Folded at its break-open action, the Big Badger is roughly triangular measuring 8.5 inches along its smallest side and 20.5 inches long. It’s thin too, only 1.13 inches thick. It has a steel wire stock, action and barrel threaded 5/8 x 24 for suppressor installation which includes a combination thread/crown protector cap. Aluminum is used for the buttplate and the M-lok and Picatinny rail forend. This is a minimalist large game rifle, and, with the exception of sights, Chiappa has squeezed everything you really need into a very rugged, ultra compact, 5.5 pound gun. Despite its spartan look, it shoulders and handles well. The soft rubber buttplate pad and adjustable plastic comb made even heavy 180 grain 350 Legend loads comfortable to shoot. I can’t speak to the recoil when chambered in .30-30, but I’d expect it to be heavier. Both are proven deer cartridges with the .30-30 offering slightly better performance as you approach maximum effective range.
These are sub 250 yard cartridges on large game. At its low price point (MSRP $347) the Big Badger is a big value that’s small enough to pack with you all the time so you can put the large animals on your cooking fire in an emergency. It is also available as an interchangeable choke .410 shotgun. For more information on the Big Badger, visit www.chiappafirearms.com.
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