Why no O/U double rifles?

H Wally

H Wally

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
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Something I've been thinking about now and then - you see many SxS combination guns and double rifles, but I have yet to ever see an O/U double rifle. There are some O/U combination guns, and those seem mostly to be Czech or Russian.

So - what gives? It seems to me that regulating an O/U double rifle would be significantly easier than regulating a SxS... plus I like how over/unders look... am I missing something here?
 
It seems like the only ones I ever see go up for sale are European and tend to cost upwards of $10,000 because they're plated and gold and were owned by some aristocrat.

Edit: Yeah, cheapest Tradex has in stock is $5895.
 
I'm also pretty surprised you don't see more combo guns in shotgun gauges with smooth and rifled barrels. Probably because pump guns are easy to convert from rifled to smooth, but still, seems like if Baikal can make a $400 O/U they could rifle one of the barrels.
 
H Wally said:
Something I've been thinking about now and then - you see many SxS combination guns and double rifles, but I have yet to ever see an O/U double rifle. There are some O/U combination guns, and those seem mostly to be Czech or Russian.

So - what gives? It seems to me that regulating an O/U double rifle would be significantly easier than regulating a SxS... plus I like how over/unders look... am I missing something here?
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like in any world there is an hype about express rifle and the over under ones are not well regarded: up to the time you use them.

i ve seen a lot of over under in 9.3x74r made by different brands and the most good tool ever made was the valmet 412 and 412s if you can find one and of course carry it ...
 
I have a few rifle/shotgun combo rifles. longer cases pose a problem on the bottom barrel, you need to break them all the way open in order to get a empty case out and a new round chambered, not the easiest to do especially if you need those shots in a hurry, top barrel is a breeze as is a side by side, lots more clearance. I have 2 30-06-12's one has the rifle barrel on the bottom, not easy to eject and load as the one with the 06 on the top.
 
I have both over under and side by side rifles. The big difference in a dangerous game rifle is the side by side is slower to reload. If your after non dangerous game not much difference, as you are not in danger. The over/ under has 2 sets of barrels 9.3x74 on one set the other 9.3x74 and 12 gauge. It kind of a nice moose/grouse gun.
 
The bottom one is a 9.3X74R Tikka/Valmet/ Marrochi412S
The top one is a FAIR 6.5X55
Both have accessory shotgun barrels as well, the Tikka's are 12, the FAIR's are 20's.
Cat
 
As mentioned above their are lots of high end O/U rifles and there are some more cheaper regular use examples, but none are really popular in North America unlike Europe where most come from.

You could always try importing one of these -

 
Over and unders larger than 450/400 seem to be scarce, at least in examples that are half way affordable. It seems to me that there is an issue off the increased depth of the action putting more stress on the hinge, or something like that. Since the only use that I can picture a double being an advantage is close cover defensive shooting the lack of larger bores is a bit of a deal breaker.

If it wasn't for that I think a O/U would have a lot going for it. All the time spent on O/U shotguns would transfer across. A single trigger would fit right in to the theme, and for those that subscribe to the two triggers is better theory there are dual triggers that the front trigger will fire both barrels if you want, leaving the back as a plan B. As for speed of loading, I can't see that. When I move my left hand across my body to the gun side my fingers line up better with an O/U.

Good thing I'm a bolt guy, so I don't have to think about it.
 
H Wally said:
Something I've been thinking about now and then - you see many SxS combination guns and double rifles, but I have yet to ever see an O/U double rifle. There are some O/U combination guns, and those seem mostly to be Czech or Russian.

So - what gives? It seems to me that regulating an O/U double rifle would be significantly easier than regulating a SxS... plus I like how over/unders look... am I missing something here?
Click to expand...

H Wally, there have been a few in the CGN EE over the years.
Sometimes they sell fast sometimes they dont.
Head over to Ralf Martinis Home Page and you will see some very nice O/U Rifles there.
Rob
 
When it comes to double rifles that are chambered for express cartridges, I think the SXS has a practical advantage over the O/Us. When you break the action of a SXS, the chambers both become visible and accessible at the same time, whereas the O/U must open wider to expose the lower barrel. That would not be particularly helpful in a dangerous game scenario. Perhaps this is a subject that will gain greater attention should Mulcair's crew prevail in the upcoming election, and the specter of even more draconian firearms legislation than the Liberals could dream up causes our more typical firearms to fade into history.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I wondered the same thing.
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I would say the opposite actually... I find it slightly quicker and more intuitive to load a SXS than an O/U... both bores remain in full sight and aren't blocked by your hand in reloading... but maybe that's just me... and we are talking fractions of a second here.
 
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