I belive 9.3x74R is best choice. Low pressure but enough power, ammo is aviable from Norma, RWS, Sellier & Bellot what I know, if i could acomodate double rifle for europe or north america, it will be my choice. For poor hunters there is russian ZH-18 single shot in this calibre and few combination shotgun/rifle o/u . . .

Dreaming (and hoping that one day�) about my first double barrel rifle. It will be used on wild boars primarily and would like to have something on light side so I can carry it even in my old age.

As always, the main consideration is the caliber; I am assuming that lager caliber like 8x65R is better suited for tough animals like boars. Would like to hear how effective on this animal is 7x65R with good quality bullets like Partition, and similar or better. The distances in my native area could wary, from 30 meters in the corn field, to 200 meters on another side of the canyon.

I know that some of my proposal will horrify purists, but here is the wish list:

- Weight with scope (4x max. power) 3.6 kg (8 lb) max., lighter the better
- Would like to make it on small frame of one of 20 gage over-and-under
- Stainless steel preferred, as one of the possibilities is Ruger Red Label
- Barrels to be separated like on Valmet, but with dovetail connection on the front end to allow thermal expansion of the hot barrel.
- Stock to be made from NICE looking laminated wood, or such treated oak that will be resistant to moisture (find somewhere article that one company was thinking of laminated oak, but it will make the layers in same order as they were cut so it will look like solid wood)

As for ammo, I�ll reload. If I decide to go with 8x65R, how difficult is to get the brass and what cost? Anybody made it from 7x65R or 7.62x65R?

Any help, comment or suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks, Onty.

Would recommend you buy a complete double, instead of tinkering. You might come out cheaper.

Forget the 8x65RS. Your choices are: 9.3x74R, 8x75RS, .30 Blaser, or, weaker: 8x75IRS, ( .30-06 ), 7x65R, 7x57R.

For a double I would go with 9,3x74R, for a shotgun/rifle combo with .30 R Blaser. I would try to find two loads for the latter, light load and light bullet and heavy premium bullet ( Nosler Part ) with top end load with 300 H & H ballistics.

Take your choice...

Hermann

The 8x65RS is a truly excellent choice, but yet unusual, and waiting to be revived. Reforming cases is well possible (from new cases 7x65R), and loading data are available. The cartridge is much better suited (practically) than the ballistically problematic 8x75RS.



Carcano

I think th O/U Baikal in 9,3 x 74R would be great! Our US importer has no plans to bring them into the US, very frustrating. I have been shooting some 250 grs and 232 grs bullets out of some 9,3 out of curiosity and it amazes me what a well balanced round it is. I have even though about a K95 Blaser in that calibre!

Aleko