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Originally posted by Pete E:
Perhaps the most important difference is that in a side lock you have two independent locks/triggers. Should one cease to function, the other should work ok which is obviously desirable in a DG gun. In a boxlock, there is a possibility that a single failure could prevent either barrel being fired.

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Pete E, the above statement is absolutely not true! All double rifles are two intirely seperate rifles on the same stock, as long as they are not fitted with a single trigger!

The fact is the side lock rifles are more expensive, but not necessarily better! the side lock, as already stated takes too much wood out of the weakest point in the stock. The weakness stated on the strength, or lack there of, of the Box lock, was once true. Today,with modern steels, and manufacturing process', however, the box locks are actually stronger than a true sidelock. If you want the fancy looks of the sidelock, then side plates are the way to go. The side plates, actually srengthen the stock at this weak point.

There is an index of gun phrases that will explain the technical differences between the two, I don't have it handy here, maybe someone here can supply that web address! If not, I'll find it and post it later.

[ 05-28-2003, 00:38: Message edited by: MacD37 ]

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Originally posted by Mickey1:
Mac

The trouble with sideplates, IMHO, is that they look cheap and cobbled on. The line formed at the front cannot be hidden by any engraving.

A true sidelock has all kinds of uninterrupted space for engraving and with out the big screws in the bottom. WR excluded.

Also there is a dainty, almost femine aspect to a good Sidelock. The Boxlock has a bulky purposeful appearance in my mind.

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Actually the side plate box lock has less interuptions than a true sidelock. The true sidelock has three or four places where the studs, that hold the lockworks, inside, come through. To top that off the true sidelock, is attached to the main action body in the same fasion as the side plate, and has the same lines as the true sidelock. Unless you know, it is imposible to tell the difference till you look very close, and find there is only a through screw at the rear, and the screw holding the plate to the action! For the side plate only enough wood is removed to inlet the thin plate, while a large amount of wood must be chizeled out to make room for the lock works on the inside of the plate of the sidelock. By the way there is no screw in the BOTTOM of a side plate!

Take a look at the pictures for this at:
www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

www.hallowellco.com/boxlock.htm#Boxlock

www.hallowellco.com/blitz_action.htm

The Blitz being to most obtrucive of all the action types, with a very large amount of wood removed from the weakest point in the stock!

[ 05-29-2003, 02:58: Message edited by: MacD37 ]

quote:

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Originally posted by MacD37:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mickey1:
[qb]Mac

By the way there is no screw in the BOTTOM of a side plate!

Take a look at the pictures for this at:
www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

www.hallowellco.com/boxlock.htm#Boxlock

www.hallowellco.com/blitz_action.htm

The Blitz being to most obtrucive of all the action types, with a very large amount of wood removed from the weakest point in the stock!

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