Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa The SXS Double Rifle Mystique

That's what my wife calls the Lagavulin single malt I drink, JP!

LOL...mine calls good Scotch turpentine. It's all in their personal perspective.

I can't see any reason to hunt with a double except for the "cool" factor. I've been on three safaris, all with a bolt action. A couple of experiences come to mind.

My first elephant took off running at the shot, as they tend to do except for a brain shot. I got in two more shots before it disappeared. Were all three necessary? I dunno. Could I have done that with a double rifle? No.

My second buff fell down at the first shot. Although I didn't know it, it's spine was broken. What I did know was that it kept its head up, so I kept shooting. Four shots total and all hit. That would have taken longer with a double.

Once when tracking a buff herd, we came across a good zebra, which I shot with my .375. The range was a bit beyond what I might have attempted with a double.

So it goes. I disagree with those who say you can get a third or fourth shot off as fast with a double as a bolt. Under carefully set up conditions, some can no doubt do it. But who is going to hunt all day with two extra cartridges stuck between the fingers of their left hand, or whatever? To say nothing of dropping them in the mud under the pressure of a fast reload. In the real world a bolt action is faster. I even think it's almost as fast for the second shot if you know how to work the bolt while the rifle is recoiling (most people don't).

I am a Sporting Clays shooter and realize that, with my shotgun, I can fire the second shot a lot faster. But 12 gauge target loads do not recoil as much as a .470 Nitro Express, and I'm not trying to hit the CNS. In fact, most good shotgunners don't even look at the bead, but just the target. I don't think you can do that with a rifle. As for looking at rifle sights, target acquisition is a lot faster with a scope than with iron sights, no matter how good your vision is.

Double guns have a purpose and that's why there still around and carried by many PH's while going into harms way.
Doubles are less prone to malfunction and fouling by design.
They work and with proper care, will last many owners lifetimes.
Would you try shooting a true pair on the sporting clays course with a bolt action shotgun ? That's what I thought.
You won't be in the same time zone compared to using a double barrel.
Like hunting with a handgun, you need to know your limitations and that's part of being a responsible hunter.
If your comfortable and more proficient with a bolt rifle, knock yourself out, not everyone can be as cool as a hunter with a double rifle (~ :

I can only go on my own experience, which has been in the field, on live targets. It surprised me a little too, to be frank with you, and surprised the bloke with me who was using a bolt action. FWIW we were both using 9.3s.

I'd also add that I don't hold rounds stuck between my fingers either. I agree with you that it would not work. I have additional rounds on a cuff on the butt, and I reload with my right hand from there.

In the real world a bolt is pretty fast - more than a few times I've shot 3, 4 or even 5 pigs with one before they've got to cover (sometimes I've stuffed in a couple more rounds and got the odd straggler too). No argument there. It isn't as fast for the second shot as a double though, based on my own experience with both.With something like a .470 vs a bolt of a similar level of recoil things might be different, but I don't have the experience to comment on that.



Yeah, I agree with you there too. I have rifles with peep sights, open sights and scopes, and I first learned to shoot using open sights, but if the rifle fits, and the scope is mounted properly, I find the scope fastest and the open sights slowest.The scope's best in poor light too, and for getting a good aim when your target is obscured. .

My double, like several other rifles I own, has a scope with hand-detachable mounts, so I could use the open sights if I wanted to, but with that particular rifle the only time I've actually used the open sights is at the range, to check their alignment. The only real use I have for open sights on rifles nowadays, other than shooting the odd competition where they are mandated, is as a backup for rain or in case the rifle/scope should take a knock.

Cheers!

The Poohbah hurt my feelers when he told me my fine bottle of Glenmorangie 12 year would be good for starting brushpile fires.

you conveniently left out important details...

Todd Williams had there a .416 Rigby bolt rifle prone to jamming,(which it did), in other words he employed an unprepared--untuned
DGBR in a contest against his own SxS...it was not fair & balanced...so you can void the test right there...Todd also openly admitted
he likely would not be anywhere near that good with SxS in a real DG charge..('up a tree' after the second shot - I think his type words were)

A well know PH wrote and suggested the test was irrelevant.. because all such lame speed contest shooting bets "are off"
in the dynamics of a real charge situation.



unfortunately Jorge has a poor understanding of 'substantive' ..

if you ever see the video in question its typical youtube type entertainment stuff, iirc, even Todd Williams indicated
that it should not be given it much credence.

His book claims 'hydrostatic'...but his letter to you claims , 'hydrodynamic'....?

HYDROSTATIC - relating to the equilibrium of liquids and the pressure exerted by liquid at rest.
HYDRODYNAMIC - relating to the motions of fluids or the forces which produce or affect such motions.



I am of 'those' who want to see your evidence of beams becoming molten steel in the Twin Towers.
16 yrs ago now, ...whats taking you so long?

That's one of my favorites. Invite me over, dammmmit!

LOL, Your fine drillings, my doubles, two 750 ML bottles of 12 year Glenmorangie, a box of hand rolled Dominicans, and 40 lbs of boneless country pork ribs on the smoker would make one fine weekend!

I'll have us a gallon of liquid Advil for Sunday night sober-up ;]

Gunner, only 40 lbs of ribs? What's poor luv2safari going to eat? :-)

Guess I should have added 10lbs of Wifeys homemade coleslaw, baked beans, and 20 roasting ears from the garden!

What time's the BBQ?

24/7/365 here, a bit of notice is all that's needed.

In two year's time, when I retire (again) beware, I will take you up on it....

Done Deal Buddy!

You guys got me thinking I HAVE to take that little 303 Brit double to Africa someday, wondering what 215 grains of Woodleigh Weldcore at 2175 fps will or wont handle?

I've only been once, hoping some of the experienced hands can guide me on what it is suitable to use on, that being said, and no BS at all, accurate hits to 200 yards are very doable from a good rest with the second leaf flipped up.

Jerry, I shoot your same load out of my 1895 and I can tell you it shoots clear through both shoulder plates on a 200 plus lb. hog.

10-4 Jorge, I'm also well aware of all the big game the Scandinavians and Canadians slayed with the little 303, just wondering what to top out on in Africa, I have no doubt it will dispatch plains game up to Kudu and Sable, kinda wondering if it's enough of a hammer for Eland, Zebra and Wildebeest and such, those critters are tough as a boot heel and all have nice trophy fees attached, much different scenario than a native busting a bull moose with the luxury of tracking till found.

Ingwe hunted extensively with the 303, maybe he'll see this thread and chime in,