Feasibility of a .303 double on a shotgun frame

Ardent

Ardent

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I've been thinking about having a set of barrels machined (yes, BIG bucks, I know) to fit an undetermined shotgun frame in .303 Brit. Now, will any side by side frames be able to handle the .303? This is going from shotgun to rifle pressures, the biggest problem being the dramatically different pressure curve of a rifle round vs a shotgun round. I would LOVE to have this on a quaint little 28 frame or .410 frame if it could take it. Everything minus the receiver and fire control parts would be pulled so nice wood etc wouldn't exactly be of any help (want to make my own furniture too). I prefer a single selective trigger (I know not very classic, but I do). Any thoughts? Would just like open discussion on this...
 
I saw one similar to what you are talking about several years back. It was based on a Browning 20 gauge side-by-side, but it was not a BSS. I beleive that it was a B-80 but an not entirely sure of the model.

There are some that I have read about in Double Gun Journal that have been crafted from Winchester Model 21 actions, but I expect that you would add thousands to the price of the project if you went that route, plus finding one is not generally an easy thing to do.

At least with the .303 your pressure is relatively moderate compared to other calibres.

You definitely have an interesting project in the works here...
 
I love this forum, so many good new ideals, and enlugh gunsmiths here to tell you if it can be done.

I would of never thought of a 303 doubble but now I want one. I've been thinking of rebarreling an enfield with a .35 barrel and making a wildcat 35-303 or just goijng with the 45-70 enfield but now.....
 
I recall Ross(money is no object)Seyfried made up a double rifle on a Ruger Red Label in .300 H&H. I would think a rimmed cartridge would be a better choice. The firing pins need to be bushed, but I do not remember many other details including how closely the barrels were regulated.
Interesting project.
 
Nick Makinson (SP?) in Ontario builds .375 H&H double rifles on BSS frames. Last time I checked, the price wasn't outrageous as far as double rifles go. I don't know if he is still building them. He advertises in "Double Gun Journal".
For a frame of reference when I say not too outrageous,the last double I looked at was a Royal grade H&H in H&H's Paris gun room, price------- $265000 CDN, although you get to knock off the VAT tax if you export it.
 
funny i was thinking of this the other day.would the Steven's 311 br strong enough? there's lots of them out there, for not too much. think of the possiblities, .303, .30-40, 7.62x54R, .405...
 
Anvil said:
Nick Makinson (SP?) in Ontario builds .375 H&H double rifles on BSS frames. Last time I checked, the price wasn't outrageous as far as double rifles go. I don't know if he is still building them. He advertises in "Double Gun Journal".
Click to expand...

Nicholas Makinson English Gun & Rifle Makers
RR 3
London, ON
N0L 1R0
Voice (519) 471-5462
 
buckbrush said:
Brownells sells a book on making double rifles on shotgun actions.
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I'm going to have to look into that, thanks!

Anvil said:
Nick Makinson (SP?) in Ontario builds .375 H&H double rifles on BSS frames. Last time I checked, the price wasn't outrageous as far as double rifles go. I don't know if he is still building them. He advertises in "Double Gun Journal".
For a frame of reference when I say not too outrageous,the last double I looked at was a Royal grade H&H in H&H's Paris gun room, price------- $265000 CDN, although you get to knock off the VAT tax if you export it.
Click to expand...

Well then, as long as the the VAT tax isn't applied.... :p Sounds like a very, very, very, beautiful firearm.
 
the early comments dealt with the increased pressure on the breachface. I don't think that is what you need to worry about but rather thrust on the breachface. If you multiply the chamber pressure of the shotshell that the gun was made for times the surface area of the shell you get an approximation of shell thrust. compare that with the same for the rifle shell you intend to use and you get some idea of whether or not you are proposing to put more thrust on the breach face than was originally intended.

cheers mooncoon
 
woodchopper said:
I love this forum, so many good new ideals, and enlugh gunsmiths here to tell you if it can be done.

I would of never thought of a 303 doubble but now I want one. I've been thinking of rebarreling an enfield with a .35 barrel and making a wildcat 35-303 or just goijng with the 45-70 enfield but now.....
Click to expand...


Don't forget the 303/25 ! King is doing one for me in the spring.
 
Ardent said:
I'm going to have to look into that, thanks!



Well then, as long as the the VAT tax isn't applied.... :p Sounds like a very, very, very, beautiful firearm.
Click to expand...

It was a very beautiful firearm, with perfect execution of craftsmanship. The "field grade" doubles were built to the same standard and much more appealing to me.
Judging by the neighbourhood and the cars on the street, the price of anything in the gunroom was pocket change for the regular clientel.

I have had a chance to look at a couple of .303 doubles and shoot one. Both were built on .410 sized frames and regulated to shoot 215 grain bullets. One of them was a good shooter, groups were usually around 2-4 inches at 100 yards. It was a small rifle, it wouldn't have weighed more than 5 1/2 to 6 pounds. The same owner also had a 6 1/4 lb .416 Rigby but at the time .416 ammo was completely unavailable.
 
I have an O/U 12 ga. double with a very carefully fitted 26" Douglas bbl. as an insert. This insert has provision for the shotgun extractor to operate on an "insert" extractor, which makes the set-up as efficient as a permanent barrel change would.
It's chambered for 45-70, and the load I'm using develops 2050 fps with a 300 gr. Hornaday. I just did an 'empty box' count, and have put 250 + rounds through it. The combo will shoot 100 yd. groups under an inch all day, and there have been no problems of any kind since day one. The action is still iron tight, and it's just a more or less common box-lock.

When researching the feasability of this project I got dozens of esoteric disscusions about breach face thrust, pressures, shotgun design and yadda yadda yadda. So I just went ahead and did it---and have had no regrets.

Cost was $300 including a new .458 bbl. blank, machining exterior of same to a perfect fit, and cutting and fitting an extractor for the blank.
 
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