Why are double rifles so much more expensive than SXS shotguns?

[RichD]

You can buy a new CZ sxs shotgun for about $650, but a "budget" double starts at 10x that price, and can run $10, 15, 25+k. I understand differences in pressures with rifles requiring sturdier construction. I don't mean to sound naive, but would it be possible for a sxs shotgun to have tubes fit to a shotgun barrel for rifle calibers. Briley, for example, makes shotgun tubes to change gauges. If Stevens, CZ, Stoeger to name a couple made double rifles for $2,500 or less, would there be a market? Or tube sets to convert SXS or OU shotguns to rifle calibers? Just...asking for a friend.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Even if it could be done. No one would want what $2500 could buy in a SxS DR

It would be junk

 

[RichD]

Even if it could be done. No one would want what $2500 could buy in a SxS DR

It would be junk

Well, that's kind of a broadbrush statement that I'm not sure is necessarily true. There are some good quality under $750 budget bolt rifles that are every bit as accurate and dependable as rifles costing several thousand. No reason why that same quality could not apply to budget friendly doubles.

 

[jomw10]

You have to see who makes doubles, where are they located and their target market.
None of it is entry level American made guns.
Regular Joe won’t buy a +$2,000 rifle for use in the us. Entry level guns make profit in volume. There is no volume for double DR. That leaves you with high end market only

 

[Altitude sickness]

Businesses like money.

if it could be done, they would do it.

 

[Flbt]

You can buy a new CZ sxs shotgun for about $650, but a "budget" double starts at 10x that price, and can run $10, 15, 25+k. I understand differences in pressures with rifles requiring sturdier construction. I don't mean to sound naive, but would it be possible for a sxs shotgun to have tubes fit to a shotgun barrel for rifle calibers. Briley, for example, makes shotgun tubes to change gauges. If Stevens, CZ, Stoeger to name a couple made double rifles for $2,500 or less, would there be a market? Or tube sets to convert SXS or OU shotguns to rifle calibers? Just...asking for a friend.

The Russian tried that. You had to regulate the barrel yourself.
I know of one sold here in 45-70
He said he would spend the money on a better rifle the next time.
That he shot up a grand of factory loads

 

[Altitude sickness]

The Russian Baikal was O/U

 

[RichD]

You have to see who makes doubles, where are they located and their target market.
None of it is entry level American made guns.
Regular Joe won’t buy a +$2,000 rifle for use in the us. Entry level guns make profit in volume. There is no volume for double DR. That leaves you with high end market only

Savage, Ruger, Mossberg, and Remington all bolt rifles under $500 at Cabelas. And they sell a bunch.

I think there are US and international buyers who would like a double, but are put off by high dollars. I've looked at doubles for $10k+, and have the means. But, the practical side of me, at my age, can't wrap my head around spending that kind of $$ on something l may only use once or twice.

What about the option of rifle caliber tubes in sxs shotguns, or ou shotguns? Or an option of a second set of barrels for rifle calibers? You'd remove the shotgun bartels and attach rifle barrels.

I'm just spitballing to see how more hunters wanting a double could get into that market.

 

[Altitude sickness]

A quick search on how they were made will explain why it’s so expensive. People like being paid for their time and it’s very time-consuming.

 

[mdwest]

Savage, Ruger, Mossberg, and Remington all bolt rifles under $500 at Cabelas. And they sell a bunch.

I think there are US and international buyers who would like a double, but are put off by high dollars. I've looked at doubles for $10k+, and have the means. But, the practical side of me, at my age, can't wrap my head around spending that kind of $$ on something l may only use once or twice.

What about the option of rifle caliber tubes in sxs shotguns, or ou shotguns? Or an option of a second set of barrels for rifle calibers? You'd remove the shotgun bartels and attach rifle barrels.

I'm just spitballing to see how more hunters wanting a double could get into that market.

Im in the same boat.. I'd love to have one.. and while I cant just go buy a $50K top tier double without some planning and careful consideration, I do have the means to just go out and pick up something like a sabatti or a chapuis iphisi, etc without thinking much about it if I wanted to.. but like you, the practical side of me, at my age, etc. prevents me from doing it..

Regarding rifle caliber tubes on SxS or OU shotguns.. thats exactly how Butch Searcy made A LOT of his doubles.. I believe his preferred actions were 20 ga Berettas.. but he also used some Browning actions as well.. It absolutely can be done.. but.. its still not a simple or inexpensive process.. there is A LOT of work that goes in.. and the demand isnt high enough to buy the machinery required to set up a production line.. so it requires individual craftsmanship and pro grade, shop level tools... which youre going to pay for..

 

[Tintin]

The Russian Baikal was O/U

They did SxS DRs.

A friend, who also owns some fine English vintage DRs, has one in 45/70 that actually regulates OK.

Another friend also had one that was fun to shoot.

Used ones pop up for sale here now and again.

 

[RichD]

The Russian Baikal was O/U

I just watched a Youtube video, Lance Hanlon Outdoors, where he shot a Baikal 45-70 double. Worked fine and looked pretty accurate as he was shooting offhand from the portion I watched.

I dunno. I must be in the tiny minority. When I worked in Cabelas gun library, we had a fair amount of Sabatti rifles when our store opened in 2013. As tempted as I was to buy one, not a burning desire, the word was they were pizz poor quality, poorly regulated, etc.

 

[Russ16]

You can buy a new CZ sxs shotgun for about $650, but a "budget" double starts at 10x that price, and can run $10, 15, 25+k. I understand differences in pressures with rifles requiring sturdier construction. I don't mean to sound naive, but would it be possible for a sxs shotgun to have tubes fit to a shotgun barrel for rifle calibers. Briley, for example, makes shotgun tubes to change gauges. If Stevens, CZ, Stoeger to name a couple made double rifles for $2,500 or less, would there be a market? Or tube sets to convert SXS or OU shotguns to rifle calibers? Just...asking for a friend.

Two reasons.

First, the pressures for shotguns are way lower meaning there is a much larger margin for error and it is easier to make a gun that doesn’t fall apart after a few rounds. Standard 12 gauge loads operate around 12,000 psi. A little higher for magnum loads, that’s a fraction of a center fire rifle operating pressure.

Second, with a shotgun you are throwing a pattern at close range and the pattern gets larger as the range increases. That simplifies regulation. A lot of those cheap SxS shotguns aren’t really regulated all that closely but most people never pattern them and find that out. The fact you’re shooting a swarm of pellets covers it up for the most part.

 

[Flbt]

The Russian Baikal was O/U

I think they made a few sxs or someone else did where you had the jack screw to regulate the barrel

 

[BonUm16]

I wish Ford would make a Super Duty diesel I could afford.

 

[Flbt]

Savage, Ruger, Mossberg, and Remington all bolt rifles under $500 at Cabelas. And they sell a bunch.

I think there are US and international buyers who would like a double, but are put off by high dollars. I've looked at doubles for $10k+, and have the means. But, the practical side of me, at my age, can't wrap my head around spending that kind of $$ on something l may only use once or twice.

What about the option of rifle caliber tubes in sxs shotguns, or ou shotguns? Or an option of a second set of barrels for rifle calibers? You'd remove the shotgun bartels and attach rifle barrels.

I'm just spitballing to see how more hunters wanting a double could get into that market.

Buy some caliber inserts for the shotgun and try it?

 

[Altitude sickness]

I wish Lear would make an $800,000 12 passenger jet. But even if they could I would not want to fly on it.

 

[RichD]

I wish Lear would make an $800,000 12 passenger jet. But even if they could I would not want to fly on it.

I know, I know...everybody has a wish list. But, I was just trying to keep it relevant to hunting rifles. What do they say about wishing in one hand and spitting in the other?

 

[Green Chile]

Regulating the barrels is very time consuming.

 

[Betterinthebush]

The same reason long legged bikini models are more expensive than the nice girl working at the library.