Gunfighter123
Member
I am wondering why all the double rifles that I have seen are all side by sides , why are they prefered of over & unders ???
Africa Big 5 rifle ????
- Thread starter Gunfighter123
- Start date
- Status
Smith357
Member
I think it has something to do with having to open the breech further to extract the bottom round. But then I find I'm wrong a lot of the time. 
Gunfighter123
Member
Thats a good point there Smith !!!
Ditch-Tiger
Member
My thoughts...
African hunting first became popular in Europe...
Europe is known for there high quality SxS shotguns...
Europe's high end gun makers styled there big game rifles after what was familiar to the local sportsmen...
Also, Beretta does make O/U big game rifles.
African hunting first became popular in Europe...
Europe is known for there high quality SxS shotguns...
Europe's high end gun makers styled there big game rifles after what was familiar to the local sportsmen...
Also, Beretta does make O/U big game rifles.
"...Also, Beretta does make O/U big game rifles..."
as did valmet.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/990814230/Guns/Rifles/Valmet-Rifles/Valmet_9_3X74R_412S_O_U.htm
gunnie
as did valmet.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/990814230/Guns/Rifles/Valmet-Rifles/Valmet_9_3X74R_412S_O_U.htm
gunnie
RSVP2RIP
Member
With the over/under you have to open the rifle up more to get the bottom one to eject. This has been the most often read statement on why O/U aren't popular big game rifles. I feel that there were not alot of makers of them in Great Britian, were double rifles were popular. Continentals prefered bolt actions for the most part. I've got a Valmet 412SS in 9.3x74R that I wouldn't hesitate to take up to Cape Buff with. It almost opens itself and is less than MOA to 100 yards with both barrels.
the title completely threw me
i thought you were asking about buy a rifle for Africa at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store
i thought you were asking about buy a rifle for Africa at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store
justashooter in pa
member
- Joined
- May 31, 2009
- Messages
- 358
time is critical in dangerous game hunting, as is reliability. SxS guns are faster to open and reload, and are inherently more reliable.
imagine you are a euro hunter in the deepest darkest africa, and your gun breaks down on safari. what do you do? big problem if you are using an OU with integral locks, so good thing you have a spare gun. no problem if you are using a SxS with removable locksets, because your gunmaker provided spares that you can swap in with a small screwdriver in 3 minutes (he provided the screwdriver, too).
people looking at new boxlock SxS will not understand this concept, as a boxlock is a single component housing both firing mechanisms. sidelocks have seperate firing mechanisms for each barrel that are easily repaired or replaced. this is why sidelocks remained the choice in the veldt even after boxlocks appeared on the market in the later 19th century. sidelock guns are a direct design descendent of the flintlock mechanism, with the firing pin a seperate component contained in the breech.
imagine you are a euro hunter in the deepest darkest africa, and your gun breaks down on safari. what do you do? big problem if you are using an OU with integral locks, so good thing you have a spare gun. no problem if you are using a SxS with removable locksets, because your gunmaker provided spares that you can swap in with a small screwdriver in 3 minutes (he provided the screwdriver, too).
people looking at new boxlock SxS will not understand this concept, as a boxlock is a single component housing both firing mechanisms. sidelocks have seperate firing mechanisms for each barrel that are easily repaired or replaced. this is why sidelocks remained the choice in the veldt even after boxlocks appeared on the market in the later 19th century. sidelock guns are a direct design descendent of the flintlock mechanism, with the firing pin a seperate component contained in the breech.
Maverick223
Member
They look the part (traditionally used for hunts, as the SxS came first)...laugh, but I bet I am right.
- Status
