Budget double rifles

[Kevin Peacocke]

I may be an odd bird, but my interest in doubles is 100% about functionality and 0% artistry. I care deeply about an individual gun's history but nothing about the history of the gun maker.

I say this to say, I'd be fine with a reliable double made overnight in a fine tolerance CNC machine and thrown together in the morning by a minimum waged student working his way through college, as long as it was functional.

I don't know why some entrepreneur hasn't picked up on this market potential?

Functionality is indeed first for me too RH, followed by fit. If it doesnt work, it is an anchor, no matter how pretty it is. Functionality includes the inherent design of the gun as well as the execution of that design and of course the materials used. There is a huge amount of skill and excellence to set up machinery to do that to the incredibly fine tolerances we are seeing in the Heym 89b for example (I know that one best so far). Once that is right you can add the aesthetics as you wish. I originally ordered my Heym with zero embelishment, not because I couldn't afford it, but because I wanted to capture the elegant simplicity of the clean lines. In the end I compromised upon minimal edge engraving, but if I could go back I would leave that off. Here are a few pictures of a bare 98b.

 

[Pondoro]

Fit is very important....when you shoulder a double rifle fast the open sights should automatically line up.. Double rifles are made for fast instictive shooting..

Please have a look at this:

 

[Safari Dave]

Most "factory" rifles and shotguns are made for men 5'10" tall and weighing 185 lbs.

Fortunately, I've fell into those dimensions most of my life.

"Fit" is important for all long guns, but extremely important for DR's and shotguns.

 

[Safari Dave]

Functionality is indeed first for me too RH, followed by fit. If it doesnt work, it is an anchor, no matter how pretty it is. Functionality includes the inherent design of the gun as well as the execution of that design and of course the materials used. There is a huge amount of skill and excellence to set up machinery to do that to the incredibly fine tolerances we are seeing in the Heym 89b for example (I know that one best so far). Once that is right you can add the aesthetics as you wish. I originally ordered my Heym with zero embelishment, not because I couldn't afford it, but because I wanted to capture the elegant simplicity of the clean lines. In the end I compromised upon minimal edge engraving, but if I could go back I would leave that off. Here are a few pictures of a bare 98b.
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The 98b wasn't offered when I bought my 88b in 2000.

If it were, I would have opted for a 98b, however I do like the "cocked" indicators on the 88b.


They came in handy when I "doubled it" once.

I pull the forward trigger first now...

 

[Rare Breed]

Most "factory" rifles and shotguns are made for men 5'10" tall and weighing 185 lbs.

Fortunately, I've fell into those dimensions most of my life.

"Fit" is important for all long guns, but extremely important for DR's and shotguns.

There are three things @rookhawk taught me after my first DR mistake: 1. Correct LOP, 2. proper weight for caliber, 3. targeting a desired FPS with bullet weight then selecting the powder that can deliver that with the least number of grains. I am forever grateful to him for teaching me these things!!!