Double Rifles: .375 and Better

The closest I've come to a double rifle is my poor man's "howdah gun". Touching off 7 drams of powder and a 600gr round ball was quite the rush. What was more fun was getting the load recipes and theories from 140 year old data. There is just "something" about the aura of a double rifle that nothing else can touch it seems.

For those interested, definitely check out the nitro express forum. LOTS of great data and tonnes of pictures!
 
Well, I guess I'm hooked now, having 8 of them!! ..You're right Big Ugly, they're great on bears,and I'm debating on using one for the wood buffalo I got drawn for, .....it's either a double or the Alex Henry in 450/400!
Once you've used a double on game, you're hooked for life. The Kreighoff cocker/decocker is no problem and I think I may prefer it from a safety standpoint, you just have to remember which gun you have at the time.
We really have to get a bunch together for a double shoot this spring somewhere in the west. It would be great time for everyone to get the opportunity to see and handle them prior to getting hooked. The club here would be willling to sponsor something maybe in June, and anyone coming would then have the chance for a bear and a bit of good fishing at the same time, ....anone interested?

Arctic
 
All this talk of double rifles has brought back many memories of our adventure in Tanzania. The DRs in camp were the John Wilkes .500 that I mentioned in my previous post and a Chas. Osborne .577 NE, both of which belong to the PH. The other rifles were a Winchester custom shop M-70 in .375 H&H which belongs to a very generous gentleman who shared the hunt with us, and with which I pulled off the coolest game shot I've ever made . . . a quartering away shot on a running wart hog, moving left to right, that I made shooting left handed at about 150 yards. There are a few shots on game that stand out in my mind, and that one is right near the top of the list. I'd have never done it with the .500 becasue it was always a struggle to acquire a good sight picture with the poorly configured deep V express sight. Lastly was the Game Scout's SKS. As SKSs go, this one was pretty poor, and I'm glad we didn't have to rely on her for our security.

Did I mention that I dislike African Carry . . . especially when I'm in front!
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.500 NE John Wilkes
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.577 NE Chas. Osborne, probably the only time in my life that I'll have the opportunity to be this close to a $100K rifle.
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These next two pics illustrate the difficult grass conditions we faced, and some of the hazards it could conceal. We got ourselves into the middle of a herd of buffalo that though only feet away prevented us from actually seeing a single animal, other than the sun glinting off a horn or a patch of black hide. That was hands-down the most exciting hunting experience of my life. The next day when we got into the bush with what might have been the same herd. It was getting dark, and you could hear these guys knocking trees down, that was more spice than I cared for.
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Oh yea, we got a couple of buffalo, mine on a sand river and my partner's single horn trophy in the bush in time for lunch.
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Man am I enjoying this thread!! Gets me all revved up to get to Africa! Thanks guys for posting all the pics and the real life experiences - very valuable info for guys thinking of buying a double or heading to Africa.

Thanks again
 
I have had double rifle fever since I was a small child. In my life I have acquired a few random ordinary rifles. None has satisfied my double rifle sickness. The only thing that eases double rifle fever, is double rifles. Even then you can only treat the disease you cannot cure it. I have found buying one double will make you lust for more.

Here is my advice, stop buying pointless/random rifles. Save that money and purchase a sensible double rifle. Shoot it, hunt with it, enjoy it. Then get another.



Oh, by the way you don't HAVE TO go to Africa to enjoy it.

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Arctic said:
We really have to get a bunch together for a double shoot this spring somewhere in the west. It would be great time for everyone to get the opportunity to see and handle them prior to getting hooked. The club here would be willling to sponsor something maybe in June, and anyone coming would then have the chance for a bear and a bit of good fishing at the same time, ....anone interested?
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I'd be in for sure. Only an hour down the road so it'd be easy for me.
 
Here is my advice, stop buying pointless/random rifles. Save that money and purchase a sensible double rifle. Shoot it, hunt with it, enjoy it. Then get another.



Good advice, after seeing that nice 9.3x74 double I think the time has finally come to start emptying a couple gun safes . ;)
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Oh crap..this is a dangerout thread. I'll have to admitt that I keep looking at those Sabbatii doubles in 7x57R or 9.3R....that just might be really neat:)
Here's a quiestion about these lighter doubles...what's the real world useful range? I mean, can a proper 200y shot be made..or does the barrel regulation really limit the ability to shoot that far. If they where fitted with a low power optic or good peep sight would that allow a longer shot? I'll admit that one of the things that keeps me away from one of these guns is that for 4000$ I'd like to be able to take a poke beyond 100 yards.
 
Yes It's a Sabatti. It is 7x65R, I know this is a .375 and better thread but the small ones are fun too. I got it from Tradex, I think I literally bought it the day after he first listed them. At $3000 it is so inexpensive you can't afford NOT to buy it for a pure "user and abuser"

My regulation load is 43.5g of 4064 with a 162g interlock for just under 2500fps. It is accurate enough to shoot as far as I dare with iron sights. The left bbl always wanted to shoot low so I changed to a faster powder and it has helped a lot. Normally doubles accuracy is determined with 4 shots in quick succession. Right, Left, Right, Left. Mine does well for the first two then opens up on the second two. This is due to the bbls being very thin. The heat affects the regulation..that is one of the quirks of doubles and I am fine with it. Last time I scoped it did 4" to 5" for 4 shots at 100 yards, it might do better now with my new load. I took the scope off and am going to get another small bore double dedicated for a scope.



Anyone and everyone is welcome to shoot it if they wish. I am in Whitecourt.
 
It is 7.15 lbs with the original recoil pad taken off and a slim wood one installed.

I would describe the weight and balance as "perfect" The bbls are very thin and even though there are 2 of them the rifle does not feel muzzle heavy.

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Interesting thread this one with some very nice double rifles. I could see where it wouldn't take too much more of this and another addiction could arise.

So far I've only accumulated one double rifle. At first I wasn't certain what to call it, but turns out it's a Cape Rifle, by Raick Freses. It's a two barrel set, with the double rifle barrels chambered for 8x57 JRS and the second set of barrels, 20 ga shotgun. There's a leather scabbard, with a shoulder strap to carry along the second set of barrels.

http://www.littlegun.be/arme belge/artisans identifies q r/a raick gb.htm

Rod
 
A DOUBLE RIFLE shoot in the west this spring? Yes please, count me in and I would offer our full support. Let’s think a bit, we need a FULL size Ellie target, a charging Buff target, and let’s make it a FUN match!! Anyone want shoot my 8 Bore? I am sure between us we could have a great display. It’s turned real cold here today, so thoughts of Africa, a double rifle on my shoulder and the sun warming my back are a real tonic.

Who’s for a Spring Western Canadian Double Rifle Meet?
 
I hate this thread and ones like it. It takes a few weeks but I have to kick the want to buy a double and head to africa even though I dont have the money to do that. And then I head over to wolverine supplies and look at them all and go.....hmmmmmm.....I could possibly afford that.....but I really want that one........$$$$$.......Then go to an african safari site and look at big dugga boy hunts. Then I pull out the africa hunt dvds and watch 3 or 4 of them. Find the out WILD hunting magazine in the pile somewhere and read all the stories.....then go back to the double gun websites and look at them more....

Its a vicous cycle so thanks....its gonna be another hard 2 weeks to get out of my head and think of something else a bit cheaper on my wallet.
 
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