Comb height is self adjusting on Baikals; with a rasp.

That was exactly my thought. Cut it until it fits and re-finish.

Have had both the 45-70 and the '06 -
both bought used- now sold-
good fun for the $-
They are crude -but effective -

For a better gun-
undervalued, yet more expensive than the Baikals-
look into the Valmet's and Tikkas- (O/U not SxS)
Have owned several calibers over the years all great shooters-

The problem with the comb height on the 30-06 is that they used the same front sight on it as on the 45-70. That meant they had to cut down the rear sight to the point that it's almost impossible to get down low enough on the comb to see it. I gave up on trying to replace the sights with taller ones and put a scope on mine. It regulates just fine with the scope.

I had thought about a 1.5X scope of some sort. Might be easier for my tired eyes.

I use Leupold 1-4 shotgun scopes on Baikals; good scopes and not expensive. I have one with a PIG reticle. Or HOG, whatever it is called.

Its funny that everybody call this little double rifle junk
but try and find one, they are hard to find plus they will out shot
some of the more expensive ones.And I wonder why the others companies
didn't make their in the 30-06 caliber?Can anyone answer that?

quote:

Originally posted by big will:
And I wonder why the others companies
didn't make their in the 30-06 caliber?Can anyone answer that?

Most companies don't like making doubles for rimless rounds even though companies like Heym has been doing it quite well for years.
Chapuis makes one in 30R Blaser which splits the difference between the 30-06 and 300 Win Mag.

Why not? Because it is illegal in France to hunt with a military caliber so they don't make them. And the Germans already have good small calibers, like 7x65 and 8x57.

ive had a 45-70 for some time now plus 3 other double rifles and I can say as far as being accurate it holds it own with all of them. maybe not as pretty but the quarry hasn't a clue.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Why not? Because it is illegal in France to hunt with a military caliber so they don't make them. And the Germans already have good small calibers, like 7x65 and 8x57.

Chapuis will make their doubles in 30-06. I ordered on last week from JJ.

"Because it is illegal in France to hunt with a military caliber so they don't make them"

The law recently changed, older military cartridges like the '06 are now OK.

Rimmed VS Rimmless....If they are honest, all DR makers will try and steer you away from a rimless case. The extractor/ejector system for a rimless case is a small spring loaded plunger that needs to fold out of the way when you load the gun & then pop up into the extractor cut in the case. It does not take a engineer to see it is not as robust as a extractor/ejector for a rimmed case.

That said, I know of a lot of doubles for rimless cases that have not had a problem, but I have also seen a number that did.

Ok, up until now, that was the reason they didn't make them; I was unaware of the recent change in France law. But for sure, the best rounds for DRs will have rims.

How heavy a load will the Baikal .45-70 handle, not that my shoulder would? I know several of my manuals show 1873 Springfield loads (weak action), some medium loads for a lever gun, and loads only for the Ruger #1 action or Siamese Mauser class actions.

Just wondering.

Look on the barrels; the max pressure will be listed in atmospheres. You can use 1886/Marlin loads with no problem. I recall that an atm is 14.7 pounds per square inch.

Tom

That's what I needed to know.

Thanks.
Dave

i am getting mine back, soon enough... once the trigger where done, its a cute LIGHT 45/70 ... and will flat kill north american game.. not even i am masochistic enough to put it to 45/120 nitro

drhall,
I could be mistaken, but I believe the marlin guide gun max pressures are somewhat greater then the pressure load on the Baikal barrel when converted to psi. I load for both. I use the 350 grain bullet with IMR 3031 for the guide gun. I use the 405 grain Remington and Reloader 7 for the Baikal. The 405 grain bullet regulates and patterns better in the Baikal. One of the barrels patterned better with the 405 grain. I'm on the road right now with cases so cannot give you the amounts of powder. I can post this weekend if it would be of help to you. The higher end recommended guide gun loads exceed the pressure ratings for your Baikal. The mid range loads are probably safe. Have fun, let me know if you want my load data. Jerry

The max pressure on the barrel of mine says 2200BAR or 31900HST. Don't know what HST is but 2200BAR converts to 31900 PSI.

You are correct with your conversions. The upper end guide gun loads significantly exceed the pressure for the Baikal.

Thanks to everyone. I have the .30-06 but hear the .45-70 calling to me. Wasn't sure what they were proofed. Sounds quite sufficient for NC whitetail. LOL.

Loaddata.com lists a bunch 45-70 loads that are well under the maximum pressure but with plenty of power for anything in the South. Some of them are more than I want to handle in the light little Baikal.

What I have done (and pure nonsense it was) is to throat out my Baikal so as to seat bullets a little further out.

Two reasons:
1. Metal forward of the chamber is a little thin so rechambering to .45-100 or larger might be unsafe. Just removing a tad of rifling for longer seating should cause no problems.
2. The longer seating allows more case capacity and thus more velocity. I use Quick Load to suggest powder charges.

Haven't been able to chronograph any velocities yet, but have fired a number of rounds. This is where the nonsense comes in. The loads in the light .45-70 Baikal can definitely hurt. I am about to install a good recoil pad and maybe add a little weight to the gun.

I'm using 405 grain bullets seated to the front cannelure and have plenty of room in the case for all the powder I need for any load I think is reasonable for the Baikal. Does your rifle seem to have a shorter than normal throat?

What powder and loads are you using with the 400 grain bullet in your 45-70 Baikal double? Do you have a favorite load?

48 grains of 3031 with a 400.

I'm also using 48 grains IMR 3031 with the 405 grain Remington bullet. My best grouping with it was at 2.650" OAL. THIS LENGTH WILL NOT CHAMBER IN THE 1895 MARLIN GUIDE GUN. It is too long.

I'm using 26 grains of SR 4759 under a 405gr Laser Cast bullet for right at 1,200 fps. It is putting 2L-2R in a 2 1/2 inch box at 50 meters. I figure that is minute of hog.

As to mine, it had a standard throat. I was trying to increase powder capacity to allow slower powders to be used for higher velocity. Powders used were H322, Benchmark, and others up to 4895. I would prefer not to list the loads used due to someone thinking they could use them in a normally throated .45-70 and wind up with an overpressure load in their gun.

I got a shim between the barrel and the band.I am going to try it out again next time out.

George, You will find that a very small movement of the shim around the circumference of the barrel may move your point of impact noticeably. I got the best results with mine with the shim at about 7:00 as viewed from the muzzle.

baikals are nt junks,if u dont like them dont buy them,russians have prven one of most durable weapons,not nice looking but will serve better more than some 5 times expensive guns,ever seen MC RUSSIANS SHOTGUNS AND DOUBLE RIFLES,those are art of work

Regardless of if or not I get it to regulate the rear sight must also be set in the center and not half an inch or so to either side(which is the case)e.One thing I like about my Searcy is that the rear sight is centered and the rifle shoots center.Imagine rolling the dice on a very expensive double and having to move that rear sight over a half inch to shoot dead center-I would cry or pull out what hair I have left.The position of the rear sight or windage means everything and is the indication of a knowledgeable riflemaker,IMO.It would be nice to have a poll to determine which doubles shot center and perfect right from the maker but such a pole would not be accurate with everyone being full of BS.

There is currently one for sale on GB that has been converted to 45-120. Doesn't list load specifics. It has even been to Africa.

What is the asking price for the 45/110?

Oops. 45/120. I mistakenly put "110"".

I believe the buy it now price is $1,100. I will PM the link to you.

Eric

Thanks. I PMed back.

Who doing the rechamber work?and how safe are they?And can I PM you for more information?

I have read before that rechambering these to 45-120 was a bit "iffy" because the barrels thin down right in front of the chambers.

I wonder, though, if the chambers have enough around them to cut them to 450 Alaskan.