Kevin Peacocke
AH ambassador
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2018
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- 6,087
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- Harare Zimbabwe
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- Cleveland Gun Club
- Hunted
- Zimbabwe, SouthAfrica
Many here own two, or even more double rifles. The category I am interested in here is those folks who have a heavier double for DG, and a lighter one for PG, and I know of at least five of you who have gone that route. The light double has always been around, I handled a vintage Rigby rising bite light frame in .303 the other day. But in this modern age many of the volume manufacturers do a more affordable light frame, Heym and Verney Carron amongst them.
Most of these light frame doubles come with arrangements to fit a scope, or are commonly ordered with scope mounts. They are then well capable of shots out to 250-300 metres. Smaller scoped doubles are commonly used in Europe, typically as O/U's for smaller game including boar.
Then there is the inbetween zone where a light frame double can do it all and you can get away with just the one. The much anticipated Chapuis Iphisi in 375 H&H is one such contender, street legal in big game turf and well accepted on the tiny 10. Heym has this calibre in their light frame version too and one wonders why they didn't make a fuss over it, their loss. In fact they offer the light frame in up to 450/400 as well. One of the pictures below is of a Heym 89b light frame with detachable scope mounts in 375 flanged magnum next to it's big brother in 500NE for comparison.
I went for the middle Africa frame in 450/400 and intend to use it as a one fits all double, time will tell how well that works, but as you know I am putting a lot of effort into regulation and sights to achieve that aim.
So, what are your thoughts, are you a double double person or trying to do the one double thing?
Heym 89b 500NE top, Heym 89b light frame below
Vintage Rigby rising bite .303 top, Westley Richards .303 below. Both light frames.
Most of these light frame doubles come with arrangements to fit a scope, or are commonly ordered with scope mounts. They are then well capable of shots out to 250-300 metres. Smaller scoped doubles are commonly used in Europe, typically as O/U's for smaller game including boar.
Then there is the inbetween zone where a light frame double can do it all and you can get away with just the one. The much anticipated Chapuis Iphisi in 375 H&H is one such contender, street legal in big game turf and well accepted on the tiny 10. Heym has this calibre in their light frame version too and one wonders why they didn't make a fuss over it, their loss. In fact they offer the light frame in up to 450/400 as well. One of the pictures below is of a Heym 89b light frame with detachable scope mounts in 375 flanged magnum next to it's big brother in 500NE for comparison.
I went for the middle Africa frame in 450/400 and intend to use it as a one fits all double, time will tell how well that works, but as you know I am putting a lot of effort into regulation and sights to achieve that aim.
So, what are your thoughts, are you a double double person or trying to do the one double thing?
Heym 89b 500NE top, Heym 89b light frame below
Vintage Rigby rising bite .303 top, Westley Richards .303 below. Both light frames.