They look a little startling, at first, but when you get the nostalgia wiped out of your eyes, they actually make first rate sense. In Mozambique, where I seem to be doing all my buff hunting, the climate must resemble Lake Charles, Lousiana. Add the fact that the ocean is only 4 miles away for some "atmospheric salt" (assuming such a thing could exist) and you get seriously anti-steel conditions. For the tourist-bwana, there are some real problems with the connotation of an all-weather double rifle, but for the professional to whom the thing is a tool, not an object d'art . . . like I say, they make first rate sense.
Sarge
Posts: 2690 | Location: Lakewood, CA. USA | Registered: 07 January 2001
You guys better hide, Rays coming with SWEET THANG, and she's loaded!
The place the stainless/synthetic double is very usefull is on the south coast of Alaska for a guide's back up in the rain, and salt air of the Brown bear country! I would love to have one for Alaska! DON'T TELL RAY THOUGH! SHSSSSSSSS! quiet! He may be listening!
------------------ ..Mac >>>===(x)===> also DUGABOY1 DUGABOY DESIGNS Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art
Posts: 14634 | Location: TEXAS | Registered: 08 June 2000
Now what I want is more than just a synthetic stocked double. I want a light weight double for mountain hunting.
Therefore, I would like to see a synthetic stocked titanium boxlock with carbon fiber barrels in a nice medium bore caliber. A nice pastel color swirl in the stock would be nice. Actually I would opt for a multiple stocks in different colors so that I could color coordinate to my hunting outfits.
Todd E
[This message has been edited by Todd E (edited 04-07-2002).]
Plastic stocked doubles !! doubles for mountain hunting??
Will, you need to find a full time job, you been spending way too much time thinking and laying on the couch drinking beer and eaten carbs, next thing you know you'll be howling at the moon and chasing rabbits
I was shaking and having chillblains and visions of gilflurting Todd after I pulled his lower lip up over his face so he wouldn't have to watch me stringhalter him for violating everything sacred in my life...
I just figured while they were perverting the good 'ol double I would just go ahead and finish it off. Strange none of the synthetic stock lovers rang in regarding my ulitmate pervertion of all things sacred.
I personally cannot stand the carbon fiber synthetic stocked bolt action rifles. I cannot even imagine how truly UGLY a double built that way would look. Besides I figured my comments about color coordinating my pastel colored stocks to my hunting attire would let all know just what I think of the pastel colored synthetic crowd. I mean honestly what kinda MAN wears pastel colors!
I never said a stainless synthetic double would be beautiful or in line with tradations, it would be however a great workhorse for someone like an Alaskan or African PH. Sorry about the sacrelige, I am, after all a double lover myself, this weekend I'm off to Brescia for a gun show, the cradle of all things beautiful in chotguns and double rifles.
Posts: 2286 | Location: Aussie in Italy | Registered: 20 March 2002
If I wanted a double, I'd buy a Searcey Field Grade S.S. in 500 N.E., with the synthetics, so long as they are of top quality. I could care less what anyone might think of its' appearance, as I'll have a rugged hunting tool to be used with confidence, anywhere.
Air brushed critters? Why not have your favorite critter molded in! The air brush the color into it. That way you have a 3D critter in your stock. Could be done in a nice pastel too.
I am only having a little fun. After all I did post the ultimate lightweight double with titanium action and carbon fiber barrels. I admit though I cannot stand pastel painted stocks (or molded in those colors). I realize that I have had some fun at other expense so if I did in fact offend anyone with my comments regarding the pastels I apologize. That said, if I am going plastic I prefer good old fashioned matte black!
I don't hunt with my english double because I don't want to damage it. It costs too much to fix and is too valuable to begin with. Now if someone made an affordable double with synthetic stocks I'd hunt with it. I don't care for the superimposed however. I want a SXS.
I could care less what dings, scatches, etc were inflicted on a piece of plastic. $2000 stocks are a different matter entirely. For the record none of my rifles (with the exception of a M70 300 Win Mag) have any burl in their stocks. Burl is too weak and prone to cracking for my tastes. It isn't even suitable for furniture unless it is a veneer.
I've seen a picture of the Searcy all-weather double and it is yoogly to the max . . . but it still makes sense for a professional who has to deal with the slings and arrows of outrageous weather. I'm not a pro, I'm not even a worshiper of paired barrels. To be honest, I am a devout and confirmed Mauserite by faith so I wouldn't have either a synthetic or Turkish walnut stocked sxs. But I stand by my original statement.
Sarge
Posts: 2690 | Location: Lakewood, CA. USA | Registered: 07 January 2001
Wanna bet how many professionals will use such an abortion..Dependable??? Some of these old English doubles have been around for over a 100 years, now tell me is that not dependable???
The other bit rip off of the American public is that glass is stronger and lighter than wood. For those that believe that I got a black land farm in West Texas and it is really cheap and what a deal...
Oh Geez, Ray, I was gonna spray paint the whole thing flat black with Krylon from Wal-Mart. Then it wouldn't spook the PH's or the game too badly, and it would be easy to touch up if I got the least little scratch on it.
------------------ RAB
Posts: 28032 | Location: KY | Registered: 09 December 2001
"I don't hunt with my english double because I don't want to damage it".
THAT'S MY POINT, TODD. I HATE THINKIN' ABOUT ANYTHING BUT HUNTIN' WHILE I'M HUNTIN'.
"Now if someone made an affordable double with synthetic stocks I'd hunt with it. I could care less what dings, scatches, etc were inflicted on a piece of plastic. $2000 stocks are a different matter entirely".
I AGREE. I MIGHT ADD THAT I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY INSTANCES WHERE A QUALITY SYNTHETIC STOCK BROKE, AFIELD, EVEN ON HORSEBACK PACK TRIPS. I SURE CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR WOOD. I'M ALSO CONVINCED THAT SYNTHETICS DAMPEN RECOIL TO VARYING EXTENTS. I LOVE BEAUTIFUL RIFLES WITH FABULOUS WOODEN STOCKS BUT I'M FAR MORE RELAXED WHILE HUNTING WITH A SYNTHETIC AND THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY.
I figured you were having fun too. I agree wholeheartedly with you by the way. My hunting rifles are wood stocked, but not in an exhibition grade. So I am not as concerned with damage.
I have had mixed results with recoil absorbtion with the synthetics though. The higher quality stocks like McMillan seem to reduce the stab a bit. The rubber like stocks (material that Savage and Remington seem to favor) I found to be worse than wood. The only reason that a synthetic would reduce felt recoil, by the way, is because it was less stiff than the wood.
Todd E, All of this dialogue goes for naught, I'm afraid. I spoke to Butch Searcy today and he advised me that he stopped offering the SS/ Synthetic three years ago! No demand. He did think it ideal for the "PH" who valued practicality over traditional considerations.
The synthetics are said to "give" or "flex" a touch, at firing, resulting in somewhat less felt recoil.
That give or flex in the synthetic is production hype ( commonly known as BS ) and even it were fact the difference in weight the claim on fiberglass would make up the difference in recoil, thank about it.
No demand. He did think it ideal for the "PH" who valued practicality over traditional considerations. 
