectly, and the blueing seems to scar easily.
This might sound counterintuitive at this point, but all in all I have no misgivings about any of these observations. I bought my DB with every intention of packing it into the woods - she a camping/outdoors tool and meets this measure in every respect. It's a simple and solid design, just not executed by Gucci. I will provide updates after I get some mileage for sure.
One recommendation if you do pick up this utilitarian switchblade: get snap caps/shells. The DB has an internal hammer which cocks with the release lever, which you must pull to break open the action - so she's hot and ready even when you're just pulling out your final shells. Given the initial build observations, I think the DB demands somewhat more attention to safety and upkeep than its peers. Did I mention this thing was five hundy? Hard to beat at this price point I think for what you are getting, at the end of the day. I have .177s that cost more lol.
Cheers.
The combo market as I understand it is quite small, ergo the highly limited choices in this genre of firearms, but this second DB certainly does not disappoint. I'm personally a big fan of drillings, and wanted a rabbit gun that is something different than the levers that all my buddies have, so landed on the Chiappa DB. Yeah yeah Savage made one, but they are not the most atheistically designed in my mind.
Just as most other reviewers have found, she came folded in a slim box, and the was covered in corrugated box dust. No matter, a quick tear-down and clean, as I do with any new acquisition, easily addressed the minor nuisance. The wood is obviously not Winchester grade of any level, but sufficiently solid with enough checkering for grip. Some complain about the inherent weight of this setup, but I think wooden stocks are of proper decorum for the woods, and in any case the weight yields a much more stable platform than its sibling, the Little Badger. I think I read somewhere that the receivers are milled steel and not some cheap alloy - and after dropping her on concrete on this first trip out (doh), the damage was indeed barely noticeable. The fibre-plastic sights are cheap and I anticipate easy breakage without due care, but they do work surprisingly well for what they are worth. The rear sight is solidly fixed with a couple of screws and sits on dovetail millings, so can be dismounted and replaced with powered optics. I'm thinking a pistol style red dot so as not to disrupt the form factor too much when collapsed - the DB does indeed fit inside larger CamelBaks for those who are wondering.
Range performance was excellent: she spits out .22LR CCIs with little fanfare, almost scoffing at the lack of challenge doing 1" groupings out to 50m even when freehanded. Winchester 20 slugs were equally impressive, and the primary calibre of intent for the DB is authoritative and predictable. I have some confidence in her ability to stop larger beasts, with the right load and if really needed. The 20ga has replaceable chokes over the .410. Unfortunately, range I was at today does not allow birdshot, but I look forward to a live test on a lucky grouse.
To be honest, I'm not sure I'm a convert of Chiappa just yet; indeed, I had my reservations on initial order, given the lacklustre reviews elsewhere on their general build quality. This is consistent with my version: can't say that the upper and receiver mate perfectly, and the blueing seems to scar easily.
This might sound counterintuitive at this point, but all in all I have no misgivings about any of these observations. I bought my DB with every intention of packing it into the woods - she a camping/outdoors tool and meets this measure in every respect. It's a simple and solid design, just not executed by Gucci. I will provide updates after I get some mileage for sure.
One recommendation if you do pick up this utilitarian switchblade: get snap caps/shells. The DB has an internal hammer which cocks with the release lever, which you must pull to break open the action - so she's hot and ready even when you're just pulling out your final shells. Given the initial build observations, I think the DB demands somewhat more attention to safety and upkeep than its peers. Did I mention this thing was five hundy? Hard to beat at this price point I think for what you are getting, at the end of the day. I have .177s that cost more lol.
Cheers.
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