Savage, Ruger, Mossberg, and Remington all bolt rifles under $500 at Cabelas. And they sell a bunch.
I think there are US and international buyers who would like a double, but are put off by high dollars. I've looked at doubles for $10k+, and have the means. But, the practical side of me, at my age, can't wrap my head around spending that kind of $$ on something l may only use once or twice.
What about the option of rifle caliber tubes in sxs shotguns, or ou shotguns? Or an option of a second set of barrels for rifle calibers? You'd remove the shotgun bartels and attach rifle barrels.
I'm just spitballing to see how more hunters wanting a double could get into that market.
Long ago, Shooting Times magazine ran monthly articles from Skeeter Skelton and Jeff Cooper playful debate of self-defense using a revolver vs. a semi-automatic handgun. Skeeter had a byline of,
“I’ll take a revolver, you can take your chances”. There is a lot of wisdom in that statement if applied properly to other life threatening situations.
If you just want to build a double rifle on a SxS shotgun action or targets and perhaps deer or pig hunting, go ahead! I have a book on that very subject but only because I find it interesting. Not that I’d ever go down that deep hole…
One could build and hunt dangerous game closing in at 20 yards with a homebuilt or commercially produced sub-$5,000 retail cost double rifle, but not me. To paraphrase a line by John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn character in the movie True Grit,
“Well now, don’t you bet your life on it!”
Consumer grade modern rifles employ cost reducing methods and materials whenever possible. Just read about the troubles with today’s Model 70’s in this thread,
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/new-model-70-safari-express-disappointing-quality.96211/
In the past few years, I have provided M98 magazine springs to AH members to correct their M70 feeding problems. Someone I know also provided an extractor to an Africa PH to get his rifle back in the hunt. Modern rifles can occasionally have problems.
Along with the M70, the out of production CZ 550 Safari Magnum rifles’ feeding was not always without imperfections. Those actions needing smoothing of the rough machining to become one’s life insurance.
Remington M700’s extractors occasionally break when used with force. I’ve witnessed that in High Power rifle competitions. Experienced M700 users have their bolts machined for Sako / AR-15 type extractors.
I believe Buzz Charlton suffered the safety being pulled from fire to safe on his Ruger M77 Safari Magnum .416 Rigby during an up close and personal encounter with a cape buffalo. He has since moved on to a double rifle, a Heym in .500 NE if memory serves me. Also be advised, Ruger is the largest manufacturer of metal injected molded (MIM) parts found on most consumer grade firearms. Ruger produces MIM parts found in many other brands of sporting arms.
If you want to hunt dangerous game with an off the shelf lowest cost rifle, go right ahead. Some PHs like to kill animals for their clients. Me, I want to kill my own game.
The same goes for a cobbled up double rifle. Not me! If however, one is an excellent gunsmith and has months of free time, they could build an adequate if not fine double rifle on a SxS shotgun action. If they recorded all their hours and multiplied that total by their per hour wage, they may likely find on that basis it would have been less cost to purchase a good double rifle.
I would much rather hunt dangerous game with a well made bolt action magazine rifle than a cheap double rifle. My darling wife has grown accustomed to my company…
Here’s a thread I wrote a few months ago,
When a hunter wants, no make that dreams hunting dangerous game with a double rifle, the only remedy is to make those dreams come true!
A double rifle is in fact an insurance tool for the hunter. How many of us will ever hunt without a professional hunter backing us up? A PH’s rifle may jam or some other calamity occurs and that is where two separate rifles in one’s hands is insurance to walk away from death.
Is the dream of a double rifle logical? For most hunters, hardly. Let’s face it, a sturdy bolt action magazine rifle is much more practical. Dependable controlled round feed (CRF)...
