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When you look at the new Franchi MULE you might think it is a Scout Rifle. While it does share some features with the rifle Jeff Cooper conceptualized back in the early 1980s, it falls short in complying with Cooper’s definition enough to carry that designation. However, like the Scout Rifle, Franchi’s innovative new MULE is meant to serve as highly versatile, general-purpose rifle, and it does a good job of it. I got to put this gun to the test on my home rage recently. Here is my full review.
Quick Overview
Franchi MULE Rifle
Pros
- Dual, back-up open sights
- Versatile optics rail
- Multiple sling attachment points
- M-Lok compatible
Cons
- On the heavy side
- Only available in 223 Remington and 308 Winchester
Specs
- Length: 38.25 inches
- Weight: 7.08 pounds (308)
- Barrel: 16 inches w/ 1 in 8 (223) or 1 in 11 (308) rifling twist rate, and threaded muzzle
- Action: Three-lug, Franchi Momentum bolt
- Trigger: 3.25-pounds (as tested)
- Capacity: 8+1 (308) 10+1 (223) with provided magazine
- Chamberings: 223 Remington, 308 Winchester (tested)
- Finish: Cerakote (graphite black)
- Stock: Synthetic with Veil Tac-Black finish
- Sights: Flip up/down, notch rear and post front, and peep rear and post front, with extended Picatinny scope rail
- Price: $1,599
A Closer Look at the New Franchi MULE
Franchi introduced their Momentum rifle in 2018, and the next year brought out the Elite version with some stock and Cerakote finish upgrades. In 2023 they added the All-Terrain Elite which is built on the same Momentum action featuring a fluted, three-lug bolt with a 60° throw. Because of its adaptiveness and Scout Rifle-like qualities, we selected that rifle as the most versatile rifle of our test that year. The new Franchi MULE is essentially the same rifle with a shorter barrel.
The MULE comes with a free-floated, 16-inch barrel that’s threaded at 5/8×24 and capped. The barrel and action are finished with Graphite Black Cerakote and the rifle is available chambered for either the 223 Remington or 308 Winchester. It’s also compatible with 5.56 and 7.62 NATO ammunition. In 223 Remington, the barrel has a fast 1-in-8 twist, but oddly, in 308 Winchester, the twist rate is 1-in-11.
Secured to the action with four screws is an optics rail with 21 slots that extends 4 inches out over the barrel. Unlike many extended scout-like rails, however, this one is not attached to the barrel because it is more of a cantilever mount. This helps prevent the loosening of screws and point-of-impact shift as the barrel heats up during high-volume fire, which are characteristic of rails attached to the barrel and action. Integral to the rail is a flip up AR-style aperture sight that’s windage adjustable, and there is a flip-up front sight as well. However, when these sights are folded down, there is a low-profile notch on the rear sight and low blade on the front sight that are exposed, essentially offering a second—though very rudimentary—open-sight option.
The stock is polymer and has a Veil Tac-Black camo finish and a high cheekpiece to help you better interface with an optic and the flip up sights. The pistol grip and bottom of the forend have impressed checkering, and the forend is fitted with three M-Lok rails—one on each side and one on the bottom—where a light, laser and/or bipod/tripod mount could be attached. There are also six quick-detach swivel sockets on the stock. The rifle feeds from a detachable, Magpul AICS magazine, and the release is intuitive, ambidextrous, and integral with the polymer floor plate.
Franchi MULE Test Results
The MULE shot reasonably well, averaging 1.21 inches with the three loads that were tried. But it’s worth mentioning that two of the loads averaged less than an inch for multiple five-shot groups at 100 yards. All the bench shooting was conducted with a Leupold Patrol 6HD 1-6X24 rifle scope, and most of the of the shooting from field positions was done with a Burris 2-7X Scout scope or the open sights. I tested both back-up sights at 50 yards and found and neither was zeroed out of the box . This was easily corrected with the flip-up aperture sights but the rudimentary notch and post sights in the folded down mode are not adjustable and are really only serviceable out to around 25 yards for desperation shooting.
I shot this rifle a good bit to work with the multiple sighting systems, and the flip-up sights were high enough to use when running a suppressor. The MULE handled well and was very responsive, at least more so than most of the mules I’ve ridden. It balanced and handled well, way out of proportion to its cumbersome appearance. The bolt was slick to cycle, and there were no issues when running it fast and hard. For traditional hunting applications, the extended magazine makes the rifle a bit uncomfortable to carry at the balance point, and the magazine does not drop free but is easily pulled from its well. This may seem like a detractor, but for a general-purpose rifle, a truck gun, or for rifle to be used as a Scout, it makes perfect sense.
Final Thoughts on the New Franchi MULE
Admittedly, this rifle might strike many hunters or shooters as a bit ugly or ultra-modern, but the more time you spend with it, the less you will care about how it looks. Franchi deserves credit for assembling such a versatile platform and for not calling it a Scout Rifle, because even though it embodies the spirt of Jeff Cooper’s Concept, it fails to meet his comprehensive definition. Regardless, it’s hard to imagine a practical situation where this rifle would not excel. At 7.3 pounds it is a bit heavy, but when compared to other commercial scout-like/general purpose rifles, the weight is similar, and the MULE is not as expensive.
If you’re interested in a single centerfire rifle that could be used in the widest variety of circumstances, the Franchi MULE has a lot to offer. You can run it with a traditional rifle scope, a scout scope, dot sights, or with the flip up open sights, and you can run all those with or without a suppressor. The rifle offers enough precision to take you out to any practical distance, and it could serve you very well as a camp rifle, a hunting rifle, a self-defense rifle, or even as a survival rifle. Few rifles can claim to offer that much versatility. It is a more compact, and I think a better answer to the general-purpose rifle question than Franchi’s Momentum All-Terrain Elite from 2023.
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Editor’s Note: Richard Mann’s new book, Rifle Cartridges for the Hunter: A Hunting Journal Spanning a Half-Century details 50 rifle cartridges through real hunts, practical insight, and hard-earned lessons. It is essential reading for serious hunters and riflemen who appreciate ballistic science and authentic outdoor adventure.
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