High end bolt vs low end double

[PARA45]

I just turned 69 earlier this month. Should have my Rigby Shikari soon. It is never too late.

Your are right, and I live by the that motto too, that it's never too late. However, financially, I can't afford one. But, if somehow, I could get the $$$, I would rather hunt with what I have, vs. buying a double and not being able to hunt right away.

 

[RR 314]

“Critics are like eunuchs in a harem; they know how it’s done, they’ve seen it done every day, but they’re unable to do it themselves.”

—B Behan

One of my favorite quotes. I try not to criticize the choices, preferences and opinions of others—even if uninformed and empirically verifiable as wrong/incorrect. It increases my tension.

Another great quote that sums up my outlook . . .

“To get along with me, don’t increase my tension.”

—Tyrus Raymond Cobb

Admittedly, I am ignorant about fine doubles. I try not to even comment on things of which I am ignorant. I try not to increase the tension of others.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I've had a bolt-action fail in extreme cold (12 below zero F). I had kept the rifle in my vehicle so it did not get moisture from camp, but there was still enough moisture in it to freeze.

I cannot afford a double, but it seems the fact - mentioned by Murphster - that you have two different firing systems is a significant consideration.

As much as I would like a double rifle someday, a backup .44 mag revolver is also a nice redundant firing system - at least for deer hunting.

My Springfield 03A3 failed to fire at -20° once. Fortunately, the moose hung around till I could get the firing pin cleared. Operator neglect for sure. However, I would be surprised if a double rifle would have been any less inclined to fail completely under the same conditions.

Curious how double rifles handle dry firing. Shotguns generally don't hold up to a lot of dry firing. The firing pins tend to break. But my bolt rifles are okay with it. So far anyway.

 

[Tanks]

Curious how double rifles handle dry firing.

You use snap caps.

https://www.huntriflesshop.com/product/500-ne-caliber-nickel-rifle-snap-caps-from-csmc/

 

[rookhawk]

My Springfield 03A3 failed to fire at -20° once. Fortunately, the moose hung around till I could get the firing pin cleared. Operator neglect for sure. However, I would be surprised if a double rifle would have been any less inclined to fail completely under the same conditions.

Curious how double rifles handle dry firing. Shotguns generally don't hold up to a lot of dry firing. The firing pins tend to break. But my bolt rifles are okay with it. So far anyway.

Nothing enjoys dry firing. It’s always best to use a snap cap. Modern doubles and vintage Mauser seem to handle it best, but it shouldn’t be done without a snap cap.

 

[HankBuck]

My Springfield 03A3 failed to fire at -20° once. Fortunately, the moose hung around till I could get the firing pin cleared. Operator neglect for sure. However, I would be surprised if a double rifle would have been any less inclined to fail completely under the same conditions.

Curious how double rifles handle dry firing. Shotguns generally don't hold up to a lot of dry firing. The firing pins tend to break. But my bolt rifles are okay with it. So far anyway.

@Ontario Hunter - you know Nothing about double rifles yet you’d be “surprised if a double would have been any less inclined to fail under the same conditions”? What would make you “surprised” - your lack of knowledge? Or lack of ability to learn?
Read the posts of others with real double rifle experience, set you opinions aside and “learn”

 

[375Ruger416]

@Ontario Hunter - you know Nothing about double rifles yet you’d be “surprised if a double would have been any less inclined to fail under the same conditions”? What would make you “surprised” - your lack of knowledge? Or lack of ability to learn?
Read the posts of others with real double rifle experience, set you opinions aside and “learn”

Oh good, another thread that devolves into personal attacks. Time to unwatch another.

I had a sneaking suspicion I’d regret opening this thread again.

 

[ftrovato]

Oh good, another thread that devolves into personal attacks. Time to unwatch another.

I had a sneaking suspicion I’d regret opening this thread again.

To your point, can't we all just get along...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter - you know Nothing about double rifles yet you’d be “surprised if a double would have been any less inclined to fail under the same conditions”? What would make you “surprised” - your lack of knowledge? Or lack of ability to learn?
Read the posts of others with real double rifle experience, set you opinions aside and “learn”

Find me someone who doesn't look after his double rifle properly and hunts with it in -20°. Likely he might have same issues that I experienced? They are not superguns.

 

[rbutcher]

Personal attacks not cool. Everybody chill. Isn’t it all better if we all just agree that hunting is great?

 

[franzfmdavis]

To quote my late father: “I cant afford to buy cheap things.”

As such, I always want to buy the best thing I can.

Accordingly, I am grateful for all of the knowledge I have acquired from the esteemed members of this forum on how to pick through the available options.

I have concluded that my ideal battery for hunting would be a couple bolt guns (in 275 Rigby
and 416 Rigby), a single shot (in 450/400 NE), and a double rifle (in 500 NE or 577 NE).

Now, just I need to find a country that allows me to bring four guns?

 

[HankBuck]

Find me someone who doesn't look after his double rifle properly and hunts with it in -20°. Likely he might have same issues that I experienced? They are not superguns.

@Ontario Hunter - you’re Right on that one, there’s No gun that can function properly if Not Properly Maintained. My “guess” is that owners of a Double Rifle view them as a Prized possession and tend to take good care of them, also rare hunting in Africa in Below Zero F temps….and having 2 triggers with Two firing pins cuts the odds that Both would Fail.

 

[grand veneur]

We don't want to talk about extreme hunting conditions, where in all cases the bolt action rifles are far superior to the break action rifles in terms of reliability. In Africa, hunting is no longer conducted under extreme conditions. In the evening, you are sitting at a bar after a shower and not lying in a sleeping bag with your rifle outside of your tent in snow and ice or lying at your side in the dampness.

When it comes to the break actions, one should not confuse boxlock and sidelock actions. If a boxlock action fails, not much else works. In general, anyone who has looking inside of a simple classic break action, like an Anson & Deeley action for example, can hardly claim that such actions are far superior to a Mauser 98 action in term of reliability.

 

[Pondoro]

We don't want to talk about extreme hunting conditions, where in all cases the bolt action rifles are far superior to the break action rifles in terms of reliability. In Africa, hunting is no longer conducted under extreme conditions. In the evening, you are sitting at a bar after a shower and not lying in a sleeping bag with your rifle outside of your tent in snow and ice or lying at your side in the dampness.

When it comes to the break actions, one should not confuse boxlock and sidelock actions. If a boxlock action fails, not much else works. In general, anyone who has looking inside of a simple classic break action, like an Anson & Deeley action for example, can hardly claim that such actions are far superior to a Mauser 98 action in term of reliability.

Well..I have hunted for black cock and capercaille in down to - 25 Centigrades.. My SxS boxlock shotgun always fired.. When using a M98 in such temp. make sure the inside of your bolt is free of grease, otherwise it will not fire.. Been there done tht..

 

[BJH65]

@Ontario Hunter - you’re Right on that one, there’s No gun that can function properly if Not Properly Maintained. My “guess” is that owners of a Double Rifle view them as a Prized possession and tend to take good care of them, also rare hunting in Africa in Below Zero F temps….and having 2 triggers with Two firing pins cuts the odds that Both would Fail.

For those hunting in sub zero weather, the bolt in a bolt action rifle should be completely degreased with no oil or grease. Use graphite only if lubrication is desired, I just run my rifles dry in sub zero temps and the same would apply for a double rifle.

Two gun writers and outdoorsman come to mind who have used large bore doubles in Alaska for hunting brown bear in the thick alders, Elmer Keith and Ray Ordorica. Personally, I wouldn’t want to trash a fine double with the rain and the corrosive salt air. A stainless steel 470 or 500 double or rust proofed with a synthetic stock may be the perfect backup rifle for trailing a wounded brown bear in the dense alders!