Double rifles

[pastorp]

With Double rifles costing about the price of a new car.....and the used market being pretty slim. How many of you guys shoot a double rifle?    Have you found your double rifle as useful as a drilling or combo gun? 
 
Regards,

[captcrunch]

Howdy;
I shoot a Pedersoli Kodiak 45-70 double, a rifle I acquired in an estate sale for a tidy sum of money at that time--and my wife let me buy it.  I will keep her.  The rifle is hefty, accurate, and draws a good crowd of onlookers.  For most of my life a double rifle was simply a dream where I resigned myself to the fact I will never be able to afford such an expensive firearm.  True, the entry fee into the double rifle club is steep, but once there it is an entirely new world of firearm enjoyment of a finely crafted gun.  Mine was purchased in 2000 before prices went beserko.  The rifle belonged to my friend and mentor who died and now the rifle is in my possession as well as a Ruger Single-Six he let me carry as a kid.  I hope someday you will have your double rifle.  Thanks.
-captcrunch

[Bigeasy]

It ain't a Holland & Holland, but my Russian Remington 45-70 SxS is surprisingly well made, and puts both barrels dead on, about 1 1/2 inches apart at 50 yards with Hornaday 325 grain plastic tip bullets at 2050fps.  Plan on trying it out on Maine whitetails this fall.
 
Larry

[dvanncvann]

i also have 1 of the Baikal SxS 45-70 rifles. I am very pleased with it as It shoots well, is easy to regulate, and the fit and finish is acceptable for an 800 dollar double. I am also currently building a 38-55 double using a Savage 315 as a doner. I have it regulated with 250 gr cast at about 1300 fps. Lots of fun! I also fit a set of 16 ga barrels to it and have a set of 410 inserts fot the 16 ga barrels.

[Missionary5155]

Good morning
For an easy on the pocket book double to use while you save up the greens for a rifled barreled double there are plenty of inexpensive double shotguns out there you can shoot roundball in.  I reamed the chokes on a Fox B 12 guage to .003 restriction on both barrels and started with .685 round balls dropped into the Win brand field loads minus the shot charge.  Will shoot to 5 " at 40 yards both barrels.  I then added a simple clamp on the rib rear sight and could shoot 4" groups at 50 yards.  Played with Unique & Blue Dot powder next.  1500 fps is easily attained and groups would vary 3-5" at 50 yards... past 50 yards and smoothbores get real erratic.  Full bore .735 RB is also an option that really puts alot of lead in motion.
But there is no critter on earth I would not use that rpound ball combination on.  Elephants were shot with alot less back in the BP days.
So yes I would be very happy to get the Russian 45-70 double but till that day I am very happy with my less than $300 .685 RB 12 bore.
Mike in Peru   

[pastorp]

Mike in Peru,
 
What type of game do you hunt in Peru with your double shotgun/rifle?
 
Regards,

[no guns here]

didn't the kokiak start out in the $1,000 range about 10 years ago?  did they significantly upgrade the gun/wood or what?
 
 
NGH

[darkgael]

I suspect that most people think "SXS" when they think about double rifles. I went a different route and picked up (used, from Gunbroker) a double rifle that is an O/U, a Rizzini 90L Express rifle in .30-06.
It is a handy little item as , in common with all DRs, it is much shorter than a bolt gun of similar barrel length.
I get three inch groups at 100 yards with the right ammo.
Pete

[Missionary5155]

Good morning Pastorp
Down here on our west side of the Andes there is very little to hunt as it is very dry-- think of death valley.  Rainfall is maybe 1 " a year.  We have been here 25 years+ and last Jan-March was our heaviest rainfall yet of 5" over 6 weeks period.  So there is little nearby to hunt.  There are a few wild burros and fewer wild bulls but hard to get within 300 yards of them.
But on the other side of the mountains is rain forest & real jungles.  Crocks up to 25 feet & pumas would top the list.  Then lesser non-dangerous critters.
My double Fox B is up in Illinois. It is a red tape headache to bring firearms in.  Down here in Arequipa (southern peru) I carry my Mossberg 500 in 12 guage.  3 round ball loads in a stock mounted shell holder.  Wild dogs are about all I have to defend myself from in the deserts closeby. Up higher at 11,000 there are Guanacos & Vicuñas (protected) but also a marmot Viscacha that is somewhat tasty bar-B-qued.  But those I pop with a lowly 44-40 Win. SRC.
Mike in Peru 

[pastorp]

Say Mike,
 
What missionary group do you work out of? I'm the missionary/pastor here in Alaska's only indian reserve.
 
How did you find the round ball loads. Why not just use slugs?
 
Regards,

[AkMike1]

I'm the missionary/pastor here in Alaska's only indian reserve.

Metlakatla by chance? I was down there back in the late 60's

[pastorp]

Yes Mike Metlakatla is the village I'm in. Were you coast guard?
 
Regards,

[AkMike1]

No, Just HS track and field and wrestling.. IIRC it was a wrestling match I went to.
 
 I grew up in SE Ak.

[Dalgo]

"Down here in Arequipa (southern peru) I carry my Mossberg 500 in 12 guage.  3 round ball loads in a stock mounted shell holder.  Wild dogs are about all I have to defend myself from in the deserts closeby. Up higher at 11,000 there are Guanacos & Vicuñas (protected) but also a marmot Viscacha that is somewhat tasty bar-B-qued.  But those I pop with a lowly 44-40 Win. SRC.
Mike in Peru"


Mike I lived in Peru off and on for many years.  Hunted there extensively (Central to North) for a variety of game. I agree w/your assessment on a versatile shotgun will take care of most anything anywhere.  I am currently using a mint Savage 2400 (Valmet of Finnland) O/U circa 1977, in 12ga/.308. A bit stout to shoot w/Brenneke slugs, but accurate and powerful.  Will definitely take care of most things.  Great double. Tried to PM you, but apparently did not go through.  Like to hear from you. PM me, or email me at: plapierre43@gmail.com.  Dalgo.

[2Mbogo]

Byron,
 
Sadly, I have never owned a drilling or a combo gun, but I have owned SXS double rifles and shotguns. It is hard to put into words the satisfaction of shooting a double rifle. They are cloaked in mystic and nostalgia, and just plain old "machismo".  I find that I shoot the doubles more than all others combined, except for sidearms.
 
Everyone should have at least one double rifle!
 
John

[pastorp]

John, I've hunted a lot with double shotguns. One requirement for me to keep one was that it at least shoot slugs from one barrel to point of aim at 40-50 yards. It was great if the other shot barrel centered the slug as well.
 
One I lucked out and bought a double that printed both barrels with slugs to point of aim. Sadely you never knew which barrel or if both barrels was going to fire. My gunsmith could not correct it so I traded it back to him.
 
I do love a fine double. Drillings are of course double shotguns with the addition of a rifle barrel underneath. I have 3 drillings, 3 double shotguns, & one semi-auto shotgun. Of course I have a number of rifles as well one of which is a double...
 
Regards,