Anyone have an EAA Double rifle (SxS)?

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DigMe

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I'd love to have a double rifle but have never even considered it because of the thousands of dollars it would cost me. However, I recently saw that EAA makes a double rifle that has an MSRP of $629. They save a lot of money by sighting in one barrel and letting the customer site the other one in by adjusting a jackscrew. The only problem is it doesn't exactly come in a huge variety of calibers - 7.62x39, .308 Win, 30-06, .270, .223 and .45-70. Do any of you have one of these or have you shot one? If so what's your impression? That's an incredible price for a SxS and I'm very interested.

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Does anyone know of any other good values in SxS (under $1000)?

brad cook
 
The Baikal double rifle in 45-70 is something that really interests me too. I think there are a lot of folks who could be persuaded to part with $6-700 for a big bore double rifle .... just to play with, you understand. Not many people would be prepared to stump up $8-12,000 for a big bore double rifle unless they were pretty keen on 'em, had enough disposable income and were going to need something like that.

The biggest problem with the Baikal double rifles are .... nobody knows when they will appear. As I understand it EAA haven't imported any into the US yet, and they certainly haven't filtered into this corner of the world yet.

Real nice idea, would love to get my paws on one, ain't happened yet and no idea when it will happen.

Spinner

PS You could always try a Baikal 20 ga SxS shotgun with some Baikal 45-70 inserts in it.
 
If it's like their OU rifle, there will be a large gap between the barrels. I also seem to recall hearing that the 45/70 model would be limited to traditional loadings (read black-powder power levels.) Can't confirm that statement so both are speculation but worth keeping in mind for later when they do become available--gives you some questions to ask.
 
This has been thrashed about before (maybe on TFL?) and the official line from EAA is that the double rifle is only intended for lower pressure trapdoor-type loads. However, the double rifle is also offered in .223, .270, 30.06 and all those calibres have SAAMI pressure ratings way, way higher than trapdoor 45-70 loads ...... up around the stoutest 45-70 pressure loads.

I'm guessing that the official line is "trapdoor-type loads only" for liability purposes. With 30.06 for instance, there aren't any factory loaded low pressure loads, so EAA don't have the option of saying "wimpy loads only".

The only possible reason I can see why 45-70 loads may need to be lower may be the difference in case head size .... meaning that a different load is possibly delivered to the guns receiver.

Spinner
 
I Have O/U Model

The O/U in .308 is accurate and hell for stout. You also get a sense of accomplishment when you get the two bbls grouping together. If the SxS was similar to the O/U I would buy one with no questions asked.
 
If it's like their OU rifle, there will be a large gap between the barrels.
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Hmm...does the OU also use a jackscrew system to adjust one barrel to POA?

brad cook
 
official line from EAA is that the double rifle is only intended for lower pressure trapdoor-type loads.
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Awww...that stinks because .45-70 is the caliber I'd want most out of their current offerings and that would definitely drive me away from it. I guess if that's the case I'd probably go with .270 or .30-06.

brad cook
 
Owner of the Remington/EAA in 30-06 caliber

I have a EAA double rifle that is imported by Remington. The rilfe costs $990 and was purchased at a gun shop in TN. I live in the St. Louis area and none of the local gun shops have even seen one.

I purchased the rifle for my wife to use next year on a safari. I spent another $600 getting it scoped with a Leupold 1-4 scope, mercury recoil reducer, trigger job, action job (breakdown was very tight), and gunsmith's time getting the two barrels tuned to shoot 180 grains at 100 yards.

She loved firing the rifle, but struggles with the break action and removal of the spent shells. I gave her my CZ550 in 30-06 and now she will not give it back. The gun is a blast to shoot (two boxes of shells) and draws a lot of attention at the range.

However, I do need a rifle to hunt with and would consider trade or selling this rifle. I will promise you won't be disappointed. Her first reaction at 75 yards was two shots in the 8 and 9 ring. She came running back from the target exclaiming she had "Killed the hell out of that Lion".

Anyway, it is a very fun rifle to shoot if anyone is interested. My next stop might be gunbroker.

Steve
 
The biggest problem with the Baikal double rifles are .... nobody knows when they will appear. As I understand it EAA haven't imported any into the US yet, and they certainly haven't filtered into this corner of the world yet.
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Several months ago, a guy came to a gun club meeting with a Remington Spartan labeled double rifle in .45-70. Looked like my Spartan 20 gauge coach gun except for the sights. He said it was one of only a handful in the country at that time. I've yet to see it on the Remington web site, though. His is the only one I've ever laid eyes on. I've yet to figure out when or IF they'll actually be released. This guy might have a true collector's piece. When I first bought my Spartan coach gun, I was at the range shooting patterns and slugs at the 50 yard rifle range and this guy was there talking about waiting on a double rifle to be introduced and how he'd thought about picking up my very shotgun at the shop where I bought it and cutting off the barrels and making his own double rifle from the action. Not sure how he intended to accomplish that, but he sure was wanting a Spartan double rifle, like a friggin' life's calling or something. I'm glad he hunted one down. Didn't ask him how much it cost him or where he was able to get it.
 
http://www.gunsamerica.com/91491495...Non-Model-700/REMINGTON_SPARTAN_30_06_S_S.htm

I see the .45-70 version of this rifle from time to time on gunsamerica. They are here I know of several guys who have them. They are pretty rough, the triggers suck, the sights are very poor, and they seem to shoot just fine. They are about what I'd expect for a $900.00 double rifle.

The only possible reason I can see why 45-70 loads may need to be lower may be the difference in case head size ....
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Spinner,

What you are referring to is called case head thrust. The thrust created by a larger case is much greater than a smaller one and is why the .45-70 has to operate at a lower pressure than the 06.

Even the big British nitros operate a very very low pressure. That is why they use such huge cases.
 
Although Baikal makes a number of them, the only ones I've seen actually available in the US are the .45-70 and the .30-06. I've seen others available in Canada. Seems like if they can handle the pressure of a .30-06, they ought to be able to handle level 2 .45-70 (levergun loads).
 
Spinner,

What you are referring to is called case head thrust. The thrust created by a larger case is much greater than a smaller one and is why the .45-70 has to operate at a lower pressure than the 06.

Even the big British nitros operate a very very low pressure. That is why they use such huge cases.
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This is quite true and why the .45 70 in a Contender must remain rather low pressure while a .223 is a modern pressure round on the same frame, different barrel. You can't push .223 pressures in the .45 70 in a contender due to the monster case head area.
 
http://www.gunsamerica.com/914914958..._30_06_S_S.htm

I see the .45-70 version of this rifle from time to time on gunsamerica. They are here I know of several guys who have them. They are pretty rough, the triggers suck, the sights are very poor, and they seem to shoot just fine. They are about what I'd expect for a $900.00 double rifle.
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I wondered about that. The triggers on my 20 gauge are crisp, but stiff. You really don't notice it with a shotgun except sitting down with slugs and shooting at 50 yards rifle style. They've gotten a little better with a case or so of ammo through it, but they're not rifle quality. Of course, I have an SKS with a mile of creep that's worse. LOL I have one SKS with a decent trigger. I think on the norincos, you got about 1 out of 10 with a decent trigger. Tacticool guys seem not to care, but I do.

Anyway, I never had a desire for a double rifle, but it's nice to know there's something affordable out there for the guys on a budget that would like one. Just speaking practically, you get a lot more rifle for a grand if you buy a bolt gun, but then, it's not a double rifle if you have the calling. LOL A good gunsmith, if you could find one that'd work on it, might be able to help the triggers. I'm perfectly happy shooting slugs out of my 20 gauge if I want a double rifle. LOL! Ain't much for sights, but I can lump 'em into about 2.5" at 50 yards, kinda fun, if sorta useless. It'd kill a hog, though, if I was out bird hunting and I heard hogs coming. It's so light and easy to tote, I carry it when I'm just woods bumming with a slug in one barrel and a shot load in the other, sort of a combination gun.
 
If you can get this gun regulated and shooting well, it seems like quite a bargain with the 1/4 rib and all, even considering the horrid triggers & rough fit on the Baikals. Let us know if you get one. The .45-70 is interesting to me. Anyone think it could be bored out safely to .458 Winmag?
 
Anyone think it could be bored out safely to .458 Winmag?
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NO! The .458 Win is WAY to high pressure. Besides rimless high pressure rounds are a bad idea in even a well built double. There are a few around built by some very reputable double rifle makers but they are rare due to the fact that rimless cases and doubles just aren't the best idea.

If anything you might be able to bore it out to a 450 3 1/4 Nitro. Or possibly a .45-120 or some such.
 
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For all of you hog thumping, rock busting, water jug exploding Bwanas out there. The Spartan .45-70 will be a neat little double rifle.
 
A local store has one of these, and I find turning a jackscrew in the middle of the barrels to bend them apart and thus regulate their POI to be a bit too hokey for my taste.

It also doesn't break open very far; getting the spents out of the chambers in a hurry is NOT gonna happen.
 
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