To the powers that be, if you add a double rifle, and combination gun catagory I know several very knowledgable folks from many other forums that will post here on a regular basis.
The double rifle is a very specialized firearm, that has it's own rules, and is little understood by most American shooters. That also goes for most other countries as well, with the exception of Australia, Africa, and The UK. However the folks who are members of the DRSS (Double Rifle Shooter's Society) www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com A group of double rifle enthusiests (only four guys) got together on a play time Hog hunt set up by myself, at Camp Cooley Ranch near Ridge, Texas, on the Navasota River, back a few years ago. On the website which is still under construction, there is a short history of the DRSS.
That society has members all over the world today. We even have a chapter in Moskow Russia. The combined knowledge on this subject of the members of the DRSS is a couple hundred years, and would be, I think, a good adtion to this website, with a dedicated catagory for double rifles, and combination guns.
Something to think about, and I'm sure a lot of the guys here would enjoy the forum as well.
Don't think there are many double fans here (I am, I have a Purdey hammer double in 450 BPE)
That is the whole idea! I know probably 30 double rifle owners, and hunters personally, and the DRSS has hundreds of members who would most like start posting on a dedicated double rifle forum here!
I believe it would be worth while for the owners of this website because it would also attract links to suppliers, dealers, makers, and many african safari opperators as well as just folks who enjoy talking double rifles.
As you two probably know, the double rifle is a very unique firearm, and it opperates by it's own rules, that are not like any other firearm you can think of. Thie would be a another place for guys who know, and a school for those who don't have a clue.
I think it would increse the traffic here for sure!
If I duct-tape two H&R Handi rifles together...could I post in the double rifle forum?
Thrillbilly, you'd be suprised what some call a double rifle! I've seen some gunsmith's renderings that wouldn't be as good at two H&Rs welded togethere, but I don't know about the tape.
It doesnt matter whether you own a double rifle or not, as long as you have an interest in them. I say welcome to a double rifle forum!
If I duct-tape two H&R Handi rifles together...could I post in the double rifle forum?
Duct tape might make opening the action a real pain. However, if you rough up the recievers a bit with a file and apply a thin layer of JB Weld, you could really have something. LOL
Seriously, the Baikal .30-06 double looks pretty cool, (for a rifle), and only costs about $750.
Duct tape might make opening the action a real pain. However, if you rough up the recievers a bit with a file and apply a thin layer of JB Weld, you could really have something. LOL
Seriously, the Baikal .30-06 double looks pretty cool, (for a rifle), and only costs about $750.
The above is absolutely right! You don't have to be a millionaire to own double rifles! I'm a poor working stiff, and I own seven double rifle today, and have owned about 30 over the years. I have to laugh when I hear someone say they can't afford a double rifle while standing beside a $50K Power Stroke crew-cab truck, with a $20K bass boat on a trailer behind it. When you drive into their driveway the wife's car is a $30 SUV, and every one of their kids are driving a car as well.
It is all a matter of priaraties! Nobody gave you all those cars, and nobody is going to give you a double rifle. I assure you, however, a $10K Merkel double rifle will still be shooting when your grand kids are out of collage,and every one of those cars will have been in the junk yard for 30 years, many of them before they are ten years old. I have a Westley Richards double rifle, a 500/450#1 Express that was sold out of the London store in 1892, and is still shooting fine!
In regard to the Baikal rifle I looked one over pretty well at the DRSS "Hoot & Shoot" down in Houston, Texas back on the 3rd of Oct. And for the money it is a pretty nice little rifle. I wouldn't buy it in 30-06 however, because a double rifle should always be chambered for a rimmed cartridge. With a rimmed cartridge all one has to do to clear the chambers of empties it tilt the rifle back with the breech open, and the cases fall out. This is not the case with rimless, or belted rimless cartridges. They are sometime hard to get out of the chambers, and to top that off the tiny little palls that snap into the groove to extract the cases are prone to breakage. There have also been rumors of pressure porblems with the 30-06 in the little Baikal. The 30-06 is a 48, to 50,000 cup chamber pressure cartridge. Not the best choice for a breaktop double rifle. The 30-30, or the 30-40 would make a lot more sense, and I have no idea why the maker didn't offer thai little rifle chambered for 30-30 right off the bat.
I thought about buying one of them chambered for 30-06, and pulling the barrels out of the mono-block, and turning a pair of .308 bored barrels with a 1 in 10" twist, and chambering them for 30-40 Kraig, or even the little 30-30 Win, and sleeve them into the mono-block, and fit the regulation mechenism to the new barrels. Work on the triggers some, and replace the sights with some custom fiber optics, regulate the 30-40 with a 180 gr bullet, and the 30-30 with a 150 gr spitzer bullet. Would make a neat little woods rifle for deer, and the final cost would be about half again more than the $700 or $1150, to $1300. I don't know where you can buy a factory made double rifle with that many features, or any features for $1300 bucks. And to get the beast from any double rifle one must handload, so ammo availability is not an issue even for the 30-40 K. However if you used the 30-30 Win you could find ammo in any country store in Texas.
The one thing I need to mention here is never use mono-metal bullets in a double rifle, that have a solid shank on the bullet with out very thinly cut pressure rings around the shank so the lands don't have to engrave solid copper, or bronze. These bullets have been know to cause OSR (over stressed rifleing) and damage the solder joint between the barrels, and wedges, and ribs. The North fork, and GS Custom bullets are safe in the double rifles.
Here`s a thought. Start a Double rifle Forum and see what kind of a following it gets. If it doesn`t get off the ground say in 6 months, Cancel
it for non-interest. Either it flies or it crashes and burns.
Heres an idea get your buddies to start posting here and if its so much of a demand they will probably set aside a section for DBR Rifles. From my point of view if I was going to spend $10,000 to get a gun I wouldn't get just one, it would be in the #s of I dunno say 15-20? Honestly what more do you get from spending an aditional $9,250?? That gun better bring me a beer and reload itself for $10,000. But thats just me.
But back to the point, you gotta start small especially with an established forum. I'm gonna say it outright not everyone here will flock to your postings and post on them or in some cases like mine even pay attention to the DBR posts in themselves. But its a start and if it catches enough speed the big guys may make a section for you.
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The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.
—Patrick Henry
Last edited by Archetype_wyo; 10-22-2009 at 10:45 AM.
I think it would be interesting, would this section be for double shotguns and fowler guns? If so that would be great! I would start going to the world championship side by side competition here in MD and post all sorts of cool pics. I am up for anything that brings more people and ideas to G&G! But the decision is not up to me....
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It isn't FT-LBS that kill, it's broken body parts!
I'd be all for it. I don't own a double but have always held a fascination with them. I love reading about J.A. Hunter's exploits on the dark continent with his 500 N.E. Someday I hope to own one but am not sure I could handle the recoil. But I'd participate in a double rifle forum.
Thrillbilly, you'd be suprised what some call a double rifle! I've seen some gunsmith's renderings that wouldn't be as good at two H&Rs welded togethere, but I don't know about the tape. 
