Setterguy,

That's a great project you've got going there. Very inspirational. Please keep the photos coming.

It amazes me the amount of material cut out of that 21 action given it's reputation for strength. Winchester did make some double rifles on the action so it is "proven" in that regard.

As per .45/70 loads. It sounds like you're trying to "hotrod" a .45/70 to the point that you may be better off with a 450 3 1/4" NE (480gn at 2150 fps). It's a larger case and would therefore give you lower pressures. If you regulate it for a readily available factory load (Hornady's 480gn) you can then develop lighter projectile loads that may suit your game better.

Remember that you'll need to get your double rifle to balance and to get it up to a "shootable" weight. In a 450 3 1/4" NE I believe it to be about 10 pounds. Whatever the cartridge is the physics involved will determine the gun's weight. The British used to have a formula which was multiples of the bullet weight........but I haven't seen it recently or often.

I am enthralled by the process of CNC. Would you be prepared to share your solid model ???

Could you please show some photos of the action being machined ??

Graeme Wright's book "Shooting the British Double Rifle" along with Ellis Brown's book "Building Double Rifles on Shotgun Actions" and Stephen Dodd Hughes books, along with Gun Craft (?) by Vic Venter should about be your "Bible" during this process.

Great work, keep up the progress and photos. I never get tired of seeing these more adventurous projects.

twobobbwana