Double-up

[Kevin Peacocke]

Many here own two, or even more double rifles. The category I am interested in here is those folks who have a heavier double for DG, and a lighter one for PG, and I know of at least five of you who have gone that route. The light double has always been around, I handled a vintage Rigby rising bite light frame in .303 the other day. But in this modern age many of the volume manufacturers do a more affordable light frame, Heym and Verney Carron amongst them.
Most of these light frame doubles come with arrangements to fit a scope, or are commonly ordered with scope mounts. They are then well capable of shots out to 250-300 metres. Smaller scoped doubles are commonly used in Europe, typically as O/U's for smaller game including boar.
Then there is the inbetween zone where a light frame double can do it all and you can get away with just the one. The much anticipated Chapuis Iphisi in 375 H&H is one such contender, street legal in big game turf and well accepted on the tiny 10. Heym has this calibre in their light frame version too and one wonders why they didn't make a fuss over it, their loss. In fact they offer the light frame in up to 450/400 as well. One of the pictures below is of a Heym 89b light frame with detachable scope mounts in 375 flanged magnum next to it's big brother in 500NE for comparison.
I went for the middle Africa frame in 450/400 and intend to use it as a one fits all double, time will tell how well that works, but as you know I am putting a lot of effort into regulation and sights to achieve that aim.
So, what are your thoughts, are you a double double person or trying to do the one double thing?

Heym 89b 500NE top, Heym 89b light frame below

Vintage Rigby rising bite .303 top, Westley Richards .303 below. Both light frames.

 

[VertigoBE]

For the moment, I'm being a bit contrarian. A smaller double and larger boltaction.
The double in .375H&H and the bolt action in 416 Rigby.

Now I need to find someone who is willing to purchase my kidney, so I can get this:

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

For the moment, I'm being a bit contrarian. A smaller double and larger boltaction.
The double in .375H&H and the bolt action in 416 Rigby.

Now I need to find someone who is willing to purchase my kidney, so I can get this:

View attachment 521063

View attachment 521064

Hmmm, comfortably les than £100 000.

 

[Rare Breed]

Many here own two, or even more double rifles. The category I am interested in here is those folks who have a heavier double for DG, and a lighter one for PG, and I know of at least five of you who have gone that route. The light double has always been around, I handled a vintage Rigby rising bite light frame in .303 the other day. But in this modern age many of the volume manufacturers do a more affordable light frame, Heym and Verney Carron amongst them.
Most of these light frame doubles come with arrangements to fit a scope, or are commonly ordered with scope mounts. They are then well capable of shots out to 250-300 metres. Smaller scoped doubles are commonly used in Europe, typically as O/U's for smaller game including boar.
Then there is the inbetween zone where a light frame double can do it all and you can get away with just the one. The much anticipated Chapuis Iphisi in 375 H&H is one such contender, street legal in big game turf and well accepted on the tiny 10. Heym has this calibre in their light frame version too and one wonders why they didn't make a fuss over it, their loss. In fact they offer the light frame in up to 450/400 as well. One of the pictures below is of a Heym 89b light frame with detachable scope mounts in 375 flanged magnum next to it's big brother in 500NE for comparison.
I went for the middle Africa frame in 450/400 and intend to use it as a one fits all double, time will tell how well that works, but as you know I am putting a lot of effort into regulation and sights to achieve that aim.
So, what are your thoughts, are you a double double person or trying to do the one double thing?
View attachment 521058
Heym 89b 500NE top, Heym 89b light frame below
View attachment 521059
Vintage Rigby rising bite .303 top, Westley Richards .303 below. Both light frames.

I thought about doing two doubles…but in the end, I settled on my WR 500 DR and a BA 375 for longer shots. I also am partial to my Rigby in 275 Rigby for further out

 

[IvW]

I am in that boat....
For me the 500 Jeff bolt action will remain my big bore DG rifle...

I am looking at a double for all the pg....

I have been up and down on the calibers but at the moment I think a Krieghoff ultra fitted with qd scope with the following barrels will be the best.

9.3x74R/9.3×74R close range bushveld up to eland you will also not be undergunned if you bump into one of the dg.

7x65R/7×65R for the more open areas with the right bullet also good for everything including mountain hunting.

6.5x57R/20ga(pity it is not availible in 12ga and I did consider 22 Hornet but it is too small) this will be the "fun gun" barrel set and also perfect for the smaller forest species and night critters as well as some francolin, grouse hunting, green pigeon gun...obviously not a high volume dove shotgun but perfect for a change in hunting options.

I think for a small to medium bore double the o/u makes more sense than the sxs...

 

[VertigoBE]

Hmmm, comfortably les than £100 000.

He made me a proposal on it. Quite a bit lower than the listed price, but after VAT and the exchange rate, it is still +100KEUR

This rifle seemed made for me. It was flawless.

 

[IvW]

The advantage with the O/U ultra with thermo stabil barrels is you can regulate it yourself.....very nice system

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

He made me a proposal on it. Quite a bit lower than the listed price, but after VAT and the exchange rate, it is still +100KEUR

This rifle seemed made for me. It was flawless.

Do it man! One can spend that on a silly car that just depreciates.

 

[Rem700stw]

I currently have 3 doubles and am looking for a fourth. My 450-400 is going to Africa this summer for Buffalo primarily. My 470 and 9.3x74 are staying home. I am taking a custom Mauser in 318 WR for plains game and a Kimber 375 as a backup that can cover both.

I am looking for a vintage British double in 303 to round out my assortment of s/s rifles.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I currently have 3 doubles and am looking for a fourth. My 450-400 is going to Africa this summer for Buffalo primarily. My 470 and 9.3x74 are staying home. I am taking a custom Mauser in 318 WR for plains game and a Kimber 375 as a backup that can cover both.

I am looking for a vintage British double in 303 to round out my assortment of s/s rifles.

What make are your doubles Rem? Any photos?

 

[KJE81]

I went with only one double rifle in .375 Flanged Magnum to do it all, including domestic moose, elk, fallow deer, brown bears and wild boars, mostly because of the gun laws here in Sweden which does not allow for more then 6 guns for hunting. And I need the other five spots for shotguns, combination guns, kipplauf and some small bore rifles.

Also tried a couple of smaller bore double rifles previously, a Zanardini over-under in 9,3x74R and a Chapuis X4 in 8x57R. Of those I liked the Chapuis the best, perhaps it would be a nice candidate for a second double rifle for plains game in .30R Blaser? It also have the benefit of not being to expensive, about 5000 euro if memory serves.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I went with only one double rifle in .375 Flanged Magnum to do it all, including domestic moose, elk, fallow deer, brown bears and wild boars, mostly because of the gun laws here in Sweden which does not allow for more then 6 guns for hunting. And I need the other five spots for shotguns, combination guns, kipplauf and some small bore rifles.

Also tried a couple of smaller bore double rifles previously, a Zanardini over-under in 9,3x74R and a Chapuis X4 in 8x57R. Of those I liked the Chapuis the best, perhaps it would be a nice candidate for a second double rifle for plains game in .30R Blaser? It also have the benefit of not being to expensive, about 5000 euro if memory serves.

Would you consider buffalo with your 375 Fl?

 

[double rifle newbie]

i have a 9.3x74r extractor, and a 450 nitro express ejector as double. love them both

 

[Ryeboy86]

I am in the boat of not trying to drain my 401K and my wife wanting to kill me.. LOL.. I enjoy reading these threads and admiring all the BEAUTIFUL DG rifles you gentlemen have!!

 

[KJE81]

Would you consider buffalo with your 375 Fl?

When I have saved up enough money for a trip to Africa I intend to do just that.

 

[robert kuester]

I have a double in 30-40 Krag and I love it. I also have one in 9.3x74 and one in 450-400 and 45-90.At least they don't kick the snot out of you.

 

[318AE]

I have “small“ doubles in 318 WR and 280 Ross, both by Westley Richards. I have “large” doubles in 450/400, by Jeffery, and one in 450 NE by Cashmore. I have used both the 318 and 450/400 for sojourns in Africa. The 280 Ross was almost the 7mm Rem Mag of its day - definitely thought to be a longer range cartridge. None wear more than express sights.

The combination of an immediate second shot, and ease of chambering the large NE cartridges, make a double a natural fit for DG, but they were really used for just about everything ahead of the prevalence of bolt guns. And they pack as easy as a take down too!

 

[Rem700stw]

470 NE Manton and Company
450-400 W. J. Jeffries
9.3x74/20 gauge combo Chapuis
I will post pictures when I return home from out of town

 

[Rem700stw]

9.3x74
450-400
470NE

 

[Rem700stw]

Sorry cannot load photos currently