Light Doubles

[rookhawk]

It is becoming more and more popular, reason being it is 375 and therefore legal for DG in all African countries. The 9.3 x 74R, is a fine round too, but it just isn't 375 and some official may pick that up and ruin your hunt. i wish I could upload a video on here, would show you how mild the recoil is for 2nd shot take up.

Kevin, with a modern load, what is the actual velocity at the muzzle on your gun?

While I remain skeptical this is a good idea for Buffalo, I think it is a heck of a lion/leopard/eland/kudu setup you have there.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Rookhawk, obviously depends upon load. With Vitavourhi n560 to 100% filling, 300 grain Woodleighs we were getting a measured 2360fps with another faster powder and a lesser amount, i think but stand to be corrected it was 67 grains of 365, it was 2436 to 2460fps.

 

[Quaticman]

In your opinion would a double rifle chambered in 45/70 fall into the "light" double rifle category? Say 400's @ 1,800 fps or therabouts.

 

[crs]

Qman, you mean something like this Beretta with 400 grain Punch bullets at 2000 fps? Proven on Cape Buff and ele frontal brain shots? Just askin'.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Hi Quaticman, these categories all subjective since they are not in stone anywhere. So should we make the criterion the frame size of the double, or its weight? You can get smaller calibres in large heavy frames, so that doesn't seem to hold too well. My take is that it has to be calibre. Again, just me thinking here, but it seems like 375 is the top end of the light doubles, 470 is the top end of the medium doubles and everything above that is heavy double territory.

 

[Jumbo]

Kevin, The 375 Flanged would have been my choice if I had bought my double new. However when I got my Krieghoff, it was already specced with the 9.3 x 74R barrels as an add on for the .470NE.

I must say, that as much as i know the 9.3 x 74R has taken plenty of DG, I personally feel its a little light for my choice and the little bit more the 375 offers I'm sure will make a difference. HOWEVER, that 9.3 x 74R is such a sweet little round to shoot for most other game. I absolutely love it. I think I have done more hunting with that over the last few years, than with my 375 H&H.

I would love to see some pics of that VC.

 

[Jumbo]

what

Small doubles are great - I have a 318 Westley Richards and 280 Ross. They are as effective today as when new. View attachment 358308

A beautiful rifle with an even more beautiful old bushbuck. Where did you hunt that?

 

[rookhawk]

Hi Quaticman, these categories all subjective since they are not in stone anywhere. So should we make the criterion the frame size of the double, or its weight? You can get smaller calibres in large heavy frames, so that doesn't seem to hold too well. My take is that it has to be calibre. Again, just me thinking here, but it seems like 375 is the top end of the light doubles, 470 is the top end of the medium doubles and everything above that is heavy double territory.

not sure there is a universal definition, but I think Taylor used the term medium bores for what we are discussing.

in my warped view of the world, everything smaller than a 350 rigby is a small bore, everything 404 Jeffery and up is a large bore. But there are always wrinkles, a 45-70 isn’t large, and a 338 Lapua isn’t small!

What I see very little of is true small bore doubles. I’d love to own one that shot straight and had claw mounts for long range hunting.

 

[Red Leg]

not sure there is a universal definition, but I think Taylor used the term medium bores for what we are discussing.

in my warped view of the world, everything smaller than a 350 rigby is a small bore, everything 404 Jeffery and up is a large bore. But there are always wrinkles, a 45-70 isn’t large, and a 338 Lapua isn’t small!

What I see very little of is true small bore doubles. I’d love to own one that shot straight and had claw mounts for long range hunting.

I have always thought that a 30-30 double would be both very cool and practical. The lads up in OK had a couple, I think from VC, a few years ago. I never quite pulled out the checkbook.

 

[rookhawk]

I have always thought that a 30-30 double would be both very cool and practical. The lads up in OK had a couple, I think from VC, a few years ago. I never quite pulled out the checkbook.

I had a 30-30 single shot (falling block) and it was mediocre with factory round nose ammo. It became sub-moa with pointed bullet handloads. I would suspect with a good, modern spire/boattail bullet for a .308 a 30-30 double rifle would become quite formidable.

 

[HWL]

I have always thought that a 30-30 double would be both very cool and practical. The lads up in OK had a couple, I think from VC, a few years ago. I never quite pulled out the checkbook.

My dream still is the .303 British double...... powerful enough to be respected, and a classic anyways.

HWL

 

[crs]

HWL,
I know a guy that can make you a .303, but you would have to come to the states to be measured AND go shoot .405 DR with Dave and me !

 

[markferrigno]

Doubles are very special rifles, that carry a lot of clout as well as history to back that up. Rudy Mola wrote an article some time ago on the Dawning Of The Light Double. Which of you is into this space, and particularly 375's for DG?

No .375s but I have two Heym Model 26 Doubles, one in 7x75R and the other in 7x56R (kicking myself for getting ins basically the same caliber)

Took a nice Mountain Lion with the 7x57R and a Docter Red Dot. I have a Leupold VX-R 2-9x50 on the other and have taken some Roe Deer with it when I lived in Germany.

Both are regulated with Gecco, the 7x57R shoots a bit tighter than the 7x65R

 

[HWL]

HWL,
I know a guy that can make you a .303, but you would have to come to the states to be measured AND go shoot .405 DR with Dave and me !

I know a guy in Germany..... and I have prepared a Merkel 20ga SxS for converting.

It' just a matter of money....

But when I come to the States next, not without a .405....!!!


HWL

 

[Major Khan]

I have seen several small caliber double barreled rifles , during my career as a professional shikaree ( From 1961 - 1970 ) . They were invariably brought by my Continental clients to India , for shikar . The best examples were crafted by Auguste Francotte in Belgium . I have seen them , chambered in even American calibers such as .30-06 Springfield and .243 Winchester .

The only English small caliber double barreled rifle which is have seen during my career ... Was actually built by John Rigby & Co . It was chambered in 5.6 x 52 mm Rimmed , and regulated to take the 70 grain Winchester Western cartridge .

 

[Artur S]

A business mentor and friend invited me once to a driven boars hunt and borrowed me his Blaser S2. One of his 25 rifles, I guess. I had good success at this hunt and fell in love with this rifle. Talked him into selling it to me.

While being a piece of modern cnc gunsmithing, it's still a fine gun.
The lovely thing about a S2 is its Kippblock locking mechanism, which I think is the sturdiest ever built. No issue with driving hot loads to high velocities at bolt rifle levels.

It was a passionate love affair with this gun and love tends to vanish... As with women, to some guns your love evolves but never fades, in some you soon loose interest.
I was stupid, young and convinced myself that the 7x65R (flanged) is too rare and too bound to be used in Germany only. Didn't have much use for it back then and sold it. Regrettable, but my wife taught me not to regret gone things and opportunities. Today I wouldn't mind having a S2 in 30R Blaser now, though.

I am of the humble opinion, that a double should have a flanged cartridge. A flanged and a double exist for each other by design and it offers a much less complicated and way more reliable extraction mechanism.

 

[RayAtkinson]

I have a favoritel light DG rifle. A Ruger 77 made in 2008 for one year only..It is 7.5 lbs. and 8.5 with a scope, it has the mod. 70 type safety, a 23 inch barrel in 375 Ruger, and is kitted with a thicker recoil pad and barrel band iron sights, and swivel..The only other one I know of is in bill rugers collection and is for sale in GI for around $2000. As light as the gun is it handle recoil better than any previous 375 Ive owned..The stock is a classic design slim and trim walnut and it has a satin blue. I instantly became my go to elk moose and bear rifle and a favorite all around African rifle one gun safari rifle...Most 375 today are just too heavy for the caliber..Most stocks are too fat.

 

[264]

I have a 9.3x74 in a chapius UGEX. Great light weight double. Gets plenty of use on scrubbers , buff and pigs. Shoots 286 TSX's and hydros very well. Gets picked when the days are going to be big as its a joy to carry.
The 286 gr hydros up the performance on larger game.......
Heres a few pics, cheers Mick
17m 270gr ACP

nice bull

small scrubber

 

[Tanks]

...

I must say, that as much as i know the 9.3 x 74R has taken plenty of DG, I personally feel its a little light for my choice and the little bit more the 375 offers I'm sure will make a difference. ...

If you feel 9.3x74R is a little light for DG, then I'd go up to .450 or .470 to start rather then just a little bit more to .375 flanged as for all practical purposes it is almost the same.

 

[bruce moulds]

The one I have used in Africa for both Buffalo and plains game was my Blaser S2 with either .375 or 30-06 barrels in place. Perhaps a little less exotic than some, but awfully dependable and effective.

glad i am not the photographer.
the guy must be an innocent.
bruce.