Spending double rifle money on a bolt-action rifle.

[Northern Shooter]

I've seen several comments here from those that say you should buy a quality bolt-action rifle instead of one of the entry-level double rifles.

The argument is that the quality for dollar spent is much greater on a bolt-action magazine rifle than it would be for a comparatively priced double rifle.

As someone who just picked up one of the more affordable doubles (Merkel) I can understand this argument. I love the rifle, it has grade 6 wood but is not something I would be afraid to get marked up on a hunt.

How many here ended up spending a decent sum of money on a double rifle as their first "big" gun purchase before then acquiring a bolt-action rifle priced similar to their double?

Whether we're talking $10,000 Merkel's, $20,000 Heym's or $60,000 Rigby's. Have you paired your double with an equally priced bolt gun?

 

[375er]

@rookhawk???

 

[Northern Shooter]

@rookhawk???

Is he guilty of providing this advice or did he recently buy a new bolt gun?

 

[375er]

He is very well versed in guns. Doubles and bolts alike.

 

[rookhawk]

Boy, $10k or less buys a mighty good magazine rifle.

Some options:

Dakota 76 Africa
Pre-64 custom
Griffin & Howe
Westley Richards
H&H
Jeffery
John Roberts
Vektor
AHR
Duane Wiebe
Dale Goens
Everyone is else
Heym


A 375HH is going to bbe your least costly option.

 

[Northern Shooter]

Already own a 375HH and a handful of sub $10,000 big bore bolt guns. Looking into those in the >$10,000 range these days.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

My friend Botswana based white hunter Jeff Rann currently uses two rifles for elephant hunting purposes:

A .500 Nitro Express 3” Holland & Holland sidelock ejector
A .505 Gibbs built by John Boliger on a Granite Mountain Arms African Magnum Mauser action

As top quality a pairing as they come.

 

[ActionBob]

My best double is a Marcel Thys 470NE side lock Best Gun. Just ordered an Anniversary set of a Rigby Big Game and HS that as a pair cost about double of the worth of that double. And just ti double down the comparisons, the new Rigby Shakira can be bought for slightly less that that double bolt gun package

 

[Northern Shooter]

My best double is a Marcel Thys 470NE side lock Best Gun. Just ordered an Anniversary set of a Rigby Big Game and HS that as a pair cost about double of the worth of that double. And just ti double down the comparisons, the new Rigby Shakira can be bought for slightly less that that double bolt gun package

I hope you post lots of pictures of that pair when they arrive, I'm dreaming of a Big Game myself. What's the ETA?

 

[ActionBob]

I hope you post lots of pictures of that pair when they arrive, I'm dreaming of a Big Game myself. What's the ETA?

Not sure as we are slowing them down doing a little customization.

There are several available in the States now if you just want a gun or a couple with random numbers.

We are getting customized numbering specific to us, engraved rings, .measured for LOP, initials engraved, etc.

 

[rookhawk]

Already own a 375HH and a handful of sub $10,000 big bore bolt guns. Looking into those in the >$10,000 range these days.

Okay. Same answer, same guns, just in 404J, 500J, 505G, etc.

 

[grand veneur]

From personal experience after 30 years Africa hunting, is a bolt action rifle with a scope an advantage compared to a double rifle, in all cases for a client. We have already discussed this topic controversially on the Forum. If this rifle is of high quality, all the better. After 50 years of hunting and a lot of rifle owning, I have never been disappointed by high quality rifles. Sure, a bolt action rifle of high quality costs a lot, but it is a rifle for life. All are still in my gun-safe, but that is not the case with the other more or less various cheaper rifles that were in my possession. A high quality double rifle costs a lot more, especially when it comes to big bores. All other more or less cheaper double rifles must be assessed very critically.

 

[KJE81]

I started out with a double rifle in .375 Flanged Magnum but realized that I shoot much better with a bolt action rifle. The bolt action rifle is also much more versatile and looks, in my opinion, much better scoped then a double rifle does. I think scopes and red dots really destroys the clean lines on a double rifle.

My shooting skills are unfortunately not up to the task without a scope and that rules out a double rifle for me on distances above 50 meters.

 

[Pondoro]

I beg to differ.. I scoped my .470 Krieghoff with a red-dot Leupold.. When tackling DG as elephant and buffalo I feel more confident than with a bolt rifle. The scope is quick detachable if the situation should demand it.

For the record, I have used both bolts and doubles on DG.. Two of my elephants were shot with a .375 bolt rifle.. But I dont think a .375 bolt is a proper elephant rifle.

That said..a good .375H&H bolt rifle is very versatile in Africa (I assume we talk african hunting here..)

 

[chashardy]

I originally bought a Model 70 Safari Express 375H&H for my hunt in 2018, which I booked at the 2017 DSC show. After the show and before my hunt I found a Chapuis 375 H&H double online at William Larkin Moore. The price (below $9000) was too good to pass up, so I made an offer which was accepted. I've hunted with it in Africa four times and love it. Then in 2019 I bought a Rigby Big Game in 416 Rigby (a little north of $18,000 with the Leupold scope). Love both rifles and have taken both on safari in Africa in 2022 and 2023.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I originally bought a Model 70 Safari Express 375H&H for my hunt in 2018, which I booked at the 2017 DSC show. After the show and before my hunt I found a Chapuis 375 H&H double online at William Larkin Moore. The price (below $9000) was too good to pass up, so I made an offer which was accepted. I've hunted with it in Africa four times and love it. Then in 2019 I bought a Rigby Big Game in 416 Rigby (a little north of $18,000 with the Leupold scope). Love both rifles and have taken both on safari in Africa in 2022 and 2023.

That's the purchasing trend I was looking for. I also started out with Model 70s (and 550's) followed by a 470NE double rifle, now looking into something like the Rigby Big game or similar in that ballpark.

Do you think you'll ever top the Rigby?

 

[KJE81]

My first africa capable rifle was a second hand double rifle in .375 Flanged Magnum. When I decided that double rifles are not for me I sold that one and ordered a full custom rifle based on a Mauser M98 instead with all bells and whistles. I don't see myself ever upgrading again, mostly because I will probably not be able to hunt in Africa as often as I would like. That was also the reason for the caliber choice, I will get a lot more of domestic use out of a .375 H&H then I would from a bigger caliber.

 

[375er]

That's the purchasing trend I was looking for. I also started out with Model 70s (and 550's) followed by a 470NE double rifle, now looking into something like the Rigby Big game or similar in that ballpark.

Do you think you'll ever top the Rigby?

If you really want to get yourself something nice I suggest you contact @GENTZ SPORTING ARMS on here. Jason is a good guy and will get you set up properly.

 

[spike.t]

My best double is a Marcel Thys 470NE side lock Best Gun. Just ordered an Anniversary set of a Rigby Big Game and HS that as a pair cost about double of the worth of that double. And just ti double down the comparisons, the new Rigby Shakira can be bought for slightly less that that double bolt gun package

A rigby Shakira....mmm bob I can't wait to see that...Will be a lively mover in your hands....

 

[Muskox]

I am of the camp that whatever you buy should have been ran through the wringer if it is at that kind of price point.

A Krieghoff or Heym double rifle should be fairly free from faults at less than $20,000. It may not be, it is a factory product, not a custom one.

A bolt action heavy rifle should be flawless at the same $20,000 price point

A new production factory Mauser 98 or Rigby is still a factory gun at $12,000.

A lot of American smiths like Stu Satterlee and a few others could build you something on their own action or a GMA that would be glass on rails for pretty close to $12,000 leaving the Mauser or Rigby in the dust. Having a British proof house will increase the price of that best grade custom from a British or German maker by another $10-20,000. The question is will it be better than a Satterlee or Wiebe, or will it just be a name situation?

Then again Duane says that he doesn't shoot his rifles for function. So maybe he is a bad example.

Johannsen could be another option.