doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Best / strongest double shotgun action ever made?

IMHO the issues the NID had with improper fitting of the bolt and the guns kicking open in recoil would take it out of the running. They certainly didn't last long in the well advertised Winchester proof loads test.

Chuck, I think her name is Christina, and she is a very accomplished saleswoman.

JC, Hack,
I almost bought two different examples of a P-gun sxs. They seem to be rare and now have gone thru the roof on price.

Wasn't there one of those German 'clamshell' actions in DGJ a few years back that had every lock-up imaginable and a longer bar on the action.

Maybe not mass produced, but it sure had to be hell for stout.

Back when I was importing them, I was thankful that pictures of blown up Darnes were not seen on any of the boards.

They built rifles up to .500 Express on the R action. There are multiple locks, including a rising bite off the lever that engages an extension on the barrels, and a compound wedge held under extreme force, when the action is closed, by a serious action spring.

I'd put the R Darne up against any barn hinge gun for durability.
Best,
Ted

Note that "Screwing the Barrels to the Action Flats" Doesn't really do anything to reinforce the bending of the breech to the bar. I would guess these Big Bore double rifles held up because of ample steel in the frame & had little to do with the method of bolting. Likewise the forward bolt of a double underbolt adds virtually nothing to the integrity of the bolting. The above mentioned Win 21 used only one underbolt with no top fastening. The one bolt was ample to keep the gun "Shut", the quality & quantity of steel in the frame was ample to take the load.
Of course a properly designed & fitted top fastener can increase the strength of breeching a great amount, as it gives the breech support both top & bottom.

I say the Darnes are in the running, Ideals pretty damn stout also.

Darne R-series hands down, and probably the most durable as well. I've seen many loose Webleys, screw grips and all, and I've also seen a couple of loose Manufrance Ideals. I have NEVER seen or even heard of a loose Darne or a Darne with blown barrels or damaged action. Only problem I've heard of regarding Darnes are the stocks.

Guns built using the Jones Underlever system would probably be next in line. I'm not talking about underlevers with a spring that "snap" back automatically, I'm strictly refering to the manual lever system that actually "SCREWS" the barrels down to the action.

Collath. (Strong, not best.)

"Likewise the forward bolt of a double underbolt adds virtually nothing to the integrity of the bolting." Exactly right.

As for 'screw' type locks, we've all seen threads get sloppy over time and eventually wear out. They are also dependent on proper tightening for strength.

As for barn hinge guns, jealousy is never a suit that fits well.

I don't think you guys are even close. My vote would have to go to the Ljutic. (You never thought of that, did you?) Their life expectency is easily a million rounds. And then you might need a firing pin. There are so few parts in them, there is hardly anything to wear out. There was an article on Ljutic #1 a few years ago and it was used well past one million rounds. All that was put into it was a firing pin and maybe something else minor. I have been shooting mine pretty much for eight years and the only thing that I have had trouble with was the small pin that works the ejector broke. And I never wanted it to begin with. When it broke, I just kept it with extractors. But, the Ljutic sure gets my vote...... Perazzis are good too, but there are too many parts in them to go wrong. They are probably good for a few hundred thousand rounds.