Back in the '70's I had a Beretta Silver Hawk 12 gauge with a "semi-beavertail" forend. This was of the 1960's production. The problem of all recoil being transferred to the forend became readily apparent with that shotgun. The latch didn't give out, but the wood did. The wood was attached to the forend iron by a couple of screws. Repeated recoil caused those screws to wallow out their holes. The wood became loose of the iron and required appropriate repair. Fortunately for me it didn't split and was capable of repair.

If you properly mount a double rifle or double shotgun, most grasping occurs on the barrels ahead of the splinter forend. For a beavertail to cover the typical grasping area it will be loooong and uuuuuuuugly.

The original post requested opinions. My first paragraph is based on fact, the second contains opinion (but not overly emotional, I'm glad to say).

Tinker I can make you a fine deal on that rifle. I have too many. It has not been fired since my May 2005 bear hunt, I'm ashamed to say.

Curl