Double rifle shooting tips for beginners?

[mark-hunter]

I may have the opportunity to hunt with DR on my next trip.
I have experience with a fair amount of shooting various bolt-action rifles and shotguns.
I have zero experience with DR.

So, I would appreciate some double rifle shooting tips for beginners, if you could offer them?

Aiming or pointing?
Stance?
Fire sequence, first or second trigger, pros and cons?
Reloading tips?
Anything that comes to mind?

 

[deewayne2003]

My first and only trip to date in Africa was tusklessas with a double rifle. So being a beginner myself with one hunt under my belt I would highly recommend sticking to what you are familiar with unless you have the opportunity to shoot a double before you go.

I shot 200+ rounds through my .470 practicing before my hunt and while enjoyable it’s a different animal than what I grew up with, but in good faith I’ll offer the following advice based on my learning curve….

Triggers - front trigger first, people will argue this but I am convinced it’s the proper way.

Reloading - keep the gun in your dominant hand and load with the weak hand

Get a 12ga sxs and shoot clays both regular trap/skeet and stationary on a berm.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I would definitely see about getting a side by side shotgun with double triggers.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Yes front trigger first. If you are shooting open sights make sure you hunker down, good cheek weld and become one with the double. If you have, or plan to fit a red dot ensure that it is mounted very low, so that the dot is also acquired with good cheek weld.

I propose the AAS method: Acquire, Adjust, Squeeze. NOT aim and shoot. In other words you are enforcing a series of conscious actions in the firing sequence.

 

[bakerb]

I’ve never heard that about loading with the weak hand. I don’t think I can agree with that. Much more dexterous with my strong hand. Equaling quicker reload.

I hold the double with my weak hand and reload with my dominant hand

 

[MacJenkins]

I square up more in my stance with a double than a light rifle. Helps with the recoil for me. Very firm grip and pull gun into shoulder hard, that’s helps so you don’t strum the triggers and double fire. Front trigger first for me, I can’t imagine back first. (Way too many shotgun rounds down range to break that habit) Many double rifles have a heavier pull on the rear as well. I load with strong hand as I hold the broke open double at the hinge with weak. I’ve seen others do it very decent as well the other way around. I just don’t seam to have as much control on the rifle as I like holding the grip with the right hand while loading.

Practice, practice, practice. I do all most practice with first round on the sticks, then quickly off sticks for second shot. Quick reload, from your belt, (that is important) then two more quickly as you can be accurate off hand.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I imagine it must be rare to find an outfitter offering rental double rifle. I would not want to be guiding a client totally unfamiliar with such a complex weapon, relatively speaking. Too dangerous. But I suppose if the money is there, the service can be found. However, if I was a PH I'd be calling in sick for that job.

 

[Sideshow]

I imagine it must be rare to find an outfitter offering rental double rifle. I would not want to be guiding a client totally unfamiliar with such a complex weapon, relatively speaking. Too dangerous. But I suppose if the money is there, the service can be found. However, if I was a PH I'd be calling in sick for that job.

You’re assuming again. No where did the OP say he was renting a double rifle. Really dude just really!

 

[deewayne2003]

I imagine it must be rare to find an outfitter offering rental double rifle. I would not want to be guiding a client totally unfamiliar with such a complex weapon, relatively speaking. Too dangerous. But I suppose if the money is there, the service can be found. However, if I was a PH I'd be calling in sick for that job.

Once again you manage to inject your irrelevant opinion that brings nothing to the table; you are consistent though I’ll give you that.

 

[zephyr]

Front Trigger
SXS double trigger time
Will you be reloading ?? you can load reduced loads using 5744 or TrailBoss that will give you more trigger time ..
Here is how I reload with Practice you can be Very Fast

 

[uplander01]

Anyone switch hands with a pistol to reload? Gun always stays in your strong hand

 

[mark-hunter]

I’ve never heard that about loading with the weak hand

I load my break action shotgun with my weak hand, open with dominant hand.
Bolt action rifle, opposite. Load with dominant hand.

 

[Philip Glass]

I may have the opportunity to hunt with DR on my next trip.
I have experience with a fair amount of shooting various bolt-action rifles and shotguns.
I have zero experience with DR.

So, I would appreciate some double rifle shooting tips for beginners, if you could offer them?

Aiming or pointing?
Stance?
Fire sequence, first or second trigger, pros and cons?
Reloading tips?
Anything that comes to mind?

Lots of practice is most important. Sit in the living room practicing handling the gun. Anything extra to get used to it.
I’ve resolved to pulling the back trigger first. A double trigger is foreign to most of us and we wind up pulling the front trigger twice(especially under stress-ask me how I know). Oops!

 

[zephyr]

Front Trigger
SXS double trigger time
Will you be reloading ?? you can load reduced loads using 5744 or TrailBoss that will give you more trigger time ..
Here is how I reload with Practice you can be Very Fast
View attachment 700848
View attachment 700847
View attachment 700846

This method whether one or two rounds works best for me and gives me the most control ...
But should have been more informative... I am Right handed but I shoot Left handed because my dominate eye is Left so I am kinda screw up with what hand does what When loading a pistol Uplander yes I hold the gun in my right hand and use my left hand to load the mag .... With a wheel gun using moon clips my right hand is bringing the Moon Clips to the cylinder

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Anyone switch hands with a pistol to reload? Gun always stays in your strong hand

Do you reload double action revolvers with your weak hand? How about a bolt action are falling block rifle?
I’ve always loaded break open guns with my strong hand. My left stays on the fore end all the time, the right opens the gun, removes the empty/empties, (never had ejectors) then close and remount.
It’s a matter of personal preference.
A small disclaimer, I’ve never fired a double rifle, but plenty of side by side shotgun and single shot rifle and shotgun shooting.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Lots of practice is most important. Sit in the living room practicing handling the gun. Anything extra to get used to it.
I’ve resolved to pulling the back trigger first. A double trigger is foreign to most of us and we wind up pulling the front trigger twice(especially under stress-ask me how I know). Oops!

Does pulling the rear trigger first keep you from pulling it twice?

 

[Rare Breed]

Nice job everyone on tips! To me the most important thing about shooting a big bore DR is the stance. I have seen most people turn to much sideways when the more stable stance is squaring up to the target off your shooting sticks

 

[Rare Breed]

@One Day... has the best post that helped me so very much better shoot my DR off sticks. Sorry I can’t recall the title

 

[Philip Glass]

Does pulling the rear trigger first keep you from pulling it twice?

Absolutely. I’m sure everyone will say I’m wrong but it works for me and I’ve never doubled
Think about it. Something is still after you after the first shot and you are fiddling around trying to put your finger in just the right place!

 

[mark-hunter]

In extreme emergency, has anybody ever had the idea to pull two triggers in the same time?