Explore the Franchi MULE: a compact, reliable .308 deer rifle known for its accuracy and lightweight design.
by Barb Melloni
If you’ve spent enough time in deer camp, you already know that every hunter has that one trusty rifle. A rifle they tend to gravitate towards more than others they own. Their go-to deer rifle isn’t necessarily the fanciest or the most expensive, but it works. It’s easy to carry through cramped spaces, accurate enough to help account for a little bit of shooter error (whether they’ll admit it) and has a proven track record that never leaves the hunter second-guessing their decision to bring it along. That’s exactly the role Franchi had in mind when it introduced the Momentum Utility Lite Elite, otherwise known as the MULE.
Franchi Mule Design & Action
If the goal was to build a compact hunting rifle that people would genuinely look forward to taking into the woods, Franchi understood the assignment. The MULE is chambered in .308 Win and has an 8+1 capacity, feeding from a detachable magazine. With an overall length of 38.25 inches, the gun remains compact enough to use with a suppressor mounted on its 16-inch free-floated barrel without becoming cumbersome.
Weighing just over seven pounds, the MULE is a good, all-purpose hunting rifle, falling somewhere between ultra-light hunting options and heavier models often used by ELR hunting enthusiasts.
Is it the lightest hunting rifle on the market? No. Is weight always a bad thing? Also, no. It’s important to remember that it’s that very weight which helps minimize the felt recoil produced with each shot. Also helping to lessen the punch and keep the gun seated securely in your shoulder pocket is the included TSA rubber recoil pad.
A closer look at the gun’s Momentum action reveals a fluted three-lug bolt with a nice, short 60-degree throw. This design works smoothly, and it’s that smoothness which allows the shooter to take things a step further and really work on that action, manipulating the bolt very quickly when time is of the essence.
The Relia trigger proved crisp, breaking cleanly with little to no creep. The trigger pull weight on my test sample measured 2.5 pounds. For those with more discerning tastes, the trigger is user-adjustable between approximately 2 and 4 pounds.
Additional room for customization and accessorizing is available at the forward-most portion of the stock’s forend. Here, you will find three attachment points: two M-LOK slots and a QD attachment point for a sling. Three additional QD attachment points are also located on the rear of the stock.
Lastly, to protect against the elements, Franchi opted for their Evolved Ergonom-X Veil Tac-Black-finished synthetic stock when designing the MULE. Additional protection is provided to all metal components through a Graphite Black Cerakote finish.
Mounting an Optic: GPO CENTURI 4-16x44i Super-Compact
Every deer rifle needs quality glass to help ensure you have a successful hunt. To complement the compact size of the MULE, I mounted a GPO CENTURI 4-16x44i Super-Compact on its factory-installed Picatinny rail. One issue that I ran into when initially attempting to mount the scope was that the rings I was using did not provide enough clearance between the optic and the factory irons. This resulted in the ocular housing coming into direct contact with the top of the rear sight. If you don’t plan on using the iron sights, you can easily resolve the issue by removing the roll pin that secures the rear sight to the gun’s Picatinny rail. By doing this, you’ll be able to minimize height over bore and maintain a much more comfortable cheek weld without needing to use a cheek-riser to get a clear sight picture.
You can also utilize the route I chose and carefully increase your ring height until you clear the rear sight. It doesn’t take much. You want to be certain the two aren’t contacting each other; otherwise, you’ll impose stress on the scope during recoil and likely begin to see your shots start to drift.
Despite its wide 4-16x magnification range, the scope maintains a remarkably compact footprint, measuring just under ten inches in length and adding only 20 ounces to the overall weight of the whole package.
The first focal plane reticle provides consistent holdovers throughout the entire magnification range. Additionally, this riflescope features an illuminated reticle, a feature many hunters use in low-light conditions. For those who choose to forgo a magnified optic, the MULE’s factory-installed flip-up sights offer two different options depending on how you have them flipped: a standard rear notch/front blade combo, as well as a rear peep/front sight post configuration, with the rear peep adjustable for windage.
Mounting a Suppressor: Dead Air Nomad Ti XC
The MULE’s barrel is threaded, so naturally, before heading to the range, I mounted a Dead Air Nomad Ti XC suppressor. This is the manufacturer’s lightest .30-caliber can. Its titanium construction keeps weight minimal, down to an impressively light 9.6 ounces. Not only does this translate to less weight to carry in the woods, but it also helps maintain optimal balance compared to a heavier option that would make the rifle quite front-heavy.
While mounting the Nomad added 6.74 inches to the rifle’s overall length, it proved to be no issue, with no ill effects on accuracy or handling.
Range Day: Franchi MULE
After much anticipation, it was time to hit the range. The MULE was noticeably easier to handle than many full-length hunting rifles. Even with the suppressor installed, it never felt cumbersome or front heavy. Its compact, streamlined profile meant it could be shouldered both smoothly and quickly should an opportunity present itself.
The bolt’s 60-degree throw facilitated quick, effortless manipulation while allowing me to stay on the gun and keep my eyes on the target without breaking my position. This is an often-overlooked benefit. A smooth bolt throw allows hunters to take a follow-up shot to compensate for poor initial shot placement and thus ensure a quick and ethical harvest of the animal. Also, not having to break your position will allow you to maintain a visual on the animal through your scope to track it after confirming a well-placed shot in the vitals.
To provide a well-rounded representation of what could be expected in terms of accuracy, I selected three very different .308 Win rounds: Hornady Outfitter 165gr. CX, Barnes Suppressor Series 205gr. Sierra Game King, and Federal Premium 180gr. Trophy Bonded Tip. While all three options fed reliably and demonstrated impressive accuracy, the 165gr. Hornady Outfitter rounds ultimately produced the tightest groups, averaging an impressive 0.6 inches.
It’s always nice to see a rifle show a clear preference for a particular load. However, that only helps if you can find it online or at your local gun shop. Heck, for that matter, you may stumble across another load on sale at a price that’s too good to pass up. Fortunately, the MULE proved accurate across the board, giving me confidence that any of the tested options would be fully capable of punching tags come deer season.
For hunters refusing to compromise in their quest for a compact hunting rifle that’s easy to maneuver even with accessories installed, the MULE is the answer. The rifle delivers sub-MOA accuracy and is chambered in a wildly popular hunting caliber. Franchi wasn’t seeking to reinvent the bolt-action hunting rifle with the MULE. Instead, they sought to remind hunters how good one can be when it’s done right.
Franchi MULE Specifications
Model: Franchi Momentum Utility Lite Elite (M.U.L.E)
Caliber: .308 Win.
Stock: Synthetic, Evolved Ergonom-X Stock
Barrel Length: 16 in., threaded
Twist Rate: 1:11
Capacity: 8+1
Action: Franchi Momentum, bolt action
LOP: 14 in.
Overall Length: 38.25 in.
Weight: 7.08 lbs.
Trigger: Relia Single Stage Adjustable
Safety: Manual
MSRP: $1,599
Franchi MULE Accuracy Results
Hornady Outfitter 165gr. CX
Average Velocity (fps): 2,452
Average Group Size (in): .69
SD: 20.7
Barnes Suppressor Series 205gr. Sierra GK
Average Velocity (fps): 1,054
Average Group Size (in): .90
SD: 11.9
Federal Premium 180gr. Trophy Bonded Tip
Average Velocity (fps): 2,415
Average Group Size (in): 1.26
SD: 14.2
