As I mentioned a week or so ago, I just bought a double rifle in 30/06 .. made by Baikal of Russia. When I posted the info (as I knew the Americans were still waiting for Remington to supply their 'Spartan' rifles) several asked how it shot .. ??? Well ... I read the manual and it stated that the rifle was regulated with 10.9 gram bullets .. Hmmmmmmm.... I finally figured out that was 168 grain bullets. So I hared it off to the gunshop and picked up the last box (in stock) of Winchester Supreme with 168 grain Ballistic Silvertip. With the shiny nickel brass .. the shells look too pretty to shoot. But I just had to .. It was driving me nuts.. In the funky manual it stated: The requirements with respect to accuracy of shooting are considered to be met if the spread of 4 shot group fired at 100 m does not exceed 100 mm in diameter for each barrel and if deviation of the mean point of impact from the point of aim does not exceed 30mm.' This morning was cold & windy and a bunch of fresh nasty snow here in the Great White North. I drove 6 or 8 miles out of town into the country, stapled a target onto an ancient Cottonwood .... went back to the ol' Silverado, dropped two shells in the chamber .. leaned over the hood, rested my double over a hunting coat .. and fired two quick shots at the bulls eye .. about 35-40 yards away .. If it had been a dassie sitting on a kopje .. I would have killed him clean with either shot .. I use scopes exclusively for rifle shooting as I am the world's worse shot with iron sights .. But I reckon that I'll take this little musket to Namibia in August .. and whack a wart hog with it ..I love this cute little rifle !!! And if someone wings a leopard and it goes into the long grass and we have to go fetch ... maybe I'll stick to my Benelli with buckshot ... Although...............

I'm glad to hear that you got to shoot it and that it is doing right by you!

Well I'll be the first to admit I'm jelous!! It sounds like a blast!

thanks for the report. sounds like the accuracy was satisfactory. am glad to hear they are starting to become availiable. Kurt.

Where did you get the thing? I was supposed to get one a week or two ago from Goble's Gun and Tackle but they've never called to say it's there. Hopefully somebody in Alberta is selling these things.

quote:

accuracy of shooting are considered to be met if the spread of 4 shot group fired at 100 m does not exceed 100 mm (4 inches) in diameter for each barrel and if deviation of the mean point of impact from the point of aim does not exceed 30mm. (1.25 inches)

I added the bold numbers as a rough approximation.

I assume this to mean that if one fires an eight shot group alternating both barrels the group could be 6 1/2 inches (worst case) and would be considered to be shooting to it's design requirements.

If this is the worst case senerio then one might expect this gun to be worthy of hitting targets the size of grapefruit at 100 yards.

Heck folks.....I know people that consistantly shoot 1/2" groups that can't shoot that good.

IMO this don't exactly make it a 300 yard plains game rifle but it's a lot better than I expected. Actually I'm pleasantly impressed with the warranted accuracy and the fact that they would actually put it in writing for us.

I'm interested in the Baikal guns but in the 45-70. Anyone have a source in the US? Packrattusnongratus

I want a 45/70 too !!! I can hardly wait but I figured the old bird in the hand .... I bought my rifle at Marksmen Guns and Sports in Lethbridge, Alberta. Phone # is ... 403- 327-7595... fax # 403-380-4108. I talked to a friend of mine on the phone last night who also looked at the gun and was shocked at the sticker .. ($1,399 Canadian) ... I believe that is about the Suggested Retail Price as put forth by the distributor for Canada .. and a fair chunk more than the price for the Spartan in the U.S. Of course, I would have preferred to buy it much cheaper .. (who wouldn't) ... but it still strikes me as a heck of a gun for the money I paid.

Scruffy,
Can you tell me if the rifle is set up for a scope. I doubt it came with rings but was wondering if it is drilled or machined for some sort of ring assembly.

Have fun!

Yes, it is set up for a scope. 'There is a dovetail-type seat on the rear barrel band to accept a rail for mounting a scope.' The manual says that a 'rail for the scope' is available on request.'

Thanks for the update. Please keep us informed of how your rifle shoots when weather and such allow more shooting.

JPK

I have a 12over 7x57 by baikal the 7mm barrel will put the first 3 shots into 1.25 inchs then it heats up. 12 ga slugs and the 7mm barrel shot to the same point of aim at 25 yards.

I would really like a 45-70 hopefully Rem well get there act togather and get them in.

Scruffy: It is a SxS, right? How about a photo?

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Scruffy: It is a SxS, right? How about a photo?

He posted some pictures in this earlier thread.

Well, actually TOP_PREDATOR posted them for him.

$1400.00 bucks eh? Guess I'll have to wait for a while. They were supposed to be $1100.00 from Goble's but I guess they still don't have any. Oh well, spent all my money on a N0.2 450 NE anyway.