Multi Barrel rifles

6

6.5swede

Active Member
What are the thoughts around multi barrel rifles? Straight away my thoughts go to the Blaser rifles and the Sako quad.

Are they favourable with the Firearms departments, or treated as a totally separate rifle on your FAC?

Accuracy? I have a Quad with a 22lr barrel on it, I’ve never swapped it to be fair but the accuracy is superb and it’s held zero for years.
 
I have a quad just sold my 22rf it threw alsorts of problems with the barels each having thier own numbers and the frame its own no feo not keen accuracy is good with either barel a Blaser is a very expensive way to needing a scope with each barel
 
They are fine in theory but.

A 223 should either be a svelte little walk about rifle. Or a heavy barreled varminter

A 243, 6.5, 7mm stalking rifle needs to be reasonably light, and stocked so it can shoot from multiple positions

A 308 target rifle should be stocked for prone shooting with a long heavy barrel


A 375 H&H or 416 Rigby needs a bit of heft to absorb the recoil, but needs the weight between the hands.

No you can do all of that with a Blaser and lots of barrels, but it’s likely that many will be a real compromise for their particular application.
 
I asked my FEO about this on the last renewal. He said it makes absolutely no difference and each barrel is treated as a separate rifle, so no advantage in terms of licensing. In fact, there is a disadvantage as I was told that the computer system struggles with it. I had to nominate one barrel as ‘the rifle’ and the other barrels as just barrels, which was a pain when it came to getting a temporary export permit that didn’t match my FAC, although no problems in reality.

I am in two minds about my Blaser. It is very handy to break down and fits in a small case and I only use a single trigger and stock, so a big advantage in muscle memory. I do question how long all the bits of plastic will last as well. Also it isn’t a Rigby…
 
In terms of accuracy. It is superb and absolutely returns to zero.

Saying that my old Parker Hale was as accurate, but the trigger wasn’t as nice.
 
stevec said:
I asked my FEO about this on the last renewal. He said it makes absolutely no difference and each barrel is treated as a separate rifle, so no advantage in terms of licensing. In fact, there is a disadvantage as I was told that the computer system struggles with it. I had to nominate one barrel as ‘the rifle’ and the other barrels as just barrels, which was a pain when it came to getting a temporary export permit that didn’t match my FAC, although no problems in reality.

I am in two minds about my Blaser. It is very handy to break down and fits in a small case and I only use a single trigger and stock, so a big advantage in muscle memory. I do question how long all the bits of plastic will last as well. Also it isn’t a Rigby…
Click to expand...
My first Sauer 404 was a 270 couple of years later I want to go to SA and Namibia so want a 300 wm. I considered just getting another barrel but when I looked in to the costs and paperwork involved just bought another 404 in 300. For travelling they do break down that’s good you get them in a smaller case
 
6.5swede said:
What are the thoughts around multi barrel rifles? Straight away my thoughts go to the Blaser rifles and the Sako quad.

Are they favourable with the Firearms departments, or treated as a totally separate rifle on your FAC?

Accuracy? I have a Quad with a 22lr barrel on it, I’ve never swapped it to be fair but the accuracy is superb and it’s held zero for years.
Click to expand...
My lad has a CZ with 22lr and 17HMR barrels but to be honest I don't recall the last time he changed them over.
We both have Sauer 202's The guy my lads came from tested repeatability of zero swapping barrels using a torque screwdriver on the barrel screws. He was within a click each time.
I found similar results doing the same with mine. I have 6.5x55 .270 and 30-06, with a .223 waiting on sale of my .222 and the subsequent variation.
As for practicality from the perspective of getting extra barrels it has been easier than a complete rifle. As you can only use what you have an action, bolt etc for at any one time. That is what my FEO said when we discussed it.
However travelling abroad you really want to list the most likely combination as the "rifle" ie 30-06 (hopefully a trip on the Boar). Advice given by a mate after his trip, as it makes the already tedious task of getting firearms there and back easier.
To answer the question how are they treated. For example a 202 is made up of Stock (butt and fore end) action, bolt, mag, and barrel. this will make up one "slot" on your FAC. A barrel will also take up one "slot' as will any subsequent barrel. So you could have two complete rifles and 3 extra barrels, which would be treated as five firearms.
 
Over here (Norway) a blaser or sauer or S&L with easy barrel change option is one firearm. Additional barrels don't count as firearms. So, in theory, a R8 with 10 barrels still only counts as one rifle.
We have a limit of 8 hunting firearms/ shotguns without question (as long as you have taken hunters education / jegerprøven)
Additional firearms may be granted but a very good reason is needed.
Target rifles/ clay shotguns are not on this quota. Moderators are off ticket. FAC's granted for life unless criminal record/mental health issues dictate otherwise.
 
6.5swede said:
What are the thoughts around multi barrel rifles? Straight away my thoughts go to the Blaser rifles and the Sako quad.

Are they favourable with the Firearms departments, or treated as a totally separate rifle on your FAC?

Accuracy? I have a Quad with a 22lr barrel on it, I’ve never swapped it to be fair but the accuracy is superb and it’s held zero for years.
Click to expand...

Seeing as you can only use one barrel at a time you may find FAO’s being more receptive to granting additional barrels for the one firearm. Still classed as a separate ticket entry but you could potentially have a slightly weaker reason for wanting one (same calibre, different twist / duplicate to offset barrel wear etc) and it might be an easier argument to make. If you have a good reason for any of those then of course just apply for a separate firearm, but it may be a consideration. The only one I have is an AIAX and I alternate between .260 and .308
 
Border said:
Over here (Norway) a blaser or sauer or S&L with easy barrel change option is one firearm. Additional barrels don't count as firearms. So, in theory, a R8 with 10 barrels still only counts as one rifle.
We have a limit of 8 hunting firearms/ shotguns without question (as long as you have taken hunters education / jegerprøven)
Additional firearms may be granted but a very good reason is needed.
Target rifles/ clay shotguns are not on this quota. Moderators are off ticket. FAC's granted for life unless criminal record/mental health issues dictate otherwise.
Click to expand...
Seems like a great system, imagine the target and clay not in The quota opens the door for people to be flexible with the rules! As I’m sure they would.
 
Border said:
Over here (Norway) a blaser or sauer or S&L with easy barrel change option is one firearm. Additional barrels don't count as firearms. So, in theory, a R8 with 10 barrels still only counts as one rifle.
We have a limit of 8 hunting firearms/ shotguns without question (as long as you have taken hunters education / jegerprøven)
Additional firearms may be granted but a very good reason is needed.
Target rifles/ clay shotguns are not on this quota. Moderators are off ticket. FAC's granted for life unless criminal record/mental health issues dictate otherwise.
Click to expand...
Where are you in Norway are you?,Norway is one of my favourite places in the world I’ve skied all over Norway, not hunted there yet, but a trip has been discussed!
 
I thought this would be a thread about double rifles, bockdrillings and vierlings, not switch-barrel rifles.

The latter are a compromise, but they can have real utility when storage space is limited: for once, you can put more "rifles" in s cabinet than the manufacturer claims!
 
stevec said:
I asked my FEO about this on the last renewal. He said it makes absolutely no difference and each barrel is treated as a separate rifle, so no advantage in terms of licensing. In fact, there is a disadvantage as I was told that the computer system struggles with it. I had to nominate one barrel as ‘the rifle’ and the other barrels as just barrels, which was a pain when it came to getting a temporary export permit that didn’t match my FAC, although no problems in reality.

I am in two minds about my Blaser. It is very handy to break down and fits in a small case and I only use a single trigger and stock, so a big advantage in muscle memory. I do question how long all the bits of plastic will last as well. Also it isn’t a Rigby…
Click to expand...

My experience is slightly different.

One stock/action/barrel/trigger combination is treated as a rifle. The rest are treated and listed as spare barrels (and bolt heads where required).

The bit that differs to your experience is that in terms of risk assessment, the risk of someone using multiple rifles if they decide to commit crime is impossible. They don’t have multiple rifles, they have one rifle and multiple spare barrels.

The risk if the contents of a gun cabinet are stolen, is also reduced. The criminals don’t have X number of rifles. They have one rifle and X number of barrels.

I wasn’t authorised an additional rifle when I asked for a 6.5 PRC rifle in addition to my .243 rifle. When I asked for a 6.5 PRC barrel and Magnum bolt in addition to my .243 this was approved based on the rationale above.

The downside which the licensing system has to catch up with, is that there is no consistent method of listing which components are held. This gets difficult if you want to change components. Different FEOs and RFDs seem to have differing views on what needs to be listed and what is effectively an “accessory part” versus a “firearm component”.

Easiest way would be to list bolt, barrel stock etc separately making it easy to swap and easy to understand the modular arrangement of these versatile systems.
 
How the law was explained to me is that any rifled barrel is just a tube until it is blocked at one end and or a chamber is cut for a cartridge. Then it becomes a firearm irrespective of any action or stock that may or may not be present.
 
Smellydog said:
How the law was explained to me is that any rifled barrel is just a tube until it is blocked at one end and or a chamber is cut for a cartridge. Then it becomes a firearm irrespective of any action or stock that may or may not be present.
Click to expand...
Or threaded, in regards to revolver style barrels, no chamber is required.
 
I thought the topic was going to be about rifle drillings :)

In Sweden we has max 6 shotguns/rifles considered as the normal amount needed for hunting, (after you have taken your hunting exam you are considered to have the need for 4 guns/rifles for 2-4 years (then the need can expand to 6)).
The action are seen by police as 1 gun/rifle you can have multiple barrels for it. Sporting firearms are not included in the hunting wardrobe so if you are a member of a shooting club you can have target rifles or shotguns to practice and compete with. Most relyable barrel change systems are so expensive so you can buy whole rifles instead for the same price.
 
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