Double Rifle....for deer

TOM · Jun 4, 2017

Hell all,

Im a diehard bowhunter as i like getting 50 yards and under from my quarry. Recently, i was on a dangerous game hunt and at the conclusion I asked the PH if i could shoot his .500 double just for grins....i shouldnt have! It was a hoot and kinda lit a fire in me to get a double now.

My question is sinple: for those that own a double rifle do you ever hunt other species with it (other than DG)? If i bought one i would want to use it. I know they are investment rifles but i would enjoy using it like i do my bows, for shots 50 yards and under on various hunts. That could mean whitetail deer, hogs or any number of species.

Any input from the peanut gallery? Not talking about the "you will blow a giant hole in it" crowd, just asking if anyone "uses" their doubles for more than the annual or occasional trip to Africa.

TOM · Jun 4, 2017

cagkt3 · Jun 4, 2017

I don't own a double, but why not! I do own a muzzleloader that shoots a .50 caliber sabot and have shot several deer with it. I say buy one and happy hunting

HWL · Jun 4, 2017

Try a Heym in 9,3x74R,...good for everything, that walks on this planet.....

Red Leg · Jun 4, 2017

My Teutonic 9.3x74R's were both built for red stag and wild boar. They work great on PG in Africa and deer and boar in this country. And with the right bullet, they'll take out any buffalo in Africa.

CAustin · Jun 4, 2017

It would be great to get up close and personal with a black or brown bear with a double. I also think that people call elk into bow range so why not call them in and use a double?

Ray B · Jun 4, 2017

CAustin said:
It would be great to get up close and personal with a black or brown bear with a double. I also think that people call elk into bow range so why not call them in and use a double?

The problem with that is that most states limit hunting in the rut to primitive implements (bows/old style muzzleloaders). the double rifle is considered modern, so generally limited to after the rut when elk do not respond favorably to calling.

But finding a location where elk could be stalked (still hunted) to within double range would be quite a thrill.

Wayne t · Jun 4, 2017

Yup I use my 9.3-74 double on deer here in the uk no probs and it's going out to Africa next year too

Pheroze · Jun 4, 2017

What is the practical range. I would have thought with optics we are still talking 200 yards. No?

Red Leg · Jun 4, 2017

Depends on the rifle and caliber. With optics, I sight in using the right barrel. A rifle, so sighted, is accurate as a single shot to the limits of the cartridge. The two above are essentially 200 yard and a bit rifles. My Blaser S2, in '06 or .375, to 300 yards. They are double rifles To the limit of their regulation - how far the left barrel will shoot to minute of animal of the game targeted. The double rifle drilling is a 150 yard double rifle - my Blaser out to the full range of the cartridge - 300 yards. But the little 9.3x74r double rifle above is unique.

I could not get it to regulate. Loads it liked were MOA with both barrels but always vertically separated by three or more inches. Ross Seyfried came to the rescue. The clue was the rifle's single blade rear sight. Somewhat unusual for a pre-war 9.3. This rifle was regulated when built to put a bullet on the sights from the right barrel at 100 meters; The left barrel is on the same leaf at 200 meters. Those diabolically clever Germans!

matt85 · Jun 4, 2017

HWL said:
Try a Heym in 9,3x74R,...good for everything, that walks on this planet.....

think id want a bit more gun for elephant...

to the OP, i have carried heavy DG rifles on plenty of local hunts for deer. a 500 NE will do about the same as a modern 50 caliber inline on soft thin skin game game. any of the NE cartridges will work fine assuming to keep the ranges realistic for the cartridge and dont expect the large wounds caused by higher velocity cartridges. cartridges like the 9.3x74R, 375 Flanged, and 500/416 NE will give you more versatility if you want something smaller.

-matt

008 · Jun 4, 2017

Plan on using mine for everything I can when it shows up. 9.3x74R O/U.
Not using the best tool for the job but it's fun to get up close and use open sights.

Excessexpress · Jun 4, 2017

Chapuis do a small framed double in either 7x57R or 30-30 that will do very well indeed.

Failing the price test, Baikal does either SxS or O/U doubles in 30-06, the O/U in 9.3x74R and the SxS in 45/70.

There are multiple European O/U varieties, a Verney-Carron for around $2500 us and so on, there's a Sabatti based on a .410 action in 8x57JRS but I haven't seen anything much on that.

HWL · Jun 5, 2017

Red Leg said:
I could not get it to regulate. Loads it liked were MOA with both barrels but always vertically separated by three or more inches. Ross Seyfried came to the rescue. The clue was the rifle's single blade rear sight. Somewhat unusual for a pre-war 9.3. This rifle was regulated when built to put a bullet on the sights from the right barrel at 100 meters; The left barrel is on the same leaf at 200 meters. Those diabolically clever Germans!

Those diabolically clever Germans did it again....!!!

Gunsmith Peter Fortner offers a muzzle regulation kit.

you easily can regulate every kind of double barreled rilfe to the same point of impact.

Coose your ammunition, shot, reagulate, shot again...check, ready.

No "load developement" no trouble while changing ammuition, works for ever....

..... with SxS, O/U, bergstutzen, double rifle drillings, bockdrillings and all the other ugly stuff.

The only serious drawback is,....he wants your money

HWL

Ryan · Jun 5, 2017

The other choice is closer to bowhunting and what I go with, a single shot.
The original safari rifles were single shots, first muzzleloaders of monstrous bore sizes and then cartridge guns. The classic is a Farquharson. The modern version is a Ruger #1. The other more common choice, with a break open action is the Thompson/Center Encore. You learn to take a careful shot and reload each shot by hand just like archery. I took an Encore on both my Namibian hunts. It has taken dedicated practice but I can shoot and reload as fast as most can with a bolt gun. The second shot is rarely needed, but it's ready.

008 · Jun 5, 2017

Excessexpress said:
Chapuis do a small framed double in either 7x57R or 30-30 that will do very well indeed.

Failing the price test, Baikal does either SxS or O/U doubles in 30-06, the O/U in 9.3x74R and the SxS in 45/70.

There are multiple European O/U varieties, a Verney-Carron for around $2500 us and so on, there's a Sabatti based on a .410 action in 8x57JRS but I haven't seen anything much on that.

Yep. Also, Zoli, Caesar Guerini, Beretta, and I chose Rizzini. Quite a few in the $25-40k range as well.

JimP · Jun 5, 2017

I have thought about a double rifle but since I doubt that I would be going after any of the big 5 I figured that I would try to find one more acceptable to the game animals of North America.

I came across the Pedersoli Kodiak Mark IV and chambered in 45-70. It is made in Italy and for around $5000 US it won't break the bank.

Here is a article on it.

http://www.guns.com/review/gun-revi...-iv-45-70-everyone-should-try-a-double-rifle/

AZDAVE · Jun 5, 2017

No reason you shouldn't. with you mostly shooting bows you basically will double or triple your range. Double are so much fun to shoot. I shot both plains game, Warthog, Zebra, Cape Eland, and Sable with my doubles so far. And a nice Cape Buffalo for DG.

crs · Jun 6, 2017

Took a Nilgai yesterday with my .405 double; in heavy cover at 30 yards! Some fun!.
My son took one with his .458 Socom (read .45-70)
Pix later .

crs · Jun 7, 2017

This is later:

Double Rifle....for deer

TOM

TOM

cagkt3

HWL

Red Leg

CAustin

Ray B

Wayne t

Pheroze

Red Leg

matt85

008

Excessexpress

HWL

Ryan

008

JimP

AZDAVE

crs

crs

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