Scoped Double, Why?

I'm not an owner (Yet) of a double rifle, but I see lots of pictures of doubles with scopes and I'm wondering why?

My idea of a double is a fairly close range gun that can be quick and very deadly in an instant when needed. Putting a scope in the way of the of or replacing the open sights seems wrong. I understand no one should be making snap shots at anything, but that's where the double excels.

If one has the time to shoulder and take careful aim through an optic other than maybe a red dot, shouldn't they be using a bolt action off sticks?

I'm sure there are good reasons why and look forward to hearing them.

Jim

Old eyes that don't work so well with open sights anymore would be my first guess.

Hi P3FE,

My first double (not counting shotguns) was a Merkel SxS in .375 H&H.
It regulated very well with the iron sights (in spite of one chamber being a little too tight) but, I had it claw mounted with a Leupold compact 2.5x scope anyway.

This combination accounted for 9 African animals on my 2nd safari and I was perhaps a whisker faster with the little scope than I was with the open sights (only one sight in a scope to line up against my target, instead of a front and rear sight both to line up with each other, plus then the target).

However, I did not care for the slight top heaviness the scope added to this fun "little" double.
Therefore, it is extremely unlikely that I would ever add a scope to any other double in my future.
This is not to say that I might not buy a double that is already properly fit with a scope but, I will not likely ever so modify a clean double in that way again.

A double to my liking should handle like a well fitting, well balanced grouse gun or quail gun does.
I am very fond of bolt action and single shot rifles as well however, after I had fired a double rifle for the first time, I simply had to have one - instant junkie, double rifle monkey on my back forever I'm affraid.

All these morons that are addicted to heroin (or name your dope) should have tried a double rifle instead, although I am not sure they are much cheaper than dope, just a lot healthier and I have to guess, a lot more fun as well (probably every bit as addictive though).

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

I am a contrarian with regard to telescopic sighted doubles. Among mine, I have a Blaser S2. Each .375 barrel shoots MOA with a composite four shot group under 3 inches at 100 meters. It carries a telescopic sight and I sight the right barrel on target at 100 yards. On any DG animal, like my buff in Moz in Aug, I can double tap him faster than any bolt gun. Yet, while tracking buff, I can also take any PG animal out to 250 meters with no issues at all. Not every double can do this, but an S2 can. The Blaser uses quick release rings and the scope can be dismounted almost instantly for a tricky follow-up in the thick stuff.

Scope reduces errors even at close distance, usually your first shot you have more than enough time to use a scope, as red leg says, quick release mounts for follow up.

As I don't own and never shot a double rifle I really don't have an opinion. That being said I sure wish I could afford one so that I could.

Poor eyes is most likely the most common reason!

My 9.3x74R has a 1.5-5 x Leupold on it and allows me comfortable 100m+shooting, which I could not do without a scope..........so it means I use the rifle so much more!

My .470NE on the other hand has a trijicon RMR on it as even at 70m iron sights are a battle with my eyes. If I could be guaranteed every shot on a buff would be at 40m I would take off the sight in a heartbeat (as I hate the look!) but needing comfort to make a good shot further out if required has made me keep it like that!

And BTW, that RMR is super quick to acquire a target!

Good for old bad eyes!

TMS said:

Scope reduces errors even at close distance, usually your first shot you have more than enough time to use a scope, as red leg says, quick release mounts for follow up.

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There are some very excellent QD pivot mounts and lever mounts, etc these days but if you simply must scope any double, then claw mounts rule IMO.

All it took for my instant addiction was to fire a quick right and left from someone else's dbl rifle and the monkey leaped onto my back, before those first two empties hit the ground.
So, fair warning you will have to have a double if you ever fire one.

Jumbo - I am 62 so I have that vision issue as well! And agree with the reflex sight. My .500/.416 barrels are equipped with the Red Dot version.

Why not a 1-4 scope on a double rifle? There are certainly longer shots in DG hunting and at 1x the aim quickly.

I would say the point of the DR is that they don't jam or break as often as a magazine rifle, they shoot 2 shots or 4 shots faster than any other option, and if they do break they only lose one barrel due to malady, not the whole gun.

So based on the above, why wouldn't you scope a DR exactly as you would a magazine rifle sinc a good DR is even more useful than the identical magazine rifle.

Put another way, what makes a DR special and precludes an optic compared to a magazine rifle for DG?

rookhawk said:

Why not a 1-4 scope on a double rifle?
Put another way, what makes a DR special and precludes an optic compared to a magazine rifle for DG?

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It doesn't! My Searcy had a 1.5X5 Leupy with the red dot as well as a Burris Fastfire Holo sight.
They work well.

Rookhawk, willing to put friendly wager, I will put 4 shots out of magazine fed rifle faster than a double puts 4, but then on the other hand if you usually need more than 2 shots...you in deep shit....

I love my doubles, and I can get off two shots very quickly. However, I wouldn't compete with four from a magazine rifle.

rookhawk said:

Why not a 1-4 scope on a double rifle? There are certainly longer shots in DG hunting and at 1x the aim quickly.

I would say the point of the DR is that they don't jam or break as often as a magazine rifle, they shoot 2 shots or 4 shots faster than any other option, and if they do break they only lose one barrel due to malady, not the whole gun.

So based on the above, why wouldn't you scope a DR exactly as you would a magazine rifle sinc a good DR is even more useful than the identical magazine rifle.

Put another way, what makes a DR special and precludes an optic compared to a magazine rifle for DG?

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the main reason not to scope a double is for quick close quarter target acquisition.......and of course the beautiful lines that get destroyed when you fit any kind of scope! (Even my RMR, but especially then Leupold 1.5-5 scope!)

TMS said:

Rookhawk, willing to put friendly wager, I will put 4 shots out of magazine fed rifle faster than a double puts 4, but then on the other hand if you usually need more than 2 shots...you in deep shit....

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Red Leg said:

I love my doubles, and I can get off two shots very quickly. However, I wouldn't compete with four from a magazine rifle.

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I have seen a couple of double vs bolt competitions before and the double always won. The guy on the double in this video knows what he is doing. The bolt guy could be faster. Especially if he kept the stock on his shoulder. Still, it is fun to watch.

Wow. Yeah he does.

Red Leg said:

I am a contrarian with regard to telescopic sighted doubles. Among mine, I have a Blaser S2. Each .375 barrel shoots MOA with a composite four shot group under 3 inches at 100 meters. It carries a telescopic sight and I sight the right barrel on target at 100 yards. On any DG animal, like my buff in Moz in Aug, I can double tap him faster than any bolt gun. Yet, while tracking buff, I can also take any PG animal out to 250 meters with no issues at all. Not every double can do this, but an S2 can. The Blaser uses quick release rings and the scope can be dismounted almost instantly for a tricky follow-up in the thick stuff.

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Red Leg, I'm intrigued by the S2 and wondering how you like yours. Not meaning to highjack this thread, but the easy "scopability" of the S2 is a plus, as far as I'm concerned, should one be so inclined. You see some bashing of the S2 on the 'Net (lo and behold), but how does the "cocking button" and floating breech block or whatever it's called work in the real world? Is it possible to fumble a reload and end up dumping the breech block out of the rifle? Is the lack of ejectors a problem at all in your experience? Thanks!

TMS said:

Rookhawk, willing to put friendly wager, I will put 4 shots out of magazine fed rifle faster than a double puts 4, but then on the other hand if you usually need more than 2 shots...you in deep shit....

Click to expand...

Be careful what you ask for!
You'd lose!

AkMike, now is that a double or bolt???