I suppose the optimum solution is to be proficient with both and have both. Or at least to have a bolt and a double on the hunt. That could be a possibility on an elephant because by PH says there will be two PHs on an elephant hunt.
My PH drove home to me that the most important thing a client can do is to make that first shot very well placed. He absolutely didn't want me to be so concerned about a fast second shot that I sacrificed the first shot. I am absolutely convinced my best first shot is with a bolt rifle and a low power scope.
Yes, a double points quickly and it feels good to bring a double on target, but doubles are clunky to me. Now I can overcome that and I expect to, but the deck is stacked against a DR for me. I have been shooting bolt rifles for 50+ years and have shot thousands of rounds through them. I have been shooting heavy recoiling bolt guns for the last 25 years. I shoot long range competition (1000 yd BR) with bolt guns. Shooting a bolt rifle is beyond second nature for me.
For me, fastest first shot is with a bolt and a low power scope. I have made these kind of snap shots for many years. The optics, better trigger, and accuracy make such shots easier and faster. I can cycle the action under recoil and be ready to shoot the second shot as soon as the bolt gun comes down from recoil. With a bolt I can rinse and repeat all the way through shot six. With a double that requires two action openings and a very well practiced awkward reload process.
The DR doesn't need to be cycled for the second shot, but the shape of a proper DR stock causes more muzzle rise and thus slower recovery, which somewhat negates the one advantage of the double.
No matter how we slice this, a bolt gun provides more opportunities than a DR. A DRs is only superior when needing to make a very rapid second shot. Further, there is a much higher likelihood of making that very well placed first shot in almost all scenarios with a bolt (for me), and with a well placed first shot the second shot rarely becomes a life or death thing.
Now I can see myself using my DR on my next buffalo hunt. Since I have already taken one buffalo I am not so intent on having every opportunity for the next. However, I will only have one elephant hunt, and I want to have the absolute best chance with whatever shot presents itself. For me, at least right now, that is with a bolt gun.
Pierre van der Walt talks a lot about the pros and cons of bolt vs double in his book "African Dangerous Game Cartridges". He seems very objective to me. One of the things he points out is that DRs are not designed to be as rugged and reliable as bolt guns. I have no personal knowledge of that as I only have a few hundred rounds though DRs and only at the range. I do know that a properly set up bolt rifle is extremely reliable and will operate in the dust, dirt and mud; and can be treated very badly and still be reliable. I am not so sure that is the case with a DR.
All this aside, I am not decided on this whole thing. I have taken the bolt side mainly because I have always had the assumption that DRs were better and the only reason guys don't get them was because of cost. It's only been this year that my eyes have been opened to the many scenarios where a bolt gun is better than a DR of any price.
I have two years to sort this out before my elephant hunt. I will work on my 470 NE and see how well things go.
I also just ordered a CZ550 Safari action from Wayne. He is going to install a 3-position safety and the single stage trigger. I will chamber the barrel and bed the stock. I will find a 500 grain load for solids. Wayne told me what to do to make the action feed 458 Lott. I am still deciding on the stock but am leaning toward the Accuracy Innovations wooden stock with the aluminum bedding block. I will probably install a Falconstrike recoil pad. I am undecided on a red dot vs a Trijicon or Nightforce 1-6 or 1-8 scope.
You can already see the bias creeping in. I know exactly what to do to the bolt gun. All I know to do to the DR is install the Falconstrike pad (done), find a load that regulates, and consider a red dot optic vs a fiber optic front sight. I don't know how to safely fix the awful trigger pull or make the it fit me better.
And since there seems to be a trend of posting animal pics in these discussions, even though the animal pic provides zero support to the idea of bolt vs double; it is ALWAYS cool to see these pics. So here is mine, taken a couple weeks ago. It's not as good of a pic of the animal, but it's a better picture of me.
It's not even a spectacular bull. The only thing special about him is it was my first African animal and my first buffalo. And yes, my first shot was very well placed, and 400 grain, 416 Cal SAFs are amazing on buffalo.....
