Double Rifles

Valmet, i think they're $1500-$2000 but i believe they are only made in over under configuration. Never held one, no idea on quality. I want a double rifle too.

The baikal mp-221 can be found for around $900. They’re not being imported anymore, but they are out there. I got one in 30-06 and im quite happy with it. Its a pretty well made solid gun, and the barrels shoot together with 180 grainers pretty well. I wish I had the 45-70 version though. Box sold separately.

http://web.archive.org/web/20180307223012/http://www.mcace.com/shotguninserts.htm a cheap alternative.

troy fairweather said:

http://web.archive.org/web/20180307223012/http://www.mcace.com/shotguninserts.htm a cheap alternative.

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I could see if you had an old SxS laying around, getting a pair of 18" in a combo you like and bubba the extra 15" the barrels off. Wonder if that would affect regulation. Also wonder about accuracy if the insert rotates in the bore which i would think it would. I have a shortlane adapter (same thing) that i use in an old h&r , its smooth bore and i shoot primer only hot glue cast swc bullets as a gallery gun.

Obturation said:

I could see if you had an old SxS laying around, getting a pair of 18" in a combo you like and bubba the extra 15" the barrels off. Wonder if that would affect regulation. Also wonder about accuracy if the insert rotates in the bore which i would think it would. I have a shortlane adapter (same thing) that i use in an old h&r , its smooth bore and i shoot primer only hot glue cast swc bullets as a gallery gun.

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I've seen them print 2 or 3 inch groups at 50 yards and that's with both barrels.

You can get into a Kreighoff Big Five Classic for about 20k depending on options.

You can still get a Purdey, Boss, or Westley Richards to go along with your Holland's. Similar price range. A Westley Richards hand detachable boxlock starts at 74,500 pounds sterling. Sidelock is more.
Continental guns are less expensive, Merkel doubles start around $12,000.

Bailey Bradshaw right here in By God Texas will build you a double rifle for $16,500 and up.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...k-dr-nearing-completion.856594/#post-11243847

There is a pretty good cottage industry in converting shotguns to rifles.
You need a GOOD shotgun, rifle pressures are much higher.
Best to start with a strong 20 gauge so the barrel spacing doesn't look funny.

Regulation: It is commonly said that double rifles are "regulated" to shoot both barrels to the same point of impact at some moderate iron sight hunting range, 80 meters or 100 yards.
But Ray Ordorica had one that shot individual barrel groups the same distance apart as the muzzles at all ranges, bullets flying parallel. Note: this does not mean the barrels were laid parallel, vibration and recoil still required the barrel bores converge a bit.

Speaking of Westley Richards with detachable locks, this one is a.400/.360 WRNitro. which is a medium power cartridge once popular for tigers and similar game..

About the only affordable options for a double barrel rifle these days are Baikal for modern ammo and Great Gun in the Czech Republic for muzzleloaders.



There's also the option of getting two chamber adapters from MCACE in Alaska with 18 inch long barrels and using them in a double barrel shotgun. You'll need some sort of scope for that setup tho as the POI is way off the POA using bead sights or the few o/u shotguns that have a front and rear sight.

I have no regrets buying the baikal. I thought id have to mess around reloading or using its barrel wedge to regulate the barrels. That was not the case. I bought a $16 box of ppu 180 grainers and started shooting. They hit about 2 1/2 inches apart and an inch low at 50 yards. I havent tried it at 100 yards yet. The sights are the only thing I dont really like.

Hofer Waffen in Austria will not straight trade a house deed for a Vierling.

He will also not take "first borns" for one of his Funfling.




I guess I'll have to keep them...

I handled one of these at my LGS a few months ago. It was the model 92 chambered in 45-70. I can’t remember the price but it wasn’t outrageous.

http://www.italianfirearmsgroup.com/sabatti/firearms/rifle-hunting

I also happened to be in London on business a few years ago and strolled into James Purdey and Sons. They had some double rifles for sales in the used rack at deep discount, factory direct prices. I remember one in particular that looked like a deal. Fairly plain, modest engraving, nice wood, chambered in .450 NE

Only £128,000.

Nature Boy said:

I remember one in particular that looked like a deal. Fairly plain, modest engraving, nice wood, chambered in .450 NE

Only £128,000.

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That's $166,207.87 with today's exchange rate!

I'll take two...

troy fairweather said:

http://web.archive.org/web/20180307223012/http://www.mcace.com/shotguninserts.htm a cheap alternative.

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New website

http://mcaceak.com

William Larkin & Moore has a Chapuis 9.3 for only $6400. And I mean "only" sincerely, that is cheap for what you get.
$11,125 will get you a .375.

danez71 said:

New website

http://mcaceak.com

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Thanks

You can get them custom-made on certain shotgun boxlocks at reasonable prices.

Honestly though I think the double is more than a little an artifact of history. It's faster than a bolt, but not really faster than a lever (especially on the 3rd+ shot) and they're very heavy. With the advent of levers with NE level performance, it's hard to imagine we'd be doing doubles if we did it over again. A .50-110 lever (that is perfectly regulated ) can be built for ~$2000.

Searcy double rifles are made in the USA.
Friends of my grandparents knowing I was a gun nut at 15 years old took me to his shop in Boron California.

Nicest guns I've ever seen. This was probably 1995. He had a kid about my age in there as an apprentice. Never have been so jealous of someone in my life. Id have done his job for free.
Kid did a lot of gun cleaning. Apparently when you have that type of money you send guns back for cleaning and test firing. Had a custom lead sled set up for his reciver hitch. Didnt want to shoulder all those hard kicking rounds for test firing.
Showed me a video of a guy getting charged by a buffalo. Guy fell over backwards on his butt. Fires his Searcy rifle between his legs both feet off the ground. Stopped the buffalo in its tracks with about 4 feet to spare.
Still want one....still can't afford one. Litteraly a working piece of art.

I have always wanted to make my own in 45 colt off of a 410 over under. One of the many things I spend time day dreaming about that will never get done.

The Germans and Austrians also make a LOT of double rifles and combo guns, Heym, Hofer, Merkel, Kreighoff and a host of small one man shops. The french make some good ones as well and most likely more affordable