Double rifles... How regulated is regulated enough?

Just a dude in BC

AH veteran
Joined
Apr 20, 2023
Messages
106
Reaction score
300
Location
Victoria
Media
3
Hunted
South Africa
So the context is that I lucked into a parks kit for a Krieghoff optima double rifle drilling, two barrels of 9.3x74r and a 20ga. And hilariously it cost a little less than half as much to have it custom finished, vice buying a finished one (Though I opted to finish it matt black with no engraving to give it a very clean look).

Now however, I am regulating my first double, and although the regulation is a little bit adjustable, loading for it has been a bit tough. Having messed with four different powders (N550, N540, Varget, CFE 223) and 4 different bullets (Norma Oryx, Nosler part, North Fork SS, Speer Hotcor) I find that the best I can do is the Nosler partition with Varget. The 55grs of varget is getting me about 2320 fps, and shooting just a hair under an inch at 80 yards. My intent is to use this as my dedicated PG rifle, and shots will be limited to 150yards as a maximum.

So... How far are people going in regulating, specifically how close are your left and right barrels hitting?
Are there any more tricks I should try beyond swapping out powders and loads?

1720910603627.png
 
I wouldn't worry if I were you.
 
Roll with what you have. My 470 shoots around 2" maybe a little less at 50 yds and it is plenty accurate out to 120-130 yds. Take the powder and projectiles that would spend chasing a slightly tighter regulation and spend them practicing with that load. Learn the gun. You'll love it, I hunt almost everything with mine, even whitetail here at home.
 
Agreed your double is shooting accurately enough.

In engineering we talk about degerrs of freedom, and to get a double to shoot both barrels to the same point and that point to also be the point that you are aiming at is a very tall ask, like herding cats. I really don't believe you have that freedom unless you can easily adjust both barrels, and that is not easy unless the double is specifically made to allow that. Specialist regulation does that on fixed barrel guns, but it is a complicated process. I spent an awful lot of range time with the loading room 10 meters away and the chrono out front learning that. Eventually I got the impacts to almost touch at 70 metres, but about 4 inches high and right. Solution? Fit a red dot and dial that back to the bull. Job done.
 
What you feel comfortable with!
Not to brag but my little French 9,3 shoot like this :)

Well... I mean it shoots like that unless there is a German gun nearby... Then it wont fire at all and just surrenders!

What are your loads if you done mind me asking?
I was out on the range yesterday, and the newest northfork load (285gr northfork ss, 54gr varget, 2340fps, 3.765 col) is shooting like this, provided I get both shots off within a few seconds.
About .75" center to center, at 100 yards.
1721146318817.png
 
If you want to be really anal you need to mark the shots as you shoot them. so mark the left shot then the right shot with the same point of aim. If they are crossing over you need to slow them down by reducing the load. If you want them closer you need to up the load to speed them up.
But as many have said I would be happy with that however being an engineer it would bother me
 
So the context is that I lucked into a parks kit for a Krieghoff optima double rifle drilling, two barrels of 9.3x74r and a 20ga. And hilariously it cost a little less than half as much to have it custom finished, vice buying a finished one (Though I opted to finish it matt black with no engraving to give it a very clean look).

Now however, I am regulating my first double, and although the regulation is a little bit adjustable, loading for it has been a bit tough. Having messed with four different powders (N550, N540, Varget, CFE 223) and 4 different bullets (Norma Oryx, Nosler part, North Fork SS, Speer Hotcor) I find that the best I can do is the Nosler partition with Varget. The 55grs of varget is getting me about 2320 fps, and shooting just a hair under an inch at 80 yards. My intent is to use this as my dedicated PG rifle, and shots will be limited to 150yards as a maximum.

So... How far are people going in regulating, specifically how close are your left and right barrels hitting?
Are there any more tricks I should try beyond swapping out powders and loads?

View attachment 619531
64gr of W760 is giving me the same velocity, 2321fps, with the 286gr Partition or 285gr Oryx; both of which have the same POI from my Chapuis. Regulation looks just like yours, only at 100yds. I have stretched that out and can put 3 pairs of shots on an 8" target at 225yds off sticks. You should be good to go.
 
Well... I mean it shoots like that unless there is a German gun nearby... Then it wont fire at all and just surrenders!

What are your loads if you done mind me asking?

1940 and the French isn't like everyone seems to believe, the Germans actually struggled. But the French, like rest of the world wasn`t ready for modern warfare and their supply lines broke down.
Those who just surrendered was the Danes, and the most important thing for them was to have everything settled before 0900 so that the king could go for his daily horseride.


Loads; the cartridges used in the picture 285grs Norma Oryx, 55 grains Norma N-202, Norma cases, CCI-200 or Magtec primers.

Fun thing about this little French gun, I have not touched the scope. I have tested 5-6 different bullets, from 15 to 18,5 grams. All regulates well and POI ha been somewhere within 9 ring on the target at 100meters.

1721207444262.png


Marking is Gaucher, Saint Etienne. Based on what I have seen for sale here in Norway it seems a small number of guns were imported with scope and mount factory installed. Scope is a SuB 11/4-4 in swing mounts. I have not really tried to find more info on the gunmaker, but if anyone has something to tell-I am all ears!
 
1940 and the French isn't like everyone seems to believe, the Germans actually struggled. But the French, like rest of the world wasn`t ready for modern warfare and their supply lines broke down.
Those who just surrendered was the Danes, and the most important thing for them was to have everything settled before 0900 so that the king could go for his daily horseride.


Loads; the cartridges used in the picture 285grs Norma Oryx, 55 grains Norma N-202, Norma cases, CCI-200 or Magtec primers.

Fun thing about this little French gun, I have not touched the scope. I have tested 5-6 different bullets, from 15 to 18,5 grams. All regulates well and POI ha been somewhere within 9 ring on the target at 100meters.

View attachment 620150

Marking is Gaucher, Saint Etienne. Based on what I have seen for sale here in Norway it seems a small number of guns were imported with scope and mount factory installed. Scope is a SuB 11/4-4 in swing mounts. I have not really tried to find more info on the gunmaker, but if anyone has something to tell-I am all ears!

I have the same rifle and have similar results with RWS 293 and 290 grain factory...a little gem these rifles.. !
The action also appear a little more massive than a Chapuis..
 
Well now I have to post my little krieg! Fun fact she is a drilling, so in addition to the two 9.3x74r, it has an underslung 20 ga shotgun as well. As I said above I bought it as a project gun and saved a ton of money on it. I had Jakob Strasser up here in Canada finish the gun smithing and inlet the stock, and then I finished off the stock.

In the background is a Ruger no.1, I picked up one of the 450/400's.

1721229909721.png
 

Forum statistics

Threads
57,642
Messages
1,236,264
Members
101,526
Latest member
EmmiliyTina
 

 

 

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

Grz63 wrote on x84958's profile.
Good Morning x84958
I have read your post about Jamy Traut and your hunt in Caprivi. I am planning such a hunt for 2026, Oct with Jamy.
Just a question , because I will combine Caprivi and Panorama for PG, is the daily rate the same the week long, I mean the one for Caprivi or when in Panorama it will be a PG rate ?
thank you and congrats for your story.
Best regards
Philippe from France
dlmac wrote on Buckums's profile.
ok, will do.
Grz63 wrote on Doug Hamilton's profile.
Hello Doug,
I am Philippe from France and plan to go hunting Caprivi in 2026, Oct.
I have read on AH you had some time in Vic Falls after hunting. May I ask you with whom you have planned / organized the Chobe NP tour and the different visits. (with my GF we will have 4 days and 3 nights there)
Thank in advance, I will appreciate your response.
Merci
Philippe
 
Top