After looking at a lot of 9.3x74R rifles on line, I find all of them to be over-and-unders and not side-by-sides. They also cock manually on the tang.

Why aren't the smaller caliber rifles made like their bigger cousins? And, why don't you see an O/U DG rifle in the large calibers? Do the heavy barrels handle badly in an O/U configuration?

Thanks!
Sid

I bought a Merkel SxS in 8mm JRS and it looks and works just like the 470 NE.....I don't know about other brands......................JJ

Look at some of the sales/auction sites. There are lots of SXS's in 9.3.

I'm looking for an 8X57R, my ownself! Got to shoot Rojovin's little rifle and it was a delight!

O/U configuration takes longer to reload as the barrels need to be swung open wider.
Cheers...
Con

You do see O/U in the larger calibers (at least .458 and the occasional .470) at times but they are not as popular as mentioned above.

For smaller calibre SxS's take a look at Chapuis, Merkel, Siace. I'm sure there are others, but these come right to mind.

JPK

That looks like a Merkel 140E side by side to me!

Thanks everyone!

I missed the Chaupis but, found them on the French website. I totally missed the Heym 140E.

quote:

Originally posted by Sid Post:
Thanks everyone!

I missed the Chaupis but, found them on the French website. I totally missed the Heym 140E.

That would be the MERKEL 140E.

Guys - chek this one - 1910, Roux - 6,5x52R (~ .25-35 WCF):

http://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=1985647

I bought a J.P. Sauer in 8X60RS SXS that is just a scaled-down version of the big express rifles....

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:


That would be the MERKEL 140E.

Freudian slip

One of the reasons they aren't made identically is weight. I once looked at a nicely priced Merkel in 8 X 57 JRS but found it too heavy.

Non dangerous game rifles will always tend toward the O/U and dangerous game rifles will always tend toward the SxS. First shot recoil recovery and the speed of the second shot will always favor the O/U. So a deer or elk hunter is better served by a 7x65R O/U. The second shot will be a split second faster and by the time he can load ANY double the animal will be in the next county anyway. That being said, I prefer SxS aesthetics and will live with my self imposed handicap if I ever get a small bore double.

For dangerous game that may soak up 2 fatal shots and still have enough life to come and discuss matters with you puts a premium on getting beyond that 2nd shot as fast as possible. So most will opt for a SxS for dangerous game.

When reloading speed doesn't matter, the O/U has the advantage. When was the last time you saw a serious competitor use a SxS for skeet or trap competition?

The same smaller required opening angle that makes SxS faster to load also makes them easy to load in a cramped blind. So many favor SxS in a duck blind.

quote:

Originally posted by Brazos Jack:
Non dangerous game rifles will always tend toward the O/U and dangerous game rifles will always tend toward the SxS. First shot recoil recovery and the speed of the second shot will always favor the O/U. So a deer or elk hunter is better served by a 7x65R O/U. The second shot will be a split second faster and by the time he can load ANY double the animal will be in the next county anyway. That being said, I prefer SxS aesthetics and will live with my self imposed handicap if I ever get a small bore double.

If you put two rounds into a deer, or elk, from a 7X65R and he makes to to the next county before you can reload with any double rifle, you don't shoot very well. This simply does not apply! ....And what makes you think the O/U will be faster for the second shot over a S/S double? That is simply not true!

quote:

For dangerous game that may soak up 2 fatal shots and still have enough life to come and discuss matters with you puts a premium on getting beyond that 2nd shot as fast as possible. So most will opt for a SxS for dangerous game.

However if you put two in a Buffalo at close range, and as usual it doesn't do the trick, you will need to reload whether he runs or comes to you. This also applies to the deer & elk if you don't get the job done with the first two. With the deer & elk, however it will likely be a "walk up and finish him on the ground"type thing. The only advantage an O/U has is over a bolt rifle, for the second shot, and the third, and fourth will be much faster for the S/S!

quote:

When reloading speed doesn't matter, the O/U has the advantage. When was the last time you saw a serious competitor use a SxS for skeet or trap competition?

The same smaller required opening angle that makes SxS faster to load also makes them easy to load in a cramped blind. So many favor SxS in a duck blind.

...................... ........ ...


When was the last time you saw any double rifle used for skeet & trap competition, is a better question! The rifle, and shotgun uses are two distinctly different applications that bear no paralell. Your analogy is like compareing hedging sheers to a pair of scissors for cutting hair!

The O/U double rifle has absolutely no advantage, other than the price of the O/U, over a side by side double rifle, be it small or large chambering! All other features of the O/U in double rifles, fall in the negative column! The difference is far and above simple aesthetics!