| GroovyMike |
| (.300 member) |
| 20/09/13 03:43 AM |
Baikal double rifle 45-70
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I finally found one!
I picked it up like new in the originbal box for $800. It may not be a "Notro-Express" classic side by side, but I won't be afraid to use it! First trip to the range puts all shots in 8 inches at 50 yards with a variety of hand loads. Looks like it prefers 300 grain projectiles over the 405 grain cast bullets that my lever gun favors.
I just might kill a moose with it in November!
| Iowa_303s |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/09/13 06:33 AM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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Mike,
Congrats on the new piece.
I picked one up this summer, new in box.
Mine also likes 300 grain cast bullets but does just as well with 420 grain cast.
I tried a few cast 500 grain but the rifle is kind of light and it's rather hard on the shoulder.
300's will be just fine for stopping charging whitetails.
| Bayoubob |
| (.224 member) |
| 20/09/13 10:39 AM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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What velocity levels are you guys hitting with the 300 grain bullets? With 405 grain bullets mine puts the left barrel shots a foot higher than the right barrel shots with every load I have tried. I also have one in 30-06 and it puts 200 grain bullets in a nice 4 inch box.
| Iowa_303s |
| (.400 member) |
| 20/09/13 10:52 AM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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Bob,
I have not not really worked up any good loads yet but what I shot are in the middle of the Marlin lever action load data from the Lyman Cast Bullet book.
At 25 yards it will put 2 rights and 2 lefts about 2" apart and only about a 1/2" different in elevation.
If my memory is correct, I ised IMR 4198 but I would have to check my load data book to be sure.
| Sparky |
| (.224 member) |
| 20/09/13 12:50 PM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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Bob
If your left barrel shoots higher than the right, try grabbing the muzzles and twisting ccw as looking from the breach. The band at the muzzle is pinned to the left barrel and a bushing on the right allows the adjustment for point of impact, if the barrels are twisted a lot and stick they may shoot high and low. I'm sure it can affect how it shoots but don't know how much.
Mine shoots minute of white tail, 3" at 100yds With 405 cast, worked on a nice 4 point last fall.
Sparky
| GroovyMike |
| (.300 member) |
| 25/09/13 01:17 AM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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I have not chronographed it but 30 grains of 3031 behind a 320 grain cast bullet seems to produce about decent groups at 50 yards. Left and Right barrels are about 4 inches apart but shots from each barrel are tightly clustered to others from the same barrel. A new mold just arrived in teh mail - I expect it to throw 350 grain bullets when I get a cahnce to cast again.
43.5 grains of 3031 seemed to be ok with the 405 grain cast bullet too.
Oddly enough Hornady's 350 grain jacketed bullet was striking a foot lower than my cast lead loads. Not sure what that is all about - maybe a better bore seal with the cast lead loads.
| GroovyMike |
| (.300 member) |
| 11/10/13 03:46 AM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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New mold throws a 335 grain plain base bullet and it shoots beautifully over 40 grains of IMR3031. My Marlin 1895G lever gun also likes that load. At 25 yards all three barrels put that load within 2 inches. I have not chronographed it but I'm guessing it is near 1400 fps.
| DarylS |
| (.700 member) |
| 12/10/13 02:00 AM |
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Re: Baikal double rifle 45-70
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With my first .458 2", I used a light load with a 320gr. cast FN bullet for the first bear - driven at about 1,450fps, then raised the ante` to about 2,000fps for the second bear. The results were the same - struck behind the front leg, centering the lungs into the off shoulder, both bears waddled about 20feet and died.
For longer range shooting, you might want to boost it a bit. The Baikal's ceiling is around 31,000PSI, which will allow well over 2,000fps with 300gr. jacketed - the Nosler Partition comes to mind. Guys have found it to be a super deer and black bear bullet - penetration way over what a 300 normally would produce.
For Elk and Moose, the 350 Speer with top-end loads should work well. That's the one that's too long for Marlins & has a 1/16" thick jacket designed for over 1,900fps MV.
Of course the Hornady 350RN & newer FN are also VERY good bullets for all NA game.