How many double rifles do you own?

[HWL]

How many of you own more than one double? What's in your battery?

Shouldn't be allowed to answer this important question without pictures!!!


HWL

 

[HWL]

Only cost prevent me from having one in .577NE or .600NE..

You are in good company.....



HWL

 

[9.3x57 Freak]

I have a Blaser S2 in 8x75RS and extra .470NE

Both shoot more than good enough after some tweeking.

She is a beauty, just love it.

 

[AZDAVE]

Now that question is like asking a lady how much she weights

But since doubles are my favourite rifle platform, years ago a dear friend let me shot his 500 Merkel and after the second shot I called him several unkind names as I knew it was going to cost me dearly. (No I have never been able to talk him out of his 500) So I saved and bought rifles at estate sales off dealer racks that needed some work, and then traded or sold them for better rifles and shot guns and then when I had 3 or 4 nicer I would trade for a double or sell them to buy a double. So over the years I have owned 17 different doubles.
Owned but no longer in my care.
1. Bakail 45/70 ugly as can be but was fun to shoot and learned about loading for a double with that rifle.
2. Sabatti 450NE it shot lights out and was a great rifle. Shot a cape buffalo, zebra, and warthog with it
3. Sabatti 45/70 The crowns were not jacked up and shot well and friend had to own it more that me so he is hunting happily with it.
4. Woodward 500BPE (Wish I hadn't sold it, but it paid for a Chapuis 9.3 and a 450/400 VC O/U)
5. SAICE 45/70 a very beautiful rifle that shot well but didn't fit me.
6. I Hollis 577BPE nice old double that I shot a giraffe with. Sold it and regret the decision but sold it as my oldest son said I'll just but the 577NE and shot that in it as the case is the same size. So did it to prevent a future accident.
7. Chapuis UGEX 9.3x74 nice rifle that I shot a sable and cape eland with.
8. Chapuis 8x57 JRS nice rifle that a gentleman wanted more than me and was sold to help pay for my 2018 safari.
9. Zoli 8x57 8x57 JRS a fun rifle that shot great but I just didn't like the fit.
10. one more that I can't remember what it was.
Currently own:
11. Verney Carron 450/400 O/U didn't want to like it but it fits me perfectly and shoots a composite 4 shot group with Aframes and NorthFork solids to the same point at 50 meters and all 4 shots are 1 3/4 in center to center. I have shot a hippo and Roan with it and will never sell it!
12. Chapuis RGEX 9.3x74 with fantastic wood and shoot great (Going to on safari in October)
13. Chapuis RGEX 9.3x74 long story on how I ended up with 2, best told over a camp fire with a beer in hand. Might sell or trade in the future.
14. Rizzini 45/70 Have loads for 350gr softs and solids that are good plan on taking it next year for black bear.
15. Simson 405 WIN fine german double that was built between the wars and is the best regulated double I own.
16. Simson 20ga Double rifle
17. Verney Carron 8x57 JRS O/U that VC made me a great deal at DSC this year. Shoots factory S&B acceptable and PRIVI is VERY accurate. Just starting load development

 

[AZDAVE]

Was out walking the dog and remembered #10 Searcy 470 NE nice rifle shoot well but already have several rifles in that power band so sold it to another AH member.

 

[Velo Dog]

Thanks for that post Paul, I enjoyed reading it. I remember you talking about the 458. Do you have any pictures of #2 and #3?

I do hope to make it up there for for the double rifle shoot, if not next year, hopefully the year after.

With the economic outlook as it is, and especially the oil industry. Perhaps there will be some real deals over the next year..... if you find enough pop bottles. On the other hand, switch to milk so I can buy another

Hi Bob,

In my avatar and in my forum photos, there is a decent pic of the .450 No2, setting on the horns of the buffalo I took with this rifle.
Likewise, I think there is one of this rifle across my shoulders, while I was sitting on the ground, behind a zebra that I also bagged with it, in thick forest.

I’m not positive if I have any photo of the .275 Flanged or not.
If I do, it / they will be in one of many plastic tubs, out in the dung heap known as my garage.
If I ever find a photo of it, I’ll post same.
If not, it indeed looked exactly like the .450 No2, only tiny in comparison.
It was so “petit” that it resembled at first glance, a .410 or 28 gauge shotgun in size and profile but with rifle sights on it and an oval shadow line cheek piece - cute as a bug’s ear.
I didn’t have the money at the time and should not have bought it, as I was saving toward another Safari.
I only owned the little rifle for a few weeks because I bought it for $5,000. that as mentioned, I didn’t have (I used my credit card).
Then, buyer’s remorse set it.

Suddenly, a fellow named John Ashbrook, dropped by for a visit and offered me $5,500. so I sold it to him on the spot.
Eventually he moved to Florida and there he unfortunately passed away.
I’ve no idea where the little rifle ended up.

Meanwhile, it is alarming to me that nothing more than a flu bug, has so quickly brought the USA and other countries to our knees.
No doubt North Korea and other sociopathic serial killers are taking copious notes.

The Annual Alaska Double Rifle Shoot:
Yes, it’d be very cool if you can make it up here for one or more of these events, in the future.
You are one of my favorite contributors to the world’s greatest forum here.
The D.R. Shoots are always a good time and our weather is usually (usually) mild if not warm by then.
It would be grand to meet you in person (and any other forum members from around the globe as well) someday.
Also, some years I hold a “Hunter’s Cocktail Party” in my basement man cave, immediately following the shoot.
Some years there’s a lot of interest in the party and some years not a lot.
Either way, the shoot is always fun anyhow.

Speaking of forum members potentially attending the shoot some year, in particular I’d sure enjoy meeting Red Leg in person some day.
His notions on rifles and such seem worth discussing at great length, over a couple glasses with ice and amber color liquid in them.
Likewise, I suspect he might enjoy helping my wife make fun of me, regarding the topic of Rome being a fun place (or not) to spend one’s vacation in.
If you’ve been to Rome and enjoyed the long lines, massive crowds, over-priced/under-seasoned food, etc., etc., there, perhaps you’d like to join them here one of these years, in throwing pies at me as well LOL.

At any rate Bob, don’t let people sneeze on you and stay safe in general.

Cheers,
Paul.

 

[Major Khan]

The closest thing to a proper double barreled rifle which I own ... is my " Old Belgian " and I could not love it more .

It is a 12 Bore double barreled side by side shot gun , made in Belgium in 1950 . It has 3 inch chambers , extractors and 28 inch long barrels ( The left barrel is fully choked . The right barrel is modified choke ) . I used hand loaded spherical ball cartridges in this grand , old gun . The cartridges are 3 inch Eley Alphamax magnum " High Brass " . The bullets are 1 ounce spherical balls of hardened lead ( which I currently mould myself ) .
The " Old Belgian " fires spherical ball bullets with remarkable accuracy out to 30 yards . I have been using it extensively since 1959 , and exclusively until 1996 ( I did not purchase any other fire arms before 1996 ). I used it as my back up " rifle " during my 10 year career as a professional shikaree , working for Allwyn Cooper Limited in Nagpur, India from 1961 to 1970 . Aside from taking jungle fowl , water fowl and various species of Indian deer for the pot over the years .... I have also used it to dispatch 11 royal Bengal tigers , which had been mortally wounded by my clients , Wild Boars , Asian Sloth Bears , 15 gaur bisons ( using only double lung shots , at night by ambushing them near water holes and shooting them over torch light ) and 21 man eating forest panthers , including the most recent 1 in February 2020 of this year .

I had always dreamt of owning an Auguste Francotte side lock side by side double barreled rifle , chambered in 9.3×74 mm Rimmed , though . With 24 inch long barrels , automatic ejectors , beaver tail fore end , no automatic safety and double triggers . It would have made the perfect back up rifle , during my career .

 

[IvW]

4....

 

[Panther Shooter]

4....

IvW
What are they ? I recall @Major Khan sir and you mentioning once that you own a 9.3x74 millimeter Rimmed ( a combination gun ) .

 

[Panther Shooter]

I currently own none . However , between 1973 and 1975, a Forest Department Official had let me use a most beautiful .375 Holland & Holland Magnum for shooting man eating Hunting Leopards . It was a John Rigby & Co. Double Rifle ( side by side) with 24 inch barrels , manual safety , double triggers, splinter fore end and automatic ejectors . It was regulated for 300 grain Winchester Silvertip soft nose cartridges and 300 grain Winchester Full Metal Jacket cartridges. I shot 16 man eating Hunting Leopards with that rifle and I often regret not purchasing that marvelous rifle from it’s owner .

 

[The Engineer]

More than I can justify from a practical standpoint but a least one too few.

 

[450/400]

I currently have 3. Chapuis 375H&H, VC 450/400 and Westley Richards 500NE.

 

[bassasdaindia]

I have owned 2 :

Merkel .470
Verney Carron .470

The Verney was a great double but i sold both of them and now don’t own a double. I also have no plans to repurchase another double at this point in time.

 

[ms86]

None (at least in reality - in my dreams I own many!), though I do own side-by-side and over-under shotguns. I would love to own a double rifle one day.

Can anyone comment on their usefulness or appropriateness for N. American game - in the big bore calibers that is, I understand you can get doubles in smaller calibers, but I can probably only afford to ever own one of these . If you were only going to ever buy one, what caliber would you go for?

 

[rinehart0050]

One so far- chapuis 470. Had it since Dec 2019 and really like it.

Not sure what caliber to get next- open to suggestions!

 

[AZDAVE]

@rinehart0050 I would suggest a 9.3x74 or a 375 Flanged followed by a 7x57R. That will give you a 3 gun battery for little to big kritters.

 

[buckstix]

Well, I've lost count.

 

[Major Khan]

Well, I've lost count.

View attachment 340783

That 9.3×74 mm Rimmed calibre Daniel Fraser double barreled rifle looks magnificent . Do you have any other photographs of it , Buckstix ? From what little I can see... It appears to have been built before the 2nd World War.

 

[buckstix]

made 1911 - 1915 - there are color pictures in the Fraser book.

 

[JKO HUNTING SAFARIS]

That 9.3×74 mm Rimmed calibre Daniel Fraser double barreled rifle looks magnificent . Do you have any other photographs of it , Buckstix ? From what little I can see... It appears to have been built before the 2nd World War.

What a beautiful collection sir! What dreams are made off....!

All my best,

Jacques