double rifles

Not that I will ever be able to own one. I was wondering if they are worth the cost. I have had a winchester 375 H@H and an cz 458 lott both of which I sold. They were both great guns but neither one was one I would stake my life own. I was not sure if the winchester had enough power if things went band and the cz trigger messed up one time. If I ever do get the oppurtunity to go to Africa I want a rifle I can trust. Any suggestions?

Double rifles are the professional hunters dangerous game gun and the reason why is you have a second shot instantly available without having to rely on working the action. I have friends that are very much into them. Unfortunately they are terribly expensive and often chambered in odd cartridges that are either difficult to find ammo for or you have to make your own from some other case so it really depends on the caliber as to it being a good choice.  I believe Kickboxer has a 458 Lott in a Ruger #1  single shot adequate cartridge as is 416 Rigby.  I have a 375 H&H in an Encore single shot. The Ruger #1 is an ejector where the Encore is an extractor but Bullberry  http://www.bullberry.com/ has an accuracy guarantee on their barrels and you can carry several barrels in different calibers and switch from one to another relatively easily.  The frame will also work for a pistol but in the U.S. should be initially purchased as a pistol frame if it is ever to be used that way here.  An Encore pistol in a  heavy caliber like .375 H&H   etc would be good backup  I have one in 45-70 that I am quite fond of.   The Ruger #1 with a little practice might be a very solid choice wearing extra cartridges on your wrist.  I will also suggest a rather non typical optic like a 2moa Aimpoint or an illuminated Trijicon.  One of my friends has a lioness mounted in his den that came into camp hunting them at night,  he uses a double rifle.    A lot of what is right for you depends on what you can afford to spend. I would think a .338 Lapua in a Sako or AI would  knock down African game.  There is a fellow on this forum called 8shots  He lives in Africa and might be able to shed more light on what is allowed as some countries have specific limits on what calibers can be used for what type game.

Here is a Ruger Bolt action  458 lott

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142517871

470 Nitro double

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142548746

9.3x74R  Merkel  double

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142624437

500 NE  Merkel  New

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142069557

470  NE   Krieghoff

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142453760

375 H& H  Merkel NEW    Lovely Engraving 

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=142640806

 

Good Luck it will be a tough choice.

First, I wonder exactly which animals you intend to hunt where that the .375 H&H might not handle even if things "went bad." I have hunted in Africa some and know quite a few PH's, and they are just about universal in their sentiment that the .375 is the perfect dangerous-game rifle for the visiting hunter (well, with the possible exception of leopard, where many would suggest something even less powerful). In fact the most experienced PH I know uses a .375 as his back-up rifle when guiding clients for Cape buffalo.

I have always enamored over owning a double ever since living in South Africa for 13 months back in my younger years... Now that life has blessed me with 3 kids ,a mortgage, and car payments ( my vehicles are still cheaper than a classic double ) ..it's just not in the works. Maybe one day I'll hit the lottery ??

I thought aqbout buying a big double pretty seriously a couple of years ago--then realized that the money spent could pay for another safari! So I stuck with my .375 and .416 bolt rifles.

John Barsness wrote: I thought aqbout buying a big double pretty seriously a couple of years ago--then realized that the money spent could pay for another safari! So I stuck with my .375 and .416 bolt rifles.   I do have a couple of doubles, a .30-40 Krag over/under built on a Ruger Red Label shotgun frame, and a pre-WWII German side-by-side in 9.3x74R, which is legal in some African countries for dangerous game. I haven't taken it yet, but may someday; mostly it has hunted timber in Montana. But I got it for a pretty good deal 6-7 years ago, about a fifth of the cost of a new Merkel....

Edited by Kickboxer - October/09/2009 at 22:26

While a "nitro" double is completely out of my budget, I sure wouldn't mind having a Ruger #1 in 450/400. 

i wish my H&H was a crpf.

I've always wanted a double rifle, it's just not something I need.