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Post by brewer12345 on Dec 17, 2014 15:10:32 GMT -5
I bought a new in the box double badger in .22/.410 and got it to the range today along with my 1967 Savage 24 Deluxe in .22/20 gauge. I tweaked my sighting in with the savage first and then shot a single round of 1 ounce #5 shot at the target. I then sighted in the chiappa (most of the way there I think) and shot a couple rounds of 3" 5 shot at the target. General impression:
- The chiappa has somewhat stuff triggers with maybe a 4 or 5 pound pull (did not measure). They are not match grade, but allow reasonable accuracy within 25 yards. Not nearly as good as my 24 deluxe, but way better than my series P camper.
- The chiappa's fiber optic sights are a lot better than black iron sights on the savage. The front blade is a little too fat for best accuracy and I might eventually fool around with filing it down a bit.
- Since neither gun had a scope on it, it is tough to decide on relative rifle barrel accuracy. My eyes are not great (to put it mildly), so it is really an open question. Both are fine for shots within 25 yards (practical limit of my eyesight without a scope).
- The chiappa is tough to break open. Maybe this is due to the fact that it is new, but there it is. The extractor works fine and everything is easy enough to use aside from getting it open.
- Build quality and fit & finish is below the savages. Not a shock, considering how little the Chiappas sell for. I would say that the chiappa is about similar the Baikals I own.
- When I test fired the savage shotgun barrel it shot a bit lower than the rifle and a bit to the left (15 yards since I was in an indoor range and wanted to know for sure where the shot was going). My deluxe has a very full choke and the pattern was about 12 inches in diameter. The chiappa was pretty well centered (maybe a touch to the left) but a bit low of the rifle sight. Interestingly, the full choke of the chiappa .410 yielded a pattern about the same size as the savage's at 15 yards (although the 410 was thinner).
All in all, I would say that the chiappa has the makings of a good bum around the woods/truck gun. For what I paid for it, I don't have to worry about dragging it through the brush and rain, something I am very loathe to do with the Savages.
I plan to take it on a small game hunt tomorrow, so we will see how it functions in the field.
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Post by Mr. Polecat on Dec 17, 2014 17:54:46 GMT -5
Interesting review. I read somewhere (I think on Chiappa's website) that the Double Badger has an Improved Cylinder choke, though? That's been the reason I've never bought one... If I am going to be shooting a .410 bore, I want a Full choke, darn it. Are the sights made of metal, or are they plastic?
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blaze
Frequent poster
Posts: 108
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Post by blaze on Dec 17, 2014 19:44:33 GMT -5
Very nice review. I'm been thinking about a Double Badger as an inexpensive (relative) woods walking/backdoor type gun. As I live in the rural country I like having a small combination gun handy. I've used a 22-410 Stevens (or other Savage 24)for years as my "back door" gun. However, I just can't get past the idea of having two cocked hammers (in the Double Badger) over live ammunition in such a gun (safety or not). For the same reason I wouldn't like it for a youth (grandchild) training gun. Guess I'll stay with my trusty Stevens .22-410, it's 65 years old and never a problem.
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Post by brewer12345 on Dec 17, 2014 23:52:13 GMT -5
I have not measured it, but the manual specifically states that the 410 barrel is full choked.
Sights are made of metal and plastic. The receiver is drilled and tapped, so it appears that a scope or something compact like a red dot would be doable without a lot of fuss.
As for the lack of hammers, well. I frequently hunt with a semi auto and O/U shotgun. None of them have exposed hammers. I don't feel unsafe with them. At least with a break action it is really easy to verify the gun is safe simply by breaking the action.
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Post by lesstaley on Dec 18, 2014 0:33:18 GMT -5
My Double Badger came yesterday..it's a NWTF 22 mag over 410. Real tight..loosened the two pivot screws (hinge) and a dollup of 3in 1 oil, worked it open/closed a few times, re tightened the hinge screws, it's getting better and haven't even fired it yet..If you've got big fingers pretty small space between triggers..the instruction manual ain't much..doesn't tell you which trigger fires which barrel..( rear trigger is for upper barrel) ..I like the compactness of the gun..looking forward to a range session..Grouse season still open here in North Idaho..will check it out and keep you posted..
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Post by brewer12345 on Dec 19, 2014 17:41:48 GMT -5
I had the chance to hunt with my double badger yesterday morning for a few hours and harvested a nice fix squirrel with the .410 barrel. It is light and handy in the field, almost feels a bit like a toy after lugging a Baikal O/U shotgun around so much. I did not get to try the rifle barrel, but was able to hit a fox squirrel on the run through the trees with the shotgun. I missed a few rabbits as well, but that has a lot more to do with my relative lack of ability and the challenge that .410 poses on a fast-moving target. The only annoyance was that the break lever/trigger guard had a tendency to occasionally flap against the receiver making a metallic noise. I will put a layer or two of duct tape on the spot it hits on the receiver to solve that problem. Other than that, it is usable and very handy. A nice pack gun or something for longer range hikes/bumming around the woods. Its small size was also nice as I snuck through some heavy brush.
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Post by Mr. Polecat on Dec 19, 2014 19:34:22 GMT -5
I am ashamed to admit to this, but I have never hunted with a .410 bore.
What sort of squirrel/grouse/rabbit killing range can get out of the .410 with #4 and #6 shot and the full choke? Does it kill them pretty well, or do they flop around for an abnormally long time? I am kind of a softie, heh.
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Post by brewer12345 on Dec 19, 2014 22:51:22 GMT -5
Cannot speak to grouse, but rabbit is good to 30 yards or so. Frankly, it does not take much to kill a rabbit although I do not use shot smaller than #6 to make sure I get a clean kill. For squirrels, I will typically use 6 shot in a .410 because the pattern is quite unimpressive if you go to bigger shot in a .410. Inside 25 yards, even big fox squirrels are easily taken with 6 shot in a .410. The trick is to keep your shots within a reasonable distance. If you need to take a longer shot, use the .22.
I find the combo guns like this are really nice small game guns. For squirrels, you can hit them with the .22 if you have a stationary target and a good backstop. If not, you hit them with the shotgun barrel. If you have a moving rabbit you can try with the shotgun barrel. If they hop 10 feet away and look at you, you get a clean kill with the .22. With grouse, I think you can use either. The more I hunt areas which allow rifles, the more I am using my combos.
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Post by david on Dec 20, 2014 6:44:41 GMT -5
I have learned a few things in my life of hunting. A hit is a hit. I started out with a single barrel 12 gauge to hunt with. I learned to make the shot count.
I am a reloader and every time I went hunting with friends, I supplied all the ammo. When I wanted my 24v, I wanted it in 20 gauge. When I took it out and my friends all asked me for shells, I held out a box of yellow ones.
MY 24 V fits me so well that many of the grouse (partridge) I have shot the gun was not even to my shoulder. The gun fits me to a T.
Squirrel hunting I prefer the 410 because the range is close.
I also learned if I see a rabbit really close to wait just a bit and then shoot. This puts the rabbit in the pattern instead of shooting something too tight and blowing a hole through the animal.
I once had a Mossberg AT500 12 gauge. I could shuck shells through that like crazy. HITS? Not near as many especially ducks. I learned again to make the shot count. If i miss with a 12 gauge or 20 the result is the same.
For a while I had a Fox 20 ga double barrel. I thought it would be great. I could not hit with that gun. If I shot a case or two of clay birds in the fall I could hit with it, but not like my 24v. I ended up trading it away.
410 does limit range just a little. Usually a hit is a hit regardless of bore of the shotgun.
Having the gun fit me is far more important than gauge. I almost always hunt with 1 ounce magnum 6s.
David 22/410 222/20
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Post by neilrr on Dec 20, 2014 7:53:17 GMT -5
At a gun show yesterday I had a chance to take a good long look at a new Chiappa Double Badger .22/.410. The gun is made very well with very good fit up and finish. The trigger pull was diffidently over 5 pounds. It took a lot to open this combo gun, probably too much, as it adversely affected my thoughts of purchasing one even with a hefty discount by the dealer. The dealer finally admitted that he was offering the discount because all of these guns that he has had in the past were all very hard to open. This issue has been a major complaint by his potential buyers especially hunters who were looking to be able to reload quickly. When compared to my 24 which locks up very tight, but open much easier, I would choose the 24 .22/.410 every time.
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Post by lesstaley on Dec 20, 2014 21:17:09 GMT -5
My grandson and I went out for snowshoe hares and ruffed grouse this afternoon...raining cats and dogs... The poor wabits are white, and we have no snow...the new Double Badger gave a good account of itself, dusting three wabits and one grouse..while my grandson's Remington model 12 22 long rifle nailed the last one.. We took turn with the Chiapa gun..it's opening lots better ..not nearly as tight as at first.. Trigger pulls are a little grim, but all in all a good little game gun. It will break in just fine..Les. (Just wondering, all us guys 'cept David look alike).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2015 20:04:59 GMT -5
Glad to find this thread; my second 24v 30-30 is hung up in shipping (I traded my first for a canoe, about 30 years ago) but I picked up a double badger this month, and it has turned into the grouse gun supreme; using Remington 3" no. 5's it swats grouse effectively at 25 yards and beyond--bang! dead! I've taken two with the 22 barrel, too, but one fluttered off a cliff and wound up feeding the coyotes. Just for grins and giggles, I've tried it with slugs to see what it'd do in a pinch, and I was amazed that the barrels were so well regulated--at 25 yards, about 1" apart; at 50 yards 3 inside 4" and centered about 3" from the 22. The Winchester 2-1/2" slugs weren't as accurate as the russian 3" saboted slugs in the metal hulls, but would serve to hit a fox or 'yote at 50 yards. Not legal for deer in my state; that's what the 30-30 will be for. The little Chiappa is sure fun to carry; light and quick. Not too good at trap, though; I shot it with 2-1/2" trap loads and just broke 10 out of 25, mostly because it swings too quick, as the clays I broke were fairly emphatic. Very tight choke, very good small game getter! Mind yer topknots! windy
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Post by ocddeerhunter on Jan 12, 2016 22:29:03 GMT -5
beware of double badger Having troble with mine ,22 mag barrel is tight , barrel was full of metal shavens they could'nt have proof fired this barrel the fired cases are buldged out right below where the firing pin hit .then need pliers to grab case to get it out.and clean the barrel after every shot, its stripping shavens off every bullet .maybe they used a bad bit when they cut rifling.its getting a little better after alot of scrubbing with a bore brush .barrel was so dirty when I got it (brand new) I could barely get the brush and cleaning rod through it ,patchs used after brush with a brass jag were covered with metal shavens .I tried to check shavens with a magnet to see if they were steel left over from when they made barrel ,but I think they are lead.any ideas to what might be wrong ?
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Post by Ted on May 26, 2016 1:09:04 GMT -5
Ocdeerhunter I had the same problem with my Double Badger 22 mag. Shell stuck in and I had to take it to a gun shop. The gunsmith fixed the problem,gun shoots fine now.
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Post by neilrr on May 26, 2016 7:46:57 GMT -5
Since my earlier post about potentially purchasing a Double Badger in 2014, I did purchase a double trigger Chiappa X-caliber 12 ga./.22LR with a set of 8 adapter inserts (.380, 9MM, .357Mag/.38SPL, .40 S&W, .44 Mag, .45 ACP, .410/.45 Colt, 20ga) in December of 2015. All of the pistol caliber adapters are rifled, with the two shotgun adapters being smooth bore. Out of the box the gun was somewhat hard to open, but not as hard as the Double Badger (see my earlier post above) and after the initial 25-50 rounds the X-caliber works quite easily, but still locks up tight. I have not had any issues with shooting any of the various calibers in this gun and no issues of cases sticking. I am working on replacing the hard foam stock with a wooden one. The rifled pistol caliber adapters shoot fairly accurately out of the upper 12 ga. barrel within a range of 25 - 50 yards with the factory iron sights. I have not shot it at any longer distances. The trigger pull is not excessive and lets off with little if any creep. As I have posted previously I am a gunsmith and not a hunter, and originally bought the X-caliber to develop and shoot various caliber hand loads before shooting them in any other firearm since it is cheaper if an adapter is ruined then ruining a barrel or receiver on a more expensive gun. The X-caliber with the 8 adapters fit nicely in the Chiappa designed carry case, though when fully packed it is quite heavy and not something I would carry around in the woods, but to the range it is ok. The gun is defined as a survival gun because of it versatility to consume various caliber ammo. Being an older shooter who was brought up using revolvers and wood furniture rifles I still prefer my wood furniture guns like my 1960's vintage Stevens .22LR/.410 over the synthetic hard foam stock of the Chiappa X-caliber, but for developing hand loads the versatile X-caliber is a good match for reasons previously stated.
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