S_S_2015_05_

68 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

FIREARMS | GUN TEST

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Kings (7x57)

with 40.4-grains

of N 140 and Hornady

55-grain V-MAX at 27.3-grains

of N140. However, I had to shave

0.015” off the bases of the sizer dies to

ensure full neck length sizing!

Testing showed the 7mm producing

2339 fps/1710 ft/lbs and the 5.6 at

3060 fps/1153 ft/lbs. However, about this

time the 139-grain RWS S/P load came

through which was averaging 2528

fps/1990 ft/lbs which was more like it.

The shotgun ammo presented no

problems. A call to

Browning got me

Winchester SuperX ¾ oz

rifl ed slug, #3 buck shot and

DoubleX #4 shot turkey loads. I was then

informed by Blaser that RWS would be

sending some 5.6x50 R Magnum ammo,

but it still had not arrived by the time of

this writing. I will probably come the day

after I send the BD14 back; typical!

THINK THEN PULL!

As I said the layout is very much that of

an over & under shotgun with a tang-

mounted opening lever with the

kickspanner behind. The mechanism uses

a double trigger, which is selectable for

the barrel you wish to shoot and needs

some thought to get it right. The action

extracts only raising the

cases up about ¼” where they are pulled

free.

Barrel selection is facilitated by a

vertical plunger on the right of the action

and it goes like this! The front trigger only

operates the lower barrel, whereas the rear

blade can be set for either the 20-bore or

.22. The default mode (plunger down)

selects the 22 barrel, pushing it up

nominates the 20-bore tube. However,

when the action is opened this

automatically resets to the default.

As might be imagined you need to be

100% aware of the position of the selector

at all times and which trigger does what,

otherwise you could be sending the wrong

round at the wrong animal! It only takes a

moment of brain fade as we all know! The

kickspanner is automatically de-cocked

when you open the action, but in this

mode the lever needs some

effort to move it. I found it

easier to manually de-cock

fi rst.

I like the BD14 as it

offers a three gun/quarry

system in an accurate and

surprisingly handy package. I

had big plans for hunting with

it for a whole month, but the lack

of ammo initially ate into the agreed

loan time, load development took more

and the fact my 4x4 blew up its engine put

the kybosh on it. So all testing was

range-based but it showed this combo to

have a lot of potential! If I get another

truck ASAP then I might have time to take

it out for a few hunts before I have to send

it back!

BABY STEPS

For the test I borrowed a Schmidt &

Bender Exos 1-8x24, I fi gured its pure one

to eight magnifi cation would suit the

BD14 and it did. The rifl e uses the

standard Blaser, QD saddle mount and it

offers adjustable iron sights on the

shotgun barrel. The Tyrolean-style butt

shows the typical hogs’ back and

angled cheek piece and is a tad high

for the irons. The forend is a

semi-Schnable type with well

matched timber throughout and nice

chequering. The action is hi-strength

aluminium alloy in grey and the metal

semi-matt blued, QD sling loops are

fi tted. You won’t get much change out of

£6000 including scope mount and

obviously more fancy wood and

decoration will up that signifi cantly!

Zeroing is easy but requires a

delicate hand. Starting off with the

It’s plain to see how slim the rifled

barrels are and they do get hot

very quickly, so a methodical

approach to zeroing

is essential to

avoid thermal

migration

Action open showing all

tubes loaded, the BD14 is

extract-only so you have to

pull the empties free

Rear barrel (vertical) adjuster, note the

use of twin Allan keys for the adjuster and

locking ring, the front is identical but set

for windage