EAA[Bakail] side by side dbl. rifle .45-70

[Mad Dog]

I actually went into their site to look at a single shot rifle in 7.62x39, when I saw a listing for a dbl. rifle[side by side] in .45-70 for $629.  Has anybody here seen one, handled one, or shot one.  The picture looked darned interesting.  Any thoughts?

Mad Dog

[Mikey]

Mad Dog:  the only thought I have on double rifles comes from articles written recently by Craig Boddington in which the generic accuracy problems of double rifles were explored.  It seems that double rifles are not all that accurate.  You may be able to get decent groups from one of the two barrels but not good groups from both.

I found this to be true with a couple of shotguns firing slugs in preparation for hunting season.  Usually my right barrel would group near point of aim but the left one would shoot wild.  In other words, my left barrel follow-up shot would be a useless exercise in ammunition expenditures.

I found that I could group respectively with either barrel individually, with one barrel grouping a couple of inches high at 50 yds but with the other barrel grouping way the heck off.  That was a bummer because the gun is great with shot.  When I read Boddington's articles I realized I was having the same experiences with a slug gun that he was having with double rifles.

With that in mind, I would at least try the 45-70 double to see how she groups and if she doesn't group the way you would need it to, take it back for something else.  It does sound interesting though and I would be interested to hear what you find out.  Mikey.

[John Traveler]

I have to agree with Mikey.

The limited experience I've had with economy-grade double rifles has been unfavorable.  The expensive ones are regulated by the maker for ONE factory load, and nothing else seems to shoot well in them.  A couple of friends and I have spent many hours trying to develope accurate loads for double rifles.

I suspect it has to do with the way a double gun is made.  When the barrels are "regulated" to shoot to point of aim with one factory load, the barrels are soldered in place, just like double shotguns.  All that heat must do SOMETHING to the straightness of the barrels!

At any rate, I count the big-bore double rifle as strictly a short-range proposition, when that second shot is important or vital.  It's not for show-off quality groups at 200 yards!

[Mad Dog]

Here is the site, if it will work.

http://www.eaacorp.com/firearms/rifles/sidebyside/izhmp221d.shtml


Take a look.

Mad Dog

[grendel]

I have to agree with Mikey.

The limited experience I've had with economy-grade double rifles has been unfavorable.  The expensive ones are regulated by the maker for ONE factory load, and nothing else seems to shoot well in them.  A couple of friends and I have spent many hours trying to develope accurate loads for double rifles.

I suspect it has to do with the way a double gun is made.  When the barrels are "regulated" to shoot to point of aim with one factory load, the barrels are soldered in place, just like double shotguns.  All that heat must do SOMETHING to the straightness of the barrels!

At any rate, I count the big-bore double rifle as strictly a short-range proposition, when that second shot is important or vital.  It's not for show-off quality groups at 200 yards!

.
From all I have read about doubles I can beleve what you say... but read the following and see what Baikal has done.   No I don't think this is a high grade double that a Maharaja would have used.  However it would not be the first time that someone snuck in the back door with an improvement that the "big boys, in this case the high quality British Double Rifle makers" had never thought of.
"""""""""""quote from EAA web page"""""""""""""""""""""""
Our MP221 applies modern technology to a traditional side by side rifle. Baikal realized that you could not make a reasonably priced side by side rifle with the traditional methodology for barrel regulation (shims and solder). So, the engineers came up with a totally innovative idea. Fix one barrel and allow the customer to adjust the second barrel to the first. Therefore you sight in one barrel and adjust the second barrel point of impact to the first via a jackscrew between the barrels. You have to admit, the jackscrew is a simple answer to an age old problem of barrel regulation on a side by side rifle
""""""""""""End quote"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Ted

[TopGun]

Mikey,   I guess I don't understand what you mean by saying the second barrel or follow-up shot would be wild? A second shot--that's absurd! :-D --just yankin a chain, some people do need them! I see Tom Makris shoot game 'Under Wild Skies' every Sunday with one! BTW-he doesn't use the second barrel either! I do think the double rifles look cool, and I thank the EAA for making one 'sort of' affordable, esp in 45-70.

[KING]

  Well,they aint a bad gun,probably will get ya into a lot of conversations with strangers at the gun range and such.  It is not a long range gun by any means.  About 75 yards on deer size game,with the left bbl regulated to shoot in the general area of the first.  Stay safe...King

[ReedG]

Well, I gotta admit, it sure is purrrrrty.

For that price, I'm almost tempted. A double isn't meant to print pretty groups. Two shots on a 10-inch pie plate at 50 yards will do the job. And that adjustable wedge might be fun to play with ....