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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles
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NitroXAdministrator
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Reged: 25/12/02
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Using a double in cold wet climates
      #28312 - 25/03/05 01:34 PM

At the recent SCI show in Coffs Harbour I talked with an outfitter about a bear hunt in the Kamchatcka Peninsula of Siberia. He recommended a .338 or similar calibre but a .30-06 would be OK. During the discussion I mentioned if I did it I would plan on bringing my new 9.3x74mm Rimmed double for the hunt. To which he advised not to bring it as due to the wet conditions and cold a double might be difficult to use (open) as it could freeze up. A rifle with the camming power of a bolt action was required.

As Kamchatcka is similar to Alaska I was wondering if our esteemed American double rifle users could share their thoughts and actual experiences in this matter. Any special treatment of the rifles to stop them 'freezing up'? etc

I do prefer a 9.3mm for big brown bears compared to a .30-06. The rifle will be a clunky Tikka U/O which I have still yet to see (its still in Customs !!!!)

Also note I haven't booked a hunt but am just prospecting. Alaska or Canada would also be nice if and when I could afford any of them.


--------------------
John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: NitroX]
      #28316 - 25/03/05 02:20 PM

NitroX,

I have hunted elk in the high elevations of Colorado in cold, snowy, and wet weather using my Winkler DR in .300 Mag.

No problems at all, except I didn't get a shot!

I don't believe your Tikka would freeze up. That's crap.

For years I had a Valmet 412 in double .30-06. Those guns are built like a tank and will take anything.

If it's cold enough to freeze on the gun, there isn't going to be wet weather - just snow. If it's warm enough to rain, it's not going to freeze on your rifle. I believe the outfitter doesn't know what he's talking about in regard to DR's.

Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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Chasseur
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Reged: 18/11/03
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Loc: Hunting classic Indian game!
Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: NitroX]
      #28319 - 25/03/05 02:30 PM

I second Cptcurl,

I'm not sure what the outfitter was talking about. I've used my Chapuis for several years on annual bear and deer hunts in Southeast and Southcentral Alaska. And I've never had a problem with the rifle freezing. The only possible consideration I would have (and given that you are thinking about your Tikka) would be that some would not like draging their fine english double rifle through the weather you'd get in coastal Kamchatka or Alaska.

Take the 9.3 Nitro

--------------------
In regards to action he should devote himself to hunting...
-Machiavelli



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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: Chasseur]
      #28322 - 25/03/05 02:54 PM

CptCurl

In reply to:

If it's cold enough to freeze on the gun, there isn't going to be wet weather - just snow. If it's warm enough to rain, it's not going to freeze on your rifle.



OK that was probably my mistake. He was really just talking about freezing cold and snow.

What would I know about it?! Its makes me cold just to think about it.

The outfitter I do believe knows about double rifles (?). Mickey knows him and could tell more than me.

In reply to:

The only possible consideration I would have (and given that you are thinking about your Tikka) would be that some would not like draging their fine english double rifle through the weather you'd get in coastal Kamchatka or Alaska.




Chasseur

No problem there with a clunky Tikka.



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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foxfire
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Reged: 25/11/04
Posts: 511
Loc: Long Island N.Y.,
Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: NitroX]
      #28324 - 25/03/05 03:01 PM

The cautions that I've heard about concerning any rifle in a freezing climate were to use graphite as a lubricant or a dry silicone spray rather than any of the petroleum products like gun oil or gun grease.

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EricD
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: NitroX]
      #28332 - 25/03/05 06:35 PM

I would think that a Valmet or Tikka, being produced in Finland, would be able to handle cold climates. Finland isn't exactly known for being warm in the winters, and these O/U rifles have been used for years in all of the Scandinavian countrys. I've never heard of such problems from those I have met that own them. Nor have I had such problems using a SxS or O/U shogun in winter either. Even far above the polar circle.

Btw, I have heard that many of the bears shot in Kamchatka are often shot at rather long distances (200 meters?). Can the Tikka can handle that distance accuratly?

Erik

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CptCurlAdministrator
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: EricD]
      #28338 - 25/03/05 10:54 PM

My Valmet was extremely accurate, rivaling a bolt gun. 200 meters would be child's play for it. I killed numerous deer at distances exceeding that.

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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foxfire
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: CptCurl]
      #28343 - 26/03/05 12:45 AM

When I would take the 9.3x74R barrels out of the safe after long storage periods. I would notice the slightest bit of rust starting to develope under the sliding barrel band that adjusts the regulation of the barrels. After cleaning it off and spaying it with penetrating oil, it seems to happen again anyway. The answer was to coat that band with
Guard-it. Like a spray grease, if air can't get to it, it can't rust. That was the only problem that developed, I believe from using that gun in a wet environment and not cleaning it really well.

--------------------
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bonanza
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: foxfire]
      #28344 - 26/03/05 01:31 AM

I would not hesitate using my doubles in any climate and on any game. If I new it was going to be very very cold I'd have the gun de-greased beforehand. Amy buddy of mine who trains in artic conditions says grease can become so viscous as to dramatically affect the strikers and possibly case a misfire.

A word on gun worship (or any object for that matter). The average remington owner often has said to me "I'd never carry that fine gun into the woods" I say "Why not"!? The gun maker made the DR beautiful to behold with lovely wood and fine metal work, but by god he made it to be used! If my gun gets scratched up, the wood gouged, or the bluing worn - fine. Those are marks of use the maker would be proud of. Especially if the in the course of use, it brought home the meat.


--------------------


"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.

"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus

"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

"Yo! Mr. White"

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NE450No2
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: bonanza]
      #28352 - 26/03/05 05:57 AM

I have used my doubles in Alaska, Canada, Montana, Idaho, Texas, as well as Africa. They have been snowed, and rained on. After one trip to Montana where my 400 was rained on several times hard, for several hours at a time I took it to JJ to have the insides looked at. No water had got inside the action. I got my doubles to hunt with, they go where I go.

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Rell
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Reged: 03/12/04
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Loc: Oyster Bay, NY, USA
Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: NE450No2]
      #28354 - 26/03/05 06:38 AM

I grew up and hunted in Northern Alberta and Quebec. I've spent hundreds of hours hunting bear, moose, caribou and deer with my 8x57r DR. In below zero condition I use silica to lube any interior parts and a good grease on the outside.

When I inheritred the gun it was in 80% condition, nows it's about 70%. It shoots 5" at 200m and I'd rather use it then any of my bolts.

I've never had it fail to fire, but it did freee up once. It was in -30 weather in the Alberta oil patch. I got the moose but two shots was all I had. I had to thaw it out in the wall tent but I was eating tenderloin at the time so ....

--------------------
450-400, 9.3x74r and 7x65r.

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bluedevil
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Re: Using a double in cold wet climates [Re: NitroX]
      #28995 - 06/04/05 03:20 PM

Hi Guys, I have used my double rifles, a Wilkes 475 #2 and a Jeffery .333, in Montana for nearly 20 years without problems, including hunting at 42 below zero. I once killed a mule deer with the 333 at about 25 below. The actions do not freeze up and are easy to open after the shot, possibly due to the heat of the ingition. However, I have had several bolt rifles freeze. Usually it is grease in the firing pin spring (boiling won't work, you have to take apart the bolt and thoroughly degrease). The firing pin falls, but not with enough force to ignite the primer. Also, my brother's Weatherby bolt rifle wouldn't chamber a cartridge at 42 below. The pin on the side of the rail froze solid. He stuck the rifle up under his shirt and hiked around for an hour, the rifle was still froze, hiked back to the road, then had to have a passing trucker give him a jump to start his car. Tough luck on a tough day. Keith

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