Small bore double rifle.

S

southernman

Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
12   0   0
Location
Taranaki New Zealand/Fort Mc Murray, Alberta
Just about to order a extra set of barrels, for my Fair I-side SxS, I've got 9.3x74 and 20 ga,
It's pretty light for a double at 6lbs and the 9.3 isn't much fun,
Was going to go with 7x57R, but asked if they would do 7x65R, while pricing up a new Fair hammer double rifle. So that an option,
I've got both the 7x57 and 7x64, in bolt actions and like them both, components and ammo, are about the same for aviblity, 7x 57 in NZ and 7x64 in Canada,
I am leaning towards the 7x57R, but the extra performance, is tempting on the 7x65.
No wrong choice,
So for you Double rifle guys, what way would you go, 7mm Mauser or 7x65R.
 
I always prefer a rimmed round vs the alternative. I have had the extractor slide over a rimless round...then you have issues to get the sucker out. 7x57R I feel is a wonderful round for double rifles at all reasonable ranges, even scoped.
 
I would go with the 7x65R myself. The 7x57 just seems weird if it's not in a Mauser, even if it has a rim. 7x57 is probably my favourite cartridge btw, so I'm not biased against it.
 
southernman said:
So for you Double rifle guys, what way would you go, 7mm Mauser or 7x65R.
Click to expand...
The 7x57R would be my first choice. I owned one before. Brass was easy to find and std. 7x57 dies was all I needed to reload.

A SxS in 303 British would be another good choice if available.
 
I would go 7X57R... you don't need anything extra with the 9.3X74R barrels available... you might aswell differentiate between the barrels... otherwise you might be inclined to leave the 7X65R barrels on and the 9.3 barrels collect dust.
 
My immediate thought was .303 British, but reading the original post makes it clear that its not a consideration and I don't blame you. I am not overly fond of the .303, and unless its in an 1895 Winchester or Ruger No.1 I don't really want one.
I doubt you'd be disappointed by either. I think the 7x65R would be my choice, for the simple reason of providing better performance with bullets like a GMX or TSX, in half an hour nostalgia may have me saying 7x57R and a 175 grain round nose bullets would be best.
 
If you are shooting 286's from the 9.3mm barrels, it doesn't make sense to me to shoot heavies out of the 7mm barrels... might aswell go with a medium weight 140/150 grain SP of your choosing and actually create a trajectory benefit with the new barrels. Maybe it is just me, but shooting the monometal bullets from a SXS rifle just "feels" wrong.
 
I have a 7x57R and find it excellent for medium/ large game in BC, although I reload to suit the hunt. I've been using the same two loads for 30+ years because I'm completely satisfied with both accuracy and terminal results. Nosler 175 gr Partition for moose or elk as primary game, Nosler 140 gr Partition for deer as primary game. Either one will take care of anything in North America as required. While the 7x65R will give you perhaps another 50 yards of effective range, the additional energy it provides is really of no consequence on our game. Dead is dead. If the type of hunting you do doesn't require you to squeeze out the maximum range possible ( in which case you would probably be using a hyper magnum bolt action of some sort) I think you will find that the user friendly 7x57R is the practical choice.
 
i agree that you've made a good choice. In a double rifle the 7x57R is the winner especially if you already have a 9.3x74R. You will have "enough" range, much lower recoil, and an easy to shoot, classic cartridge. i have two 7x57R rifles, one a drilling and one a BBF, i would like a 7x65R but only if it was a single shot German "kipplauf". I have used my 7x57r rifles to shoot whitetails and wolf, anything bigger is well handled by my 9.3x74R.
 
Is your base gun the double rifle version with shotgun barrels added, or double shotgun with rifle barrels added? The Iside double rifles and double shotguns have completely different stock profiles. This would be important because while rifle fit isn't paramount, shotgun fit is. Also, rifle fit varies between iron sights and scope. I've been interested in this combo for some time but have been unable to actually handle them. I have a friend with an Antonio Zoli over/under 9.3x74R rifle to which he had 20 gauge barrels ordered and fitted. Works for him, I can't hit anything with it as a shotgun, comb is too high. I really like the idea and would order but not without first making sure that it would work for me.
 
Last edited:
Mine is a I-side double rifle, safari EJ, the 20ga barrels, were ordered after the 9.3x74 rifle. You just supply the S/n of rifle to Fair, and they build barrels of their drawings.
I had the shotgun, out a couple weeks ago (first time), shot ok with it, and didn't notice any handling/Fit difference, between my fair 16ga U/o and the 20ga, other it being a SxS and double trigger.

Ashcroft, what's you location in Bc, I may be in the Kootenays and out to Terrace over the summer.
 
I know I'm a little late to the conversation but my biased vote would be for the 7x65r, only reason being is that's what my double is chambered in and its is quite a soft recoiling cartridge but always seems to get the job done. If anything I would prefer to go bigger in my sxs just because it is a bit on the heavy side and could easily soak up the recoil, but in your 6# gun I think either 7mm would be just the ticket
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom