Forums.NitroExpress.com

My smith had one SxS and one U/O to show me (both in .308WIN) but they were not for sale as they were a distributor issue but I was not keen on them at all. The wood was terrible as was pointed out and the action was very rough although the wood to metal finish was good. They were $1029 AUS. The U/O (centrefire only, not combo rifle) had barrels that were very thin, poorly blued and still had machining marks in them.

The smith reckons the metal is very soft but that could be remidied if really necessary, but I don't think it would be worth the trouble. I also think the way the barrels are 'connected' at the muzzle end was very crude, being no more than some thick sheetmetal. As a 'truck gun' or one that would be treated rough and only used to blast a few 'varmints' it would be a good gun. Priced OK, but I would rather go with a Weatherby Vanguard, Ruger or HOWA (which we can get for the same dollars here) in that price range.

I had my doubts myself but I asked the smith about rechambering the .45/70 model for a more powerful cartridge but he was unwilling to do it or recommend it due to safety concerns.

If I bought one of them, I would definetly be making a new stock for it out of some nice timber, working the machining marks out of the action, lightening the trigger and heat treating the metal for more hardness before even shooting it. That makes it kinda not worth the effort, I am going to buy a Sabatti SABA rifled SxS shotgun to cure my first double rifle blues. The Baikal's are a low cost gun with low cost features, good for rolling around in the back of the ute/truck but that's it IMHO.

Hope this helps.

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

"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity."
Sigmund Freud -- General Introduction to Psychoanalysis

Post Extras