Zoli Columbus Sporter.  - 23 September 2003

Zoli are an Italian gunmaker that have had a presence on the UK market for a number of years. They have been producing guns for a bit over 55 years. Although their guns have always been good value and reliable, they have always been in the UK what might be termed second tier. They have not quite reached the level of Beretta and Perazzi. That is perhaps until now.

Zoli have now produced a range of guns that they themselves call the 'classic revolution'.
Basically they have started with a clean sheet of paper to create a range of guns that owe something to tradition but are manufactured by the latest technology.

I have seen other guns that are supposedly made by the latest computer aided machinery, but clearly those working the machines are not driving them anything close to their true potential. That does not appear to be the case with the Zoli. All the metal parts of these guns are cleanly and crisply made with sharp corners and edges in the right places, and nicely rounded surfaces where they should be.

The action has been designed with a removable trigger mechanism which is not 'drop out'. It is released by loosening a captive screw in the back of the trigger guard with a 2.5mm socket screw key.
One barrel must be fired and the safe moved so that the selector block can drop forwards and not obstruct on the back of the action frame. Screwing the trigger block in place is a little slower than a drop out catch, but I prefer it as the trigger block is more secure and will never have that slight movement that can sometimes be felt in other guns.

Removable trigger group guns suffer with 2 problems usually; both appear to have been addressed here.
One is that with most the trigger block is very wide and consequently so is the action. With these guns the trigger group has been made slimmer along with the parts within. So although the gun is wider than say a Beretta it doesn't appear as bulky as a Perazzi.

Width of trigger group and its surrounding frame also means that the bulk of wood surrounding it can be quite thin in places. With the Zoli, because the action frame has been kept thinner, then so the sides of the stock have been kept to maximum thickness for strength. Yet this has been well balanced by the thickness of the pistol grip so that the gun is very comfortable to hold.

A couple of other points that some makers have struggled with on removable trigger guns is that the selector works from the safe, with a central pivoting button. The problem to overcome here is that when the trigger group is put into the gun, the selector block on the group must correctly engage with the safe button switch in order to work. This is achieved by a funnel lead into the slot on the top of the selector block, so that the two parts can mate together as the group is placed into the frame.

The selector button in the middle of the safe has good travel from side to side, so it positively selects one side or the other yet is difficult to knock over by accident. This is further ensured not to happen as the safe is some way behind the top lever. So no chance of an accidental switch over when opening the gun.

Another problem is to make this type of gun have an auto return safe. This is preferred by many for game shooting. This has been overcome by a rod from the cocking lever to the safe. This is positioned in the centre of the action frame and he trigger group fits neatly around it as it is replaced in the gun.
Because the auto safe rod is driven by the cocking lever, the safe is returned as the gun is opened rather than by pushing the top lever across.

The cocking lever is one piece and is itself driven by a cam in the forend work.

The strikers are housed in sleeved within the action frame. This ensures that they are guided forwards smoothly and more directly. They also have vent holes in the sleeves to drain away any gases.
The ejectors are activated by rods through each side wall of the action frame. These are pushed forwards to push up trips held in the forend iron, which catch into hooks at the front of the extractors. The extractors are directly powered by coil springs under them and held within the monoblock. After firing, as the gun is opened the trips have small toes on them - which as they have been pushed around their pivot pin slightly by the forward movement of the trip rods - then come into contact with shoulders on the front of the action frame. Further movement round as the gun is opened to full gape, causes the trips to release from the extractors and so let them kick out the fired cartridge case.

The trigger group itself is very well put together. All the parts are finished silver and appear to be very well manufactured. The hammers are powered by coil springs. These are not captive to cause the hammers to rebound. Instead to prevent striker drag, the locking bolt within the action frame pushes back both hammers slightly as the top lever works it back. Pushing the hammers back slightly gives the strikers enough room to retract under their own return springs and so allow the gun to open cleanly.
The sears are hung behind the hammers and are lifted from behind by a sear lifter, pivoting from within the trigger. The lifter rod runs in a slot in the selector block. This block itself pivots back and is powered by a small coil spring. Reset for the second shot after firing the first is by inertia; in other words, the recoil from the first shot is needed to throw the selector block back to release the first sear, and then come forwards to pick up the second.

The action frame and top lever are engraved with a new type of machine etched engraving. This gives a sharper focus to the detail.

There is a good covering of scroll work, with game scene on the sides and belly of the frame. It gives a good overall effect.

The barrels are made on the monoblock principle as most mass produced barrels. On this gun they are 30", but other lengths are made.

The top is 11mm wide at the breech and slightly tapers to 10mm at the muzzle. It is also
fully ventilated for cooling and weight.

A red strip fore sight is fitted as standard. I don't know if this screws out, but I prefer it if they do as they are easily changed if the customer does not like the sight.

The side ribs are also ventilated for maximum cooling and minimum weight.

Chambers are 76mm and are magnum proofed for a wide range of shells.

The barrels are also multichoke and a set of 5 choke tubes are supplied with the gun.

Lock up of the gun is made with the locking bolt wedging into bites on the monoblock. These are level with the axis of the bore for maximum strength. To further the lock up there are abutments on the bottom of the monoblock which mate into the floor of the action frame to give maximum strength.
The forend iron is interesting as it is made from an aluminium alloy rather than steel. This goes somewhat to explain the relative light weight of the gun at between 7 1/ 2 and 7 3/ 4 lb.

The woodwork is good on this gun with a well figured stock and forend. The Columbus has a swept back pistol grip rather than a steeper curve of the Kronos, which is more the competition gun. The Columbus would be equally at home for game or clays.

The chequering though obviously machine cut is nicely executed, with full patterns to give good grip.
The wood has an attractive and durable oil finish.
The shape of the stock and forend have been given some thought, as the pistol grip is gently swept back, so the comb is slimmer to match. And the forend has a positive rounded end, which allows good grip and swing.

The bottom of the pistol grip has the Zoli logo embossed into it, but I am not keen on this; chequer is the only decoration needed on wood.

The stock is fitted with a wooden heel plate of 20mm thick, which fits well and gives a real quality look, but would, I think, be better about 10mm thick to give more inherent length should we need to extend the stock length.

As it is the stock length is 375 mm or 14 3 /4". With drops of approx 37mm at comb and 53 at heel.

Good dimensions for most.

Overall I think that this is a very well made gun, which is in this form a real all rounder. If you are looking for something a little different and good quality, then this gun is worth a serious look.

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