Double rifles aren't just for Africa

[PCC600]

Agreed on using a double when possible! I always take one with me when bear hunting.
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Looks like a nice H&H Royal .

 

[PCC600]

Agreed on using a double when possible! I always take one with me when bear hunting.
View attachment 570003

Looks like a nice H&H Royal

 

[HWL]

Today, my .405 Winchester double, driven hunt, ready for action.....

HWL

 

[Challer]

Beretta 689E come up on the usual sites in 06 and 9.3 all the time, including now. Occasionally you'll see a Browning in 06.

Everyone is fascinated by my Blaser BBFs in 9.3, 06, hornet and 20G but it's the most versatile kit I have. The R8 Typically gets the nod but that is because 375 is my best caliber.

 

[Jfet]

This thread makes me want to take my double out to hunt deer or bear! The thing that has always stopped me in the past has been the rain. It's almost always raining during modern season here.

-Matt

Thanks Matt for your post. It allows me to ask this question of the forum.

I am interested in taking my VC 470 to Alaska to hunt coastal Brown bears. What are suggestions from the forum for protecting a traditional wood and steel rifle in such an environment?

 

[Challer]

Field strip and oil barrels and stock every night and morning. I’ve never had issues.

 

[Inline6]

That is an interesting quandary. I guess the smart thing would be to get the extra K gun barrels, but then if something in your action breaks you are completely out of business. If you had an entire extra rifle in 9.3x74 at least you could still hunt. That is a tough one.

I would not call the a tough one. No one wants to think about selling a rifle. In the event you needed to. You would be able to sell one or the other. Leaving you one to hunt with or sell by itself. You might have to wait for the right person to come along to get what you have invested in both barrel sets. They will be married to that reciever. Just my .02

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

You’re making me want to buy a smaller double myself now

 

[R eight]

Thanks Matt for your post. It allows me to ask this question of the forum.

I am interested in taking my VC 470 to Alaska to hunt coastal Brown bears. What are suggestions from the forum for protecting a traditional wood and steel rifle in such an environment?

I don’t own a double yet. But I have hunted coastal brown bears in Alaska. My hunt was tent based and it rained and rained and rained. But some days it just poured. I used a Blaser R8. It held up well. I would not take a timber stocked blued steel rifle if I was worried about its looks.

Dragging a heavy rifle up and down mountains, through alders, trying to keep it dry and away from the occasional salt spray would be a rather character building experience. The last thing I’d want to do at night is worry about trying to dry out my rifle. My Blaser didn’t even get to sniff an oily rag on the trip. The synthetic stock survived with only a few extra beauty marks. The metal work remains unblemished.

IMO would and steel and the Alaskan coast do not go together.

 

[matt85]

Thanks Matt for your post. It allows me to ask this question of the forum.

I am interested in taking my VC 470 to Alaska to hunt coastal Brown bears. What are suggestions from the forum for protecting a traditional wood and steel rifle in such an environment?

AK is an even wetter version of WA, I would not hunt there with any gun that I was remotely worried about damage/rust.

-Matt

 

[R eight]

Well; when I posted this, about 6 hours ago, I didn’t own a double. Now I do

I don’t own a double yet. But I have hunted coastal brown bears in Alaska. My hunt was tent based and it rained and rained and rained. But some days it just poured. I used a Blaser R8. It held up well. I would not take a timber stocked blued steel rifle if I was worried about its looks.

Dragging a heavy rifle up and down mountains, through alders, trying to keep it dry and away from the occasional salt spray would be a rather character building experience. The last thing I’d want to do at night is worry about trying to dry out my rifle. My Blaser didn’t even get to sniff an oily rag on the trip. The synthetic stock survived with only a few extra beauty marks. The metal work remains unblemished.

IMO would and steel and the Alaskan coast do not go together.

 

[Longwalker]

I don't have anything useful to add, except I admire doubles and use mine for hunting at home as well as abroad. My Merkel 140AE .450-400 3" has successfully hunted cape buffalo in Namibia, but also elk and moose at home in Saskatchewan. My Beretta O/U 9.3x74R has shot two black bears to date, and is still waiting to be used on its first African safari.

 

[ACE (in CT)]

I was at a friend's club and became an observer to a conversation taking place in the parking lot where a number of club members were gathered. A gentleman was showing off a double rifle he had made from what I believe was a .410 or 28Ga SxS shotgun frame. If memory serves it was a .243. He was saying "find yourself a sub-gauge SxS and I'll make you any caliber you want, or O/U for that matter". (I imagine for a larger caliber maybe a 12 or 20 Ga would be appropriate?). His work was visually stunning with some really nice engraving, I have no idea how they shoot, but the idea was intriguing. I guess some like the big names but ... it would be a one of a kind item.
Anyone have any experience with something like this?

 

[Longwalker]

There was a highly skilled gunsmith in Canada, Nick Makinson. Before is death he was known for converting Browning BSS 20 ga. shotguns into very nice double rifles. I have had work on my double guns done by Nick, he was a precision craftsman and an artist. But I have no personal experience with his shotgun-rifle conversion.

 

[TOBY458]

@Backyardsniper , you forgot to post the picture from inside the shooting house. Let's get this thread popping! Lol!

 

[Backyardsniper]

 

[Backyardsniper]

The K gun claimed 4 whitetail this. 3 in KY and one in Arkansas. When it cools off a little more I plan to perforate some coyotes with it!

 

[Woodcarver]

Hamms?!?

 

[Backyardsniper]

Hamms?!?

Absolutely. $5.89 for a six pack of tall boys at the local quick mart. Every dollar counts when you're saving for that next hunt

 

[Woodcarver]

Absolutely. $5.89 for a six pack of tall boys at the local quick mart. Every dollar counts when you're saving for that next hunt

But that doesn't even qualify as beer