Heavy loads for Double Rifle
- Thread starter rottenfuher
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I wanted to try "heavy" 45-70 loads, so I bought a 458 Win Mag and load it "light". Heaviest 45-70 loads that I can find published are for use in a Ruger #1 and #3, Browning 1885 and 98 Mausers "properly converted" see Speer Reloading Manual #14. No double rifle of any manufacture listed there as "strong action"
Double rifle actions in general are not as strong as most bolt actions and well designed single shots. They are designed and built to accept all correct factory spec ammo, no problem. However if you insist on pushing them beyond their design capability you will quickly loosen the action to the point of becoming dangerous. Also they are notoriously finicky and are regulated to shoot both barrels to the same point with one specific load. Any change in load could result in a cross eyed or wall eyed gun that would be near useless except as a single shot. Anyway, the factory 45-70 has ample power for north american game , why do you need more? If you have a legitimate use for more power look at a double in 9.3x74R .
- Location
- Saskatchewan
Double rifles are built so the barrels shoot to the same point of impact with only one load. Some, like the Baikal do have an adjustment wedge that can be used to re-regulate the barrels with somewhat different loads. But that is meant for fine tuning, not a drastic difference in loads. I wouldn't buy a double unless I knew what load it was regulated for. I had a nice Beretta re-regulated last year. It cost me about $1500 for the job. Not something you want to do on a whim.
- Location
- Central AB
The barrels on the Baikal doubles are quite thin. That said i have used some quite stout loads in mine. But in mine it made the two barrels string vertically about 12" at 100 yds. Although you can adjust horizontal dispersion easily on the Baikal, huge vertical dispersion is a real problem. They are really regulated around factory loads, and thats the power level i went back to in order to get good regulation.
Also, these are really light guns, the recoil gets pretty stout with hot loads.
So, although the gun can probably handle fairly powerful loads, it isn't a good idea. Regardless, i would never attempt loads meant for a #1, those would be way too hot for the Baikal.
Also, these are really light guns, the recoil gets pretty stout with hot loads.
So, although the gun can probably handle fairly powerful loads, it isn't a good idea. Regardless, i would never attempt loads meant for a #1, those would be way too hot for the Baikal.
mine was a foot high at 40 yards I have managed to get it down to arrox 3 inch revoving thr muzzle block do some machining inside to gett the barrels closer first then I soldered it with a twist I could then get the 2 barrels to do a 4-5 inch grooping when shootong togetter. the guy who I sold it to had a project to cut the barrels shorter whish it worked
