I took delivery of my Bailey Bradshaw double rifle this afternoon, and if it shoots as good as it looks, it was worth the wait. I will post range results this weekend.
I hope the photos show off the CCH, which in my opinion, is as good as any I have seen. Also, the fit of the skeleton grip and skeleton butt were top notch, and the cocking indicators and bolted safe were very pleasant "surprises". Had I known Bailey was installing a bolted safety, I might have asked him to inlay "bolted" in small gold letters next to the lever. That would have given it a real "Best Gun" look. As is, it is pretty darned nice. Your comments are welcome.

Let me be the first to congratulate you.
Magnificent.
Cal
PS. Not too late to have 'bolted' added.

Looks really well built but it appears very wide/thick around the chamber area.
How easy is it to carry with one hand wrapped around the action?

quote:

Originally posted by Snowwolfe:
Looks really well built but it appears very wide/thick around the chamber area.
How easy is it to carry with one hand wrapped around the action?

Not hard at all - this rifle is built more like an epee than a saber

quote:

this rifle is built more like an epee than a saber

Admiral, your swashbuckling past is showing through! Very nice piece!

Beautiful! Did I miss caliber? I also believe BB has Doug Turnbull do CCH, right?

9.3x74R, and yes on Turnbull.

Dave,
Life is too short with an ugly gun. You should just send it to me. I hunt it for you.
Seriously, Nice looking play purty.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
9.3x74R, and yes on Turnbull.

Actually, Bailey did the CCH in house. I am sure he would take it as a compliment that they were done by Doug Turnbull. I asked the same question myself.

A beauty, sir! Congratulations!

quote:

Actually, Bailey did the CCH in house

Really, Wow! That's quite a job!

Love the striped straight grain, butt plate on top of being a BB double falling block.

Very nice! Someday Ill kick the magazine rifle habit and purchase a nice DR. Congrats!

Looks good Admiral. I'm very happy for you. Let us know how she shoots!

Great looking rifle!!

If it has peen posted I have missed it, so here is my question.

Are these doubles extractors or ejectors?

ie. If you shoot the right barrel, and drop the lever to reload, what happens???

That is really REALLY nice! Congratulations!

That is fantastic!! Wood to metal fit looks exceptionally well done. Only thing Id have added is a cheek piece. The bolted safety is a really nice touch!!

NE 450 No2, maybe Bailey or Sub can confirm but I think the action is strictly speaking an extractor mechanism although due to the strong camming action of the lever and link inside the action, with a swift flick fo the lever shells are kicked out pretty smartly much like an ejector. Being a purely mechanical system with no springs to break, it would seem to be an great system.

Can't wait to see some range results!!

quote:

Originally posted by Matabele:
That is fantastic!! Wood to metal fit looks exceptionally well done. Only thing Id have added is a cheek piece. The bolted safety is a really nice touch!!

NE 450 No2, maybe Bailey or Sub can confirm but I think the action is strictly speaking an extractor mechanism although due to the strong camming action of the lever and link inside the action, with a swift flick fo the lever shells are kicked out pretty smartly much like an ejector. Being a purely mechanical system with no springs to break, it would seem to be an great system.

Can't wait to see some range results!!

Matabele - your characterization of the extraction system is spot on. As an example, if only one barrel is fired and the lever thrown to the down position, the fired case extracts about half the way out and the unfired case extracts about an inch. So, it is kind of inbetween extraction and ejection.

Good looking piece Admiral, congratulations. On the extractors, if they are anywhere close to the one on my Shiloh-Sharps, they work just like ejectors, even with minimal force of the lever. Great system.

Well, I could not wait until tomorrow to get out to the range, so I took an hour off at lunch and shot my new Bradshaw rifle. After shooting the target below, I went to the 100 yard line to shoot at the 12"x12" steel. 2 shots - 2 loud clangs! The rifle shoots better than I can for sure. This shooting today was with iron sights. I can't wait to see what it will do with the scope mounted.

I love it and want one!

Very beautilful rifle. May it give you many good hunting memories on all continents

I truly LOVE B.B. Farquharson D/R's.

What a lovely rifle and great workmanship.

What does it weigh?

Best wishes, Chris

quote:

Originally posted by Rockdoc:
What a lovely rifle and great workmanship.

What does it weigh?

Best wishes, Chris

Chris - the rifle weighs 8 1/2 pounds, and it is very well balanced.

Nice shooting Admiral!

Bailey,
As you are aware, I understand a little of the mechanics of building a double rifle, although my meager skills are light years from yours. I just want to say that what you have built for subsailor is not just a nice double rifle, it is a work of art. Any man, anywhere, in any age, would be proud to call this craftsmanship his!

Best,
Ron.

as usual nice work on Baileys part but we who know him expect nothing less. my will be done in june i think can't wait even though i have been able to shot a few of baileys rifle it will totally different when it's mine i get to shot and take home. I always enjoy going to baileys shop for an afternoon of swapping stories and shooting. see ya soon BB

quote:

I always enjoy going to baileys shop for an afternoon of swapping stories and shooting.

Bailey wishes he could say the same :-)

Play nice beibs I still have the picture proving you un natural love/affection for bears. I can only hope that kind of thing did not carry over to your mother

Very nice rifle! I like BB's CCH finish for this kind of rifle - looks more traditional British than Turnbull's work.

That rifle is saying "Take me huinting". I can hear it all the way here in NZ!

Fantastic looking and shooting also. Looking forward to more info about the rifle.

Mike

Hey Sub! Just wondering if you have managed to get any more range time in with your Bradshaw double and the scope attached? Any pros/cons to name yet?

quote:

Originally posted by Matabele:
Hey Sub! Just wondering if you have managed to get any more range time in with your Bradshaw double and the scope attached? Any pros/cons to name yet?

Not much more to report on right now. I leave for Harare this coming Wednesday. I have a 14 day leopard/plains game hunt booked at Shangani with Mike Payne. I will shoot my new double more when I return to the States in April.

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:

quote:

Originally posted by Matabele:
Hey Sub! Just wondering if you have managed to get any more range time in with your Bradshaw double and the scope attached? Any pros/cons to name yet?

Not much more to report on right now. I leave for Harare this coming Wednesday. I have a 14 day leopard/plains game hunt booked at Shangani with Mike Payne. I will shoot my new double more when I return to the States in April.

You mean and leave the new baby home!!!!! I don't know a bout you but with that kind of shooting it will be right there on the plane with me.

Not only a very beautiful gun but a good shotter too, congrats.


Best regards

Malek
Good shooting/hunting and God's best.

quote:

Originally posted by malek:

quote:

Originally posted by subsailor74:

quote:

Originally posted by Matabele:
Hey Sub! Just wondering if you have managed to get any more range time in with your Bradshaw double and the scope attached? Any pros/cons to name yet?

Not much more to report on right now. I leave for Harare this coming Wednesday. I have a 14 day leopard/plains game hunt booked at Shangani with Mike Payne. I will shoot my new double more when I return to the States in April.

You mean and leave the new baby home!!!!! I don't know a bout you but with that kind of shooting it will be right there on the plane with me.

Not only a very beautiful gun but a good shotter too, congrats.


Best regards

Malek
Good shooting/hunting and God's best.

Malek - While everything you say is true, the Bailey Bradshaw double has to wait in line behind my V-C 450/400 and my Montana Arms .416 Rigby, neither one of which has taken an African animal as yet.

Admiral, have a great hunt

Best wishes to you on your hunt Admiral! I hope you score on a huge spotted tree cat!!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:
Best wishes to you on your hunt Admiral! I hope you score on a huge spotted tree cat!!

Thanks Biebs and Todd - I will write all about it when I return.