Ok, Ive come to accept that the Remington/Spartan SxS's arent coming t the US any time soon. If they ever do come it wont be in any of the European cartridges that EAA listed before Remington sold the contract. Besides the listed weight was quite light making any heay loads a thumper on both ends.

So I ve decided to buy one of the Double O/U' in 30-06. Im buying it sight unseen for $300.oo so I'm not expecting a Purdy. On the other hand I havent heard any real complaints.

Have any of you handled one, or better yet shot one? I'd be greatful for some real life reviews.

Thanks

ive seen seveal for sale in san antonio at the monthly saxet gun show... and the prices run from &350 to $600 for the same gun.... wood to metal fit left a lot to be desired, the wood was really oversize for the metal... and the gap between the barrels reminds you of the old 3200 o/u shotgun....the gun did seem to fit when i picked it up....it came up quick, but was receiver heavy...i don't remember the sights, and the action was stiff to open, the relese lever didn't center....cheap??? yep... would i buy 1???... haven't yet, but i'll shoot 1 if i get the chance....

Hello,
Well, you might want to give that purchase a second thought for some months ago, posting from Canada member stated that his Baikal in '06 would sieze and/or blow gas around the breech when shot. Believe he ended up sending it back due to safey concerns. Be advised that it will not be a Remington marked firearm for no Remington's have been brought into the U.S. and probably will not be for the forseeable future. If by some stroke of luck and the issues with the firearm are resolved, great, but don't believe that has taken place yet. European import/export firm did send/sends them to Canada and other nations, but not in the U.S. I am told. Again, might want to do some further research before purchase.

quote:

Originally posted by jimatcat:
....the relese lever didn't center....cheap??? yep... would i buy 1???... haven't yet, but i'll shoot 1 if i get the chance....

jim, was the top lever to the right of center? If so, that is the way it should be, to allow for wear.

JudgeG had one in 308, at Camp Cooly, in August. It shot much better than it looked.

Keith

Thanks guys, keep the info coming. I can deal with the poor wood to metal fit; but the gas blowby is a concern.

As far as the gap between the barrels and the gun being reciever heavy, Im thinking about changing the forearm and some other items.

Im working on the theory that the gun at $300.oo, is cheap enough for me to make some modifications. If they work it'll be a project that "I" did most of the work, and if it fails the "wife tax" isnt too hard to deal with...

That guy form Canada was me.

First off the rifle was a sxs and I did send it back because the safety was screwed and the action wanted to lock up in the closed position. It did not blow gas.


The Over and under Baikal's have been around for quite a few years longer than the sxs. I have never heard of one that had the problems my sxs had.

I have one of the doubles. No trouble so far, but I haven't shot it that much. There were two versions. The early ones didn't have any adjustment for verticle dispersion, only horizontal. A later version has adjustment for both. See if your gun has both of them

I am glad to hear that. The one I sent back only had adjustment for the horizontal. The left bbl would string verticly due to play.

If mine had a vertical adjustment I would have probably had 1.5" or better groups at 50 yards.

Thanks guys. I just got mine. Lookswise Id consider it worth the $300. Ok its no AAA fancy walnut, but its servicable and I wont get upset if a branch scratches it.

I havent shot it get so I cant say on that accord. I never planed for more that "minute of a brisket" anyway. Its not ment to be a precision target gun. I bought it for a hunting gun that doesnt look like every other bolt or lever action in the woods.

The scope mount leaves alot to be desired, mainly because its too short. I could live with using groved rings; but Id like more room for adjustment. For the time being I'll concentrate on the iron sights. I may eventually have a wever style rail fitted though.

There no question I wouldn't hag one of these things on the wall of my trophy room, but I will likely buy one chambered for 308 to use as a canoe rifle! I have no doubt it will kill moose just as well as my Westley Richards double rifles, but if I capcize the canoe, and loose the rifle it will not hurt like it would with the Westley richards either! With a little wood shaveing, and re-shapeing, and finishing, a little cosmetic work done at home, it should make a fair littl knock about rifle for the rain, mud, and snow!

Mac, thats what Im thinking. So its not a Purdy, it was never ment to be, its the "peoples DR". Outwardly it a copy although a rough one of the Valmet, without the barrel swap options and thanks to Remmy no metric calibers.

I still want a "real" double but until then, with a little work, this girl's going to dance. The beauty is that neither of us will get upset if we fall in the mud.

Now I have to find a good load. Im a real fan of heavy bullets, and I never have put much faith in the razzle dazzel hi-tech stuff. Give me a heavy soft point that wont fall to pieces and theres not much in the lower 48 that I wouldnt hunt with it.

Well, you pays your money and you takes your chances!! That is true for lots of circumstances, but chances in the firearms arena can be lethal.
As for gas leaking, there indeed have been various reports of just that very problem, and to take a chance with some 50,000 plus pounds of pressure some 2-3 inches from your eye/head, so you can have a cheap double rifle does not sound like a wise decision, but to each his own and best of luck.
Wonder why Remington's legal department and quality control people prevented the importation of the double rifle with Remington's name stamped on it?? Just some screw up, huh??? Did not want the additional business that a low price double rifle would have contributed to the bottom line??? No, did not want to put forth a defense in court with a legal firm and six months of billings at $150-$500/hr. per lawyer (probably 3-4 plus copy costs, phone costs, hotels, SS costs-steak and scotch, cigars, airplanes(commercial and private) highly paid firearms expert witnesses, mechanical engineers/PE's time and travel, and the list goes on and on.
I can honestly state to you that I hope that all my admonishment about the cheap double rifle in 30-06 turns out to be wrong and again, wish you the very best of luck.

Driver:

Please give more information as to the various reports of gas leakage.

I've still got my double (SxS) Baikal 30-06. And I still love it. I had a high end gunsmith put a bead on the front and mill out the rear sight to a shallow 'v' ... Much better. Also, like many folks I have long ago ordered a 45/70. Those suckers might never show up .. but the Canadian distributor told the local gunshop guy here that he has orders for 500 of them !!! People want them ... I know that I do .. but until then I'll keep and use my funky '06 ... I like it very much. Oh, yeah. I already said that.

Well, Im glad to hear that Scruffy. We dont have ANY of the SxS's in the US. No one is saying out loud why, BUT I suppose lawyers are part of the reason. Im telling my self that its because they are afraid folks will shoot the really HOT loads in them, and not because the design isnt safe as it is. Ive seen old articles about them when they were pretty much still only available in Europe and nothing was said about gas leaks or any other problems.

Craig Boddington (love him or not), did and article for Guns and Ammo years ago, where he used one to hunt Russian Brown bears. His only complaints were the light weight and that he thought the 30-06 might be under powdered for Browns. Id love a SxS especially a 45-70; but until they are available I'll have this one.

Interesting about the gas leakage problem. I would like to hear any first hand incidents.

I have both a Baikal o/u (12 over 223) and a s/s--of sorts; Baikal shotgun with .45-70 liners. The s/s is somewhat muzzle heavy this way, but shoots fine. I made the liners with adjustments at muzzle, so I can regulate it. BUT I don't load the .45-70s very heavy, just dosen't seem like a good idea. The o/u I have shot quite a bit and no problems. Currently it is my fox gun, .223 groups well enough for that, the 12 ga with a Brenneke slug is just in case I call up a bear. Not the best for bear, even smaller interior ones, but it beats a .223. Works fine on moose too, if the 12 is what one has at the time.

A British www board-can't remember the name just now, good www site seems like though, had a description of Baikals that went something like this:
"Tough as a boot and rough as a crow-bar." But they work, and I like that. And Alaska is tough on firearms.

Think B-Square made the adapter for the little milled scope rib that converts it to standard Weaver that's on my o/u. If anybody is interested I will check, the gun is across town at the shop.

Comment on Boddington quote from above: "... thought the 30-06 was light for Russian brown bear ..." for an animal that can weigh 1,600--or, perhaps more, pounds, is an acutely perceptive observation I think. Though the '06 was commonly used back when--1930's, '40's on Kodiak, according to old records, I am a true believer in Ruark's "use enough gun."

Best,

505

I shot the Judges 308 O/U at a DRSS hunt/shoot.
it shot and functioned good.

I would go with 9,3x74 with 23,5in barrels and barrel regulating "block" below rear sight. It's kind of cool to regulate one to load you're shooting at particular time.