Nitro Express Goodness (56K warning!)

double

jjohnwm said:
Beautiful rifles, guys. I've wanted a gun like one of those my entire life, intending to take it to Africa. I finally went a couple of years ago (when I was the same age you are now, Longbranch) and wish that I hadn't waited that long. I sold a whack of guns that I didn't need to help finance that trip, and now I know that I will never buy...er, I mean, "invest in"....a double because it will delay my return to get my elephant! I'll just have to poke the big fella (or lady!) with a plain-vanilla .458 bolt gun.

But if you want one and can afford it, go for it! There is absolutely nothing that can compare to the feeling that comes with the realization of a dream. You will never regret it.

John
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Great advice John, I was just thinking today while driving back from a gunshow, how easy it is to get priorities mixed up ie: Put me money towards the hunt first before buying another gun. Heck I own a .375H+H Browning Safari that deserves to go to Africe as much as I. Think it's time to have a hard look at my milsurp collection.
Cheers
Geoff
 
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Beautiful gun you got. I'd be more scared in having the airlines lose the gun en route to Africa, then the animals you plan on shooting with it.
 
Great choice in chambering, you'll find .450-400 3" (presuming it's 3", though the 3 1/4" is identical) actually really mild on account of the mild velocity. I actually feel it's milder than .375 H&H, but certainly not hurting in the knock down power either.

I'm building a double as we speak, was going to be a .450-400 3" with .416" bores to take advantage of the bullet selection instead of the standard .410"-411". Still have the reamer and twin .416" Shilen barrels, but switched and decided to do a .475 last minute. Here's the one-piece 4140 monoblock at 50%:

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Ardent did you make that mono block? If so would you be interested in making a 4 bore single for me? Do you just need an action to start with, then build off of it? I could get a Jones Underlever, what do you think? Nice work, Dale Z!

I am glad that I am no the only guy buying newly made German doubles! I went a little differrent route. I ordered a Cape gun, shotgun/rifle SXS for hunting right in my back yard! Mostly will shoot partridge and a deer or 2 a year! I thinking of sending it back to have a set of double rifle barrels made for it, but I am unsure if the Germans will chamber a British or American round in one of there newly made guns? I guess will have to email them!
Longbranch once you buy one SXS double there is no turning back! Beware it is as addicting as collecting military rifles! One will never suffice!
cheers all Dale Z in T-Bay!
 
Phooey. I hunt with a fellow that packs one of those Merkel doubles. Heavy pig and he is afraid to take any shot that I would consider routine.

If I ever go to Africa and hunt, I will borrow a rifle when I get there, be it a double or a bolt.:)
 
Republic and zywina, I'm trying to build new all Canadian doubles related to the original WW Greener designs. It's a long road and I've got likely a few more years if I'm lucky to go. zywina, we'll see how this one goes before I take on new ones, setting up a proper 1,000 sq. ft. shop by winter if all goes well, right now I'm working out of friends' shops and works' so I can only dabble with my own toys. Will do a thread with the step by step of how the gun No.1 here was built before I start No.2.
 
Ardent said:
Republic and zywina, I'm trying to build new all Canadian doubles related to the original WW Greener designs. It's a long road and I've got likely a few more years if I'm lucky to go. zywina, we'll see how this one goes before I take on new ones, setting up a proper 1,000 sq. ft. shop by winter if all goes well, right now I'm working out of friends' shops and works' so I can only dabble with my own toys. Will do a thread with the step by step of how the gun No.1 here was built before I start No.2.
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I would love to see a thread with your build as it progresses. I have been waiting to see a company building doubles in Canada. Currently I only know of one man in Canada that builds doubles from the ground up and as far as I know it's only been a few.

I could lend my assistance with this effort but don't have any skills, time, money, or machinery to help you. I guess that only leaves testing completed rifles. :D
 
Ha! Noted re: the possible assistance. Thanks guys, I'll stop the hijack here with this post. Hoping to turn out 2 doubles a year, but that depends entirely on how this first one does. The core work is case colouring and rust bluing, woodwork/stocks, etc. Doubles are a passion of mine and side avenue I hope to one day go down, but wouldn't do anything with them outside my own guns until they're perfect. That's years from now for sure. There's a fellow building the odd scratch built double in the Yukon, did a jaw dropping 4 bore, other world type stuff.
 
Dunno about case colouring but I know there are some outstanding stockers in Canada and pudelpointer has done some rust bluing. I'll be following this as well. Good on you for taking a stab at it.
 
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