Why no O/U double rifles?

[RDCL]

I've no practical reason to own a double rifle.....could'nt afford one anyway but they have always fascinated me just the same. Especially the large-bore guns. I don't think I've ever heard of one in an over/under configuration, yet that type of set-up seems to make good sense.......would it not provide a much easier aim in a quick follow-up shot?

Also, I THINK I understand that the main reason SXS double rifles are so complicated and expensive to make is the fact that the barrels need to be "regulated" to a given point of aim.......a very time consuming and highly skilled craft.......would this not be needed in an O/U configuration......hence result in a less expensive firearm?


Lastly....I must ask a favor!

......Could those of you lucky enough to own such rifles post a close-up pic or two of those big double muzzles with the rifling showing

 

[bhk]

Over-under rifles would still need regulating to adjust the vertical impact of the barrels. Browning made some over-under rifles a few years ago in a variety of calibers, including the 30-06.

 

[GCBurner]

Several European makers, particularly in Germany, have turned out O/U double rifles, but there hasn't been much of a demand for importing them into the US.

 

[Nugilum]

As it was explained to me, it's extremely difficult to accurately sight in two barrels to a matching impact point. It takes a master gunsmith considerable time to weld the barrels together, test, break the weld, reconfigure, reweld, test, break the weld, etc.

Gunsmithing manufacturing time = money.

 

[natman]

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/brno-stopper-express-double-rifle/

http://www.heymusa.com/55_b.htm

http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/krieghoff_ultra-20_ts_double_rifle/

 

[JohnBT]

In the big calibers, the top barrel being so far from the hinge creates a great deal of leverage that stresses the locking mechanism.

 

[RDCL]

I thank you all for your responses. Good info.

Also, I had no idea there were O/U double rifles made.

Russ

 

[oneounceload]

Browning used to make their O/U rifles both individually and as a set with a set of 20 gauge shotgun barrels. Still available through on-line sites like GunsInternational.com. There were made, IIRC, in the late 70's/early 80's, some were branded as "Centennial".

example:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/BR...ENNIAL-SHOTGUN-RIFLE-SET.cfm?gun_id=100089678

 

[DM~]

Too bad most of those Brownings were so poorly regulated!

Anyway, a LOT of O/U DR's were made and still are made today... I have a few, includeing this one NIB,





DM

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Over-under rifles would still need regulating to adjust the vertical impact of the barrels. Browning made some over-under rifles a few years ago in a variety of calibers, including the 30-06.

In an O/U the two barrels are 2" apart at most? If both barrels are regulated exactly parallel to each other then one barrel hits 1" above POA and one hits 1" below. For most things you will be shooting with a .30-06, that is not so much elevation difference to worry about.

I think it is just because SXS guns just look so much cooler than O/U.

 

[JohnBT]

A SxS doesn't have to open as far to reload as an O/U. I learned that in a duck blind with shotguns. It's easy to load 2 at once into a SxS. O/U are a pain to load two at once and that's a danger when hunting dangerous game.

The Europeans like O/U rifles for deer and boar and such. I didn't look at the links posted, but I'd be surprised if they're made in anything larger than a 9.3X74R chambering. That's around the bottom end of dangerous game guns; like the .375 H&H.

 

[Jim Watson]

Supposedly the OU is easier to regulate because nearly everything happens in a vertical plane, unlike a SxS where you have to account for both vertical and horizontal effects.

Against the wider gape required to load, set the greater strength of the deep OU receiver. Not that a good SxS is not stout enough to handle calibres suitable for the biggest and baddest critters known.

W.W. Greener wrote of building an OU express for a client with small hands who found the narrow foreend easier to grasp.

It is the common wisdom that double rifles are regulated to converge at a specific range and will cross fire at any greater distance. As BluEyes says, if you set them to shoot parallel (not that the barrels will lay parallel in the action, especially for a SxS) then they will center individual barrel groups the same distance apart at all ranges. Never saw anybody but Ray Ordorica write about that, though. He said his .470 did not cross at any range he had shot it at.

 

[DM~]

It is the common wisdom that double rifles are regulated to converge at a specific range and will cross fire at any greater distance. As BluEyes says, if you set them to shoot parallel (not that the barrels will lay parallel in the action, especially for a SxS) then they will center individual barrel groups the same distance apart at all ranges. Never saw anybody but Ray Ordorica write about that, though. He said his .470 did not cross at any range he had shot it at.

S&S should NOT be regulated to converge, or cross! Properly regulated, they will shoot apart the distance that's between the bbls., even at longer ranges, same as an O/U should...


Yes you can buy big bore O/U DR's today.... They aren't cheap, but they are available.

DM

 

[ball3006]

Cabela's has a rack full at their Fort Worth store.......................chris3

 

[Hizzie]

Verney-Carron and Antonio Zoli both list 450-400 3" O/U's.

 

[451 Detonics]

My old gunsmith had no problem regulating barrels on SXS double rifles. When I asked him about it he asked me if I had heard of computers and lasers. His double rifles always shot great so I guess he knew what he was talking about.

Today the only double rifle I own is a Tikka (Valmet) in 9.3X74R. It is easily regulated by the user.

 

[Pete D.]

O/u dr

Rizzini 90L Express rifle in 30-06. My favorite rifle:



Pete