The Draw of the Sporting Double Rifle

[Pondoro]

A fat cow for the boys..

 

[Pondoro]

If you read Kevin´s opening of this thread...well here is one of my old doubles that make me feel..

She is a Joseph Lang .450/400 3 1/4 NE, built 1906 on a down scaled action..a boxlock with 28" barrels and moonsight.. Where has she been..what has she taken..? India..Africa..? She is perfect for tiger and buffalo for sure with 400 grains traveling at 2150fps..

When I shoulder her fast with eyes closed the sights are perfectly aligned..and she is very handy..recoil less than the average .375H&H bolt rifle.. She is regulated for 60 grains of cordite and 400 grain soft nose bullets...so engraved on the barrels..

She has been refinished at some point...not so very refined..but she is still tight and the barrels shine..

 

[towserthemouser]

I have become a huge fan of double rifles . Yes they are complicated and need careful regulation but once sorted out they are marvelous weapons . Over the years I have accumulated a WR 450/400 side lock , an H&H Royal in 375 Flanged Magnum and a delightful Purdey 303. I also commissioned a 500NE double from John Shirley in the UK . A really interesting rifle with a snap action underlever and rising bite third fastener . It really is different . I got to specify engraving finish , case hardening , the timber and the rifle was fitted to me . It took 4 years being delivered to me in early 2018 . I subsequently fitted a 3 point diamond to front sight to better see where I was shooting .It went up to the NT in Australia and made very short work of some buffalo . Here are some pics of the rifle . I am very proud to own this rifle . Rigby are building me a 500NE Shikari rifle. I still need to wait another 2 years for it .


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Beautiful rifle! Personally I would love to see a detail photograph of that 3 point diamond front sight, and to hear more about how it works for you......

 

[T/C]

Total noob here, never shot a double rifle in my life or hunted more than 500km away from my home, BUT..
That one is due in my hands next week. Lowly (compared to all the great rifles above ) used working Chapuis 9,3x74R.
I still need to learn to shoot it properly.
.. But it FEELS like it could be the start of a journey that leads me to far-away places..

 

[Daniel Cary]

Westley Richards just posted this, a 500 and a 470. Their photographic department is as good as their gun making shop.
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It certainly is.
But some of these are not quite how they look. I've asked owners if they're bolts are really that high gloss .. when it's more of that eggshell, hand rubbed finish, just out of curiosity.

 

[Daniel Cary]

I'm not trying to kick up dust, etc. But "Kynoch has to be useful" .. I see enough of it.

 

[juan pablo pozzi]

I daily shoot guns competitive and professionally from olympic air rifle and 22 Argentina national team to ipsc fals mags minimis and 155 cannons .I guided all my life but since 5 years ago i use double rifles exclusively from hares to water Buffalo and even for my ranch security. I love them they have another flavour and lately they are my passion.

 

[Rare Breed]

My favorites are old and new - traditional and radical.

My radical double is the most used. And why not? It shoots MOA from each barrel and 2.5 inch four shot LxR LxR groups at 100 yards - whether in .375 or 30-06 configuration. It has taken cape buffalo and a wide selection of plains game.
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My favorite is a Kessler in 9,3x74R that was built around WWI. It is nearly as accurate as the S2, and though it has not been to Africa, it has accounted for one black bear and several feral hogs.
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I'll include a third which was a favorite of my old friend Tony Makris until I convinced him he needed a double .375 more. I regret to say I have scarcely used it, but Tony took both Lion and Buffalo with it in Zimbabwe. It is an extraordinary Suhl built little 9.3x74Rx16.
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All three, and particularly the S2, are extremely practical hunting arms.

2.5 inch groups at 100 yards for a DR simply outstanding!!!