Gentlemen,

I was at the Gander Mountain store in Kenosha Wisconsin today and saw some of the new Spartan double shotguns that they had recently received. They told me that they expected the double rifles by December, in my opinion a wrong time to get them as deer season ends by then, though they may have had other problems that caused the delay.

The guns were offered for $ 479 and were extremely well finished for the price though the barrels looked very heavy and were extremely short, just about 24 inches, I think. They were definitely better finished than the Remington pump guns and autoloaders on the neighbouring rack at the store. They have both the Spartan as well as the Baikal name stamped on them and even the cheap beech wood stocks did not look bad. These may turn out to be good cheap guns to use without worrying about putting scratches into them or marring the blue. I may buy a rifle in 45-70 when it is out. The Russians offer the guns both in cheap beech stocks as well as high grade guns with walnut, but the Gander people were certain that only the base models were going to be offered in the USA. If there is a demand for the higher grade guns in Australia they may offer the walnut stocked model, which is what the Artemida looks like to me, though I am no expert...

From what I remember MacNaughton has had considerable experience with these guns in England and he endorses their great strength though, of course, as several members have rightly pointed out, it would be silly to compare these guns with a British best gun. The $ 479 price indicates what you could expect, though, from what I saw, it may surprise those who are used to current American factory guns very positively.

Best wishes and good hunting!