EDELWEISS
11-28-2011, 01:56 AM
After you round out your defensive armory, and its time to expand well into the nice to have category, then a Double rifle is an itch thats hard to scratch. Ive wanted a DR for years. It started with my yearnings to safari in Afrika for the Big Five. I tried (and mostly failed) to make due with SxS shotguns and slugs (some will work; but dont count on it). I even tried barrel inserts which "worked" but made for an unnecessarily heavy arrangement.
After wanting a Double Rifle for soooooo long and rationalizing that $10,000 (for starters) wasnt toooooo bad, I found another option. Sabatti is an Italian manufacturer distributed by Cabella's. They make "entry" grade rifles for those of us wishing to get into the DR fraternity. For a mere $3000 you can have a very nice SxS rifle in either 45-70 or 9.3x74R. I chose the 9.3 as Im headed to Afrika next year. 9.3x74R is roughly (but not quite) equivalent to 375H&H (and better suited to DRs because of the rim). Its certainly powerful enough for anything in North America. Sabatti also makes heavy caliber DRs 470Nitro etc for $5000.
If youre sipping brandy with DR snobs, chances are theyll look at your Sabatti like youre driving a Corvette to a Ferrari convention; but youll have $10,000 more for the safari then they do.
There are a couple other alternatives in the DR field. Pedersoli makes a very nice SxS in 45-70 with external hammers. Its a clone of the Colt DR and runs about $4000. Then there are the real base models made by Bakial. After years of waiting the SxS's are finally available and can be found for under $1000. These are field grade guns and just beg to to used even in the worst weather. The price savings is because the barrels are NOT regulated; but instead come with a "jack screw" to permit the user to sight both barrels together. They are available in 45-70 and 30-06. Think of them as the AK of Double Rifles.
Drillings are Three barreled guns. Traditionally they have two shotgun barrels over a rifle barrel; but two rifle barrels and one shotgun barrel arent uncommon anymore. Im not familiar with any bargain Drillings, although "Combo" guns with one rifle and one shotgun barrel in an O/U configuration can be found fairly cheaply; but usually at the cost of quality and fit.
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I recently took both my Sabatti and my Bakail 45-70 on Wild Boar hunt. I planned to use the Bakail if the weather was foul; but never got a chance as the rain cleared before we left the lodge. The Sabatti was a dream to carry and shoot. I traditionally carry "Afrikan" style (butt over my shoulder while I hold onto the barrels near the muzzles) when hunting four legged animals. The rifle is regulated for 286gr Hornady factory loads. I spotted a good size Russian Boar and approached to about 20 yards. I had hoped for a charge; but this one squared up to face me while he was accompanied by four or five sows. The front on shot would have been perfect except I was trying for a European mount and didn’t want to shatter the skull. I ended up hitting him along the right jaw. The bullet traversed lengthwise and after breaking a couple ribs was recovered just under the skin on the left ham mushroomed but it appears to be intact. The Boar spun around and flopped I moved in to give him another round; but he was dead before I needed to fire.
I couldnt be more pleased with the Sabatti or the 9.3x74R cartridge.
After wanting a Double Rifle for soooooo long and rationalizing that $10,000 (for starters) wasnt toooooo bad, I found another option. Sabatti is an Italian manufacturer distributed by Cabella's. They make "entry" grade rifles for those of us wishing to get into the DR fraternity. For a mere $3000 you can have a very nice SxS rifle in either 45-70 or 9.3x74R. I chose the 9.3 as Im headed to Afrika next year. 9.3x74R is roughly (but not quite) equivalent to 375H&H (and better suited to DRs because of the rim). Its certainly powerful enough for anything in North America. Sabatti also makes heavy caliber DRs 470Nitro etc for $5000.
If youre sipping brandy with DR snobs, chances are theyll look at your Sabatti like youre driving a Corvette to a Ferrari convention; but youll have $10,000 more for the safari then they do.
There are a couple other alternatives in the DR field. Pedersoli makes a very nice SxS in 45-70 with external hammers. Its a clone of the Colt DR and runs about $4000. Then there are the real base models made by Bakial. After years of waiting the SxS's are finally available and can be found for under $1000. These are field grade guns and just beg to to used even in the worst weather. The price savings is because the barrels are NOT regulated; but instead come with a "jack screw" to permit the user to sight both barrels together. They are available in 45-70 and 30-06. Think of them as the AK of Double Rifles.
Drillings are Three barreled guns. Traditionally they have two shotgun barrels over a rifle barrel; but two rifle barrels and one shotgun barrel arent uncommon anymore. Im not familiar with any bargain Drillings, although "Combo" guns with one rifle and one shotgun barrel in an O/U configuration can be found fairly cheaply; but usually at the cost of quality and fit.
--------
I recently took both my Sabatti and my Bakail 45-70 on Wild Boar hunt. I planned to use the Bakail if the weather was foul; but never got a chance as the rain cleared before we left the lodge. The Sabatti was a dream to carry and shoot. I traditionally carry "Afrikan" style (butt over my shoulder while I hold onto the barrels near the muzzles) when hunting four legged animals. The rifle is regulated for 286gr Hornady factory loads. I spotted a good size Russian Boar and approached to about 20 yards. I had hoped for a charge; but this one squared up to face me while he was accompanied by four or five sows. The front on shot would have been perfect except I was trying for a European mount and didn’t want to shatter the skull. I ended up hitting him along the right jaw. The bullet traversed lengthwise and after breaking a couple ribs was recovered just under the skin on the left ham mushroomed but it appears to be intact. The Boar spun around and flopped I moved in to give him another round; but he was dead before I needed to fire.
I couldnt be more pleased with the Sabatti or the 9.3x74R cartridge.