I bought a double rifle in 9.3x74r, a classic African round, on GB last year. It is in "as new" condition except someone buggered up the finish a little on a small spot on the top barrel. They reblued it and it is passable. Mechanically perfect with ejectors. It is a Tikka 512, identical to Valmet 412. over and under. All these rifles come with a full length sight rail on top barrel, with a flip up iron sight and milled for a factory QD scope base and rings. These come with single and double triggers, 12ga doubles, 20ga doubles, shotgun over rifle combination barrels, and double rifle barrels. Barrels usually interchange without fitting. The double rifles are all adjustable regulation for windage and elevation so you can use any load you want. These are rugged, well made, solid fitting, accurate guns based on an old Remington design and manufactured with strong modern steel. All rimmed cartridges are ejectors, all rimless rounds are extractors. They have been killing moose and wild boar in Europe for decades and are well respected there. Valmet was bought by Tikka who then sent the tooling from Finnland to Italy where the rifles are still made today, although I do not believe anyone currently imports new guns to the US. There are always several on GB at any given time. 9.3x74R was the most powerful round made by the factory. They also made one in 375 Win, which you can have rechambered for 375 Flanged (ballistic twin to 375 H&H), which is what I chose to do. I wanted to have one re-bored to a 40 caliber, but could not locate anyone to rebore double rifles. JES won't do it.
People here seem rather ambivalent about Valmet doubles, but I own 4 double rifles and a double 12 guage, and I think they are great, functional, durable, and reliable guns. The are the epitome of a "working man's double."
Use the following link, go to page 9, and go about 3/4 down the page to see a pic of my Valmet 412 double 30-06 with double triggers and custom stocks.
How many of you own more than one double? What's in your battery?
