Double Rifles

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Yes, but they are commonly in long obsolete light to medium rifle calibers and 65mm shotgun chambers, too. Feeding one can be a challenge. But you might get lucky and find a 5.7x52R or 6.35x52R priced low because the seller doesn't know that is a .22 Savage or a .25-35 WCF.

And don't confuse the 9.3x72 with 9.3x74, they are worlds apart.
 
H&Hhunter said:
I’ve always kind of wanted a useable drilling.
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Keep in mind that the rifle barrel(s) on drillings and combo guns typically experience shifting zero after a few shots, depending on the caliber and configuration of the rifle and shotgun barrels and their specific heat transmission characteristics. Not an issue in most hunting situations, just something to think about when shooting groups at the bench. Norbert Klups' book The Drilling provides advice (e.g. page 212) on shooting this class of gun for accuracy.

This usually isn't a problem with double rifles, due to the symmetry of barrel mass.
 
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Dave DeLaurant said:
I just remembered watching a longer version of this video, showing the stages of making a double gun. Among other tasks, around the 10 minute mark you can see a double rifle being regulated at the range via soldered wedges:

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There's a lot of craftmanship involved and they seem to be using the same methods from 150 years ago to make the guns, but I don't see how they're worth 70 grand. 10 grand I can reasonably see.
 
Suprised no one has mentioned the szecsei fuchs magazine fed side by side bolt action. I would probably spell the name differently (and pronounce it accordingly) ;).but i'm a proud American, thats how we talk.
 
TTv2 said:
There's a lot of craftmanship involved and they seem to be using the same methods from 150 years ago to make the guns, but I don't see how they're worth 70 grand. 10 grand I can reasonably see.
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Think in terms of fine jewelry rather than guns. Also consider what a plumber or electrician charges per hour, then multiply by the 600-800 man-hours that go into a best English double rifle. These are objects of desire, and the price isn't supposed to matter.

I'll certainly never own one, particularly when my most recent purchase was a beautiful post-war Husqvarna Mauser sporter with perfect bluing and a low mileage bore that cost me exactly $300:

HusqvarnaMinusScope.jpg

But then again, I'll be 60 next year and I've yet to own a new car. . .
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
A part of me still wants one of these. Are the double rifle barrels extractor-only or are there selective ejectors? Does it take much force to open the action when the internal hammers are uncocked?
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I have a shotgun of the same design. Extractors only, cocking is fairly light and smooth. Much lighter than on high-end SxS double rifles. Very nice and durable guns, extremely common around here.
 
DocRock said:
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I’ve handled one of these. IMO they are nothing more than a stupid human trick. I see very little practical purpose for a double barreled push feed bolt gun.

More than anything it’s a fun gun smithing pet project. There is a quite a bit of skill that goes into designing and building it but very little practicality.
 
Really enjoyed the Holland and Holland video, a real treat to watch artisans at work, no wonder they command such a hefty price.:cool:
 
Here’s the thing with a double rifle, especially a heavy double. To get good with one, and by good I mean fast and accurate and super comfortable it takes time and dedication and a huge amount of shooting.

I got really good with mine hunting hogs in Texas. I put more rounds through my first .470 in a year than most people put through a double in a lifetime. My round count was well over 1000 in that first 12 months. I killed about 100 hogs a few dozen jack rabbits, a couple of coyotes and numerous unfortunate North American target rocks. I practiced reloading on the run, clearing drills, snap shooting, precision shooting and got to where the rifle was an extension of my body. I was hitting snap shots and killing hogs at 150 and even 200 yards away.

To get good with a heavy double takes a huge investment in time and money. Even reloading you are talking thousands of dollars in ammo costs alone.

If you buy a double and take it to the range a couple of times then go to Africa with it I promise you’ll not be happy with the rifle or your shooting. A double is an incredibly capable tool but it takes some serious effort on your part to be able to use it to its full potential.

(edited to say);

This is if you are planning on using your double for DG hunting in Africa especially buffalo or elephant. If you just want one to play with none of the above really matters.
 
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Though double rifles are usually associated with heavy, big bore dangerous game calibers, they are also delightful to handle and a joy to shoot in relatively small bore calibers. Like this one made by Austrian Simon Kalischnig in ..guess what...257 Roberts!! It's a sweet thing for whitetail and has some nice extra features like the set trigger. DSC_0015.JPG DSC_0027.JPG DSC_0021.JPG DSC_0019.JPG
 
I had a plain jane cased excellent condition "Army and Navy" .470 NE boxlock Double I bought for $5000 in the later 80s (when I was making money) sold right after the 1987 "Black Friday" . It came with some ammo and I bought more. I fooled with it some in the field, on hogs, but knew it was an investment so was VERY careful with it. I can't remember anymore who bought it, think it was a 1934 Cogswell and Harrison . It has attractive but not fancy grained walnut and simple minimal engraving and was case hardened . The case was very nice with tools ect. These sold in the British PXs to Royal Officers who were to be stationed in Africa or India . Every gentleman needed one. Anyway I sold it ten years later for $12000 to a "safari" store and they retailed it for more. That was 1996 I believe.
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Mr. Gordon, the "Army and Navy" guns have a fine reputation and were long considered a great value. I would buy one in a heartbeat in a caliber I liked, or even a caliber I don't like.
 
Gordon said:
I had a plain jane cased excellent condition "Army and Navy" .470 NE boxlock Double I bought for $5000 in the later 80s (when I was making money) sold right after the 1987 "Black Friday" . It came with some ammo and I bought more. I fooled with it some in the field, on hogs, but knew it was an investment so was VERY careful with it. I can't remember anymore who made it, think it was a 1934 Cogswell and Harrison . It has attractive but not fancy grained walnut and simple minimal engraving and was case hardened . The case was very nice with tools ect. These sold in the British PXs to Royal Officers who were to be stationed in Africa or India . Every gentle needed one. Anyway I sold it ten years later for $12000 to a "safari" store and they retailed it for more. That was 1996 I believe.
View attachment 867793
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Classic old Britt working rifle by Cogswell & Harrison.
 
Offfhand said:
Though double rifles are usually associated with heavy, big bore dangerous game calibers, they are also delightful to handle and a joy to shoot in relatively small bore calibers. Like this one made by Austrian Simon Kalischnig in ..guess what...257 Roberts!! It's a sweet thing for whitetail and has some nice extra features like the set trigger.View attachment 867787 View attachment 867788 View attachment 867789 View attachment 867790
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Sweet! How does it shoot?
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
A part of me still wants one of these. Are the double rifle barrels extractor-only or are there selective ejectors? Does it take much force to open the action when the internal hammers are uncocked?
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Rimless are extractor, rimmed are ejector, but can very easily be made to be extractor...

412 three bbl. set, (shot, combo rifle/shot and DR)

standard.jpg

They aren't all that hard to open, because the rifle bbls are heavier than shot bbls and that helps you out, but they don't fall open either.

In another life time, I was the Valmet distributor for the state of Alaska...

DM
 
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