Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only Moderate-priced double rifle?

A recent post from another member here asked advice about purchase of a certain double barrel rifle. Not wanting to hijack that person’s thread, I thought it might be interesting to start a new one soliciting your input on a reasonably-priced dangerous game rifle. Of course, “reasonable” is subjective, but for purposes of discussion let’s say a cost of less than $15k. I’ve not been hunting in Africa but my understanding is that DGR calibers in many countries start at .375, so let’s make that the lower limit. And lastly, given the number of lightly-used rifles on the market, let’s consider both new and used rifles.

Given those constraints, what would you recommend?

If 15K is your limit, I suggest a Verney-Carron without question. I looked at the Merkel-Chapuis-Krieghoff-Heym & VCs before I made my purchase and it was easy for me to pick the VC. The Heyms are superb too, but I don't care for their "notched" receivers and their basic model is very plain looking. Also the VC has the strongest action.

I have a like-new Krieghoff 470 for sale at a great price...$7,995 + $40 shipping, with 2 boxes of Hornady DGS ammo. That's about $1,500-$2,500 below market, even more if you bought at Cabelas or other retailers. I don't think it's ever been fired, and comes with the canvas & leather carry case. The accessories (literature, oil, etc) have not even been opened. PM me your email and I'll send photos.

That is one HELL of a good buy!!!

Jorge, need a back-up for your back-up? :-)

One double is about all I can do right now, until my twin-varmints leave the house, then it's probably another VC in 375FL ir 303 Brit.

I'd love an old British double in 303.

One of my friends has a beautiful WR double in .303, if you would just buy my Bland .577 then I could make him an offer on it. Works for everybody!

That would be a bit of coin, I would think!

Get thee behind me!!!!!

That is a great price.


To the OP: I have a decent amount of trigger time behind a Merkel double and never experienced any trouble with it, although it's never been beaten around the African bush either. It's generally gets a bad wrap when compared with more expensive guns but my sample size of one has been stellar. I will add that mine is purely a range toy, I don't have the confidence in my operating a double that I do with a bolt action. Thus when I bought the Merkel I didn't want the most expensive gun out there.

Bieb's Krieghoff does sound like a good deal. Especially if you want a .470. I have also decided to sell my 450/400 Zoli O&U and think I still have at least a case ( ten boxes) of Hornady factory ammo. both softs and solids and probably another 100 round of brass. $6500 talkes it all.

You are correct about the value. He is 60yrs and it was his dads. Stunning rifle and Not for Sale. But.... it never hurts to dream.

Yes, a WR 303 DR is one to dream about :-)

Jon, many years ago when I lived in Arizona I stopped by a yard sale and met a man walking out with a WR 303 double rifle he had just bought for $250 . He wouldn't even consider a quick doubling of his money ! Fortunatley he left behind a 1903 MS with quite a few boxes of Kynoch 6.5x54 ammo.

I just had to have one at one point and with even more stringent limitations you describe so instead of the entry level 375, mine was a 9.3x74 in a Chapuis. I found in double guns not only the name and model determines price but also what it's chambered in-those in the big classic cartridge generally cost quite a bit more. Even going to the 375 H&H or 375 R jumped the price up a bit.

The Chapuis was probably at the bottom of your dollar range at about 4K and certainly not in a preferred dangerous game cartridge though, no doubt, it's been used that way.

Anyway, it was well made and a whole lot of fun to shoot; took a running buffalo heifer with it at about eighty yards.

Phil, I remember seeing that Zoli in an article or two. May I ask why you are selling it?

For a good read on the topic at hand see Terry Wielands's Dangerous-Game Rifles.

Here's the listing, for anyone that might be interested:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...470-ne-double-rifle.cfm?gun_id=100678822

WOW... That .470 nitro is one pretty piece of steal and wood.