Double Barrel vs. Bolt Rifle

The double is much faster for a follow-up shot. Can't really think of any other advantages, except that they look really good.

As I recall, another reason they are liked by professional hunters in Africa (when they can afford them) is reliability. In essence, you have two separate rifle systems ready for immediate deployment. If there is a problem on one side of the rifle at the worst possible moment (like, say, when a Cape Buffalo is closing) you have a completely different barrel, cartridge, firing pin, etc. on the other side that should work and save your bacon. With a bolt action rifle, should there be an extractor problem, a stuck cartridge problem, or anything of that nature in one of those worst possible moment type of things, the rifle becomes useless. The day after I win the lottery, I intend to buy a double rifle.

From all the sources I've red, the biggest reason for the shift from double to bolt was $$$. Hunters could obtain (and still can) a high-powered bolt action rifle for a tiny fraction the cost of a high-quality double gun. Plus, vintage field reports I've read indicated that the bolt actions fared better in the field and were easier to tote. Not to mention the edge in effectiveness, versatility and trajectory provided by the bolt action rounds such as the .375 H&H or even the .303 British.

I have never had enough money to even consider buying a double gun, so I have to go from the reports. But they would indicate that hunters had more problems with double rifles in the field than they ever did with bolt actions. They are extremely difficult to field strip, prone to getting crud in an open breach, and subject to variations in point of impact due to climate changes. A Mauser '98 action in good condition with good headspace is nearly jam-proof, can take enormous abuse, and can be field stripped and cleaned easily.

I've had a bolt-action fail in extreme cold (12 below zero F). I had kept the rifle in my vehicle so it did not get moisture from camp, but there was still enough moisture in it to freeze.

I cannot afford a double, but it seems the fact - mentioned by Murphster - that you have two different firing systems is a significant consideration.

As much as I would like a double rifle someday, a backup .44 mag revolver is also a nice redundant firing system - at least for deer hunting.

Ready on the right--what kind of bolt action was that?

Bear in mind that double rifles became dominant in the 18th and 19th centuries, when reliable repeaters were simply unavailable. (In blackpowder days, of course, the doubles were muzzle-loaders anyway! It's a big thing to have a second shot immediately available, rather than waiting a minute or so for the reloading process to be completed! ) When the first repeaters came along, their actions weren't strong enough to handle big-game rounds. Only with the advent of the Mauser action did a repeater become available that could handle the really large cartridges.

As a result, most of the big-game cartridges that were developed were deliberately optimised for the doubles: large rims, cartridge design not necessarily suitable for magazine loading, etc. If you look at a .470 Nitro Express round, and compare it to the ballistically-similar .458 Win Mag, you'll see what I mean.

The doubles offered several advantages, which others have mentioned above. Their speed of operation was also legendary: I've watched professional hunters fire two, reload, and fire two more, accurately, at 50 yards, and beat competitors firing a bolt-action repeater next to them. Being from Africa, I learned the old technique of holding two spare rounds between the fingers of the support hand. You fire two, break the action (which, of course, has ejectors rather than extractors), dump in the two spare rounds, and close and fire the gun. With practice, it's very fast indeed. (Also, the bell-like TONK! of the big fat rounds dropping into the chambers is music to the ears... )

However, as noted above, the double is a VERY expensive rifle: not only were most of them hand-made rather than production-line guns, but regulating the barrels, etc. required immense attention to detail on each gun. A quality double will put a round from both barrels within 2" of each other at 100 yards: some will do it in 1". To get this degree of accuracy is tough!

Besides the fast follow up shot mentioned above, the DR is much more compact(shorter)than most BA's, and easier to maneuver in thick brush, which is usually where they will be needed the most, to follow up wounded dangerous game.

I read a book by a PH back in the old days (1900-1940s) and he used a bolt gun (SMLE) since he was primarily a guide, but he noted several instances where the hunters were killed, usually after getting off two really really quick shots, but missing, and fumbling the reload. With a magazine rifle, you weren't as fast between shots, but you got more chances.

The double makes you instantly more classy.

BTW, out of curiosity, I took a look at the prices of some DR's. HOLY CRAP I'd rather have a few NFA goodies

Doubles are reputed to be more reliable -- redundency being the key. But at the same time, doubles are rather delicate mechanisms, and most of them are hand-fitted. It wasn't uncommon for a double to have spare parts (those most likely to break) in a trap in the butt, grip, or in the case.

Bolt actions are much cheaper, and these days are chambered for rounds that are quite powerful. A person who practices can work a bolt gun so rapidly that by the time he recovers from recoil, the rifle is reloaded. And no fumbling needed after the second round.

When you consider that people hunting dangerous game are almost always backed up by a second shooter (there's your redundency), the cost of a double isn't justified.

Still, I'd like to see Ruger make a double rifle based on its Gold Label side-by-side.

It wouldn't be a true double rifle, but someone who liked to tinker might have fun with a heavy-duty 20 guage double shotgun. Load the ammo to higher velocity/pressure using brass cases and 45 caliber bullets in sabots. If the barrel could be rifled or rifled inserts added (like .410 or 28 guage inserts for a 20 guage), it would be even better. How about a set of 45/70 inserts for your 12 gauge double to make the next deer hunt interesting?

It might worth a few days of tinkering with the subject if one had the time, knowledge, and tools.

How about a set of 45/70 inserts for your 12 gauge double to make the next deer hunt interesting?

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There are such inserts available -- they were written up in The American Rifleman a couple of years back.

I think EAA makes a 30/06 or .308 double rifle, and some outfit is making .45/70 double rifles as well...

If memory serves me correctly Peter Hathaway Capstick carried a .505 Gibbs double rifle for awhile, and he carried two extra rounds in his left hand, one between his first and second fingers, and one between the second and third fingers. When you fired the first two, open the breech and clear the empties, the next two were pretty quick to reload. Sounds like you'd get pretty quick with some practice. That'd give you 4 shots from the double faster than the 3 you'd have with something like a safari grade Model 70 winchester bolt gun....

One disadadvantage that comes to mind with a double barrel system, is that you have two different barrels. This means that they will zero differently.

At least I assume this is true, as it is with SxS, and over/under shotguns. Although I don't really know as I have never shot one. Can anyone here with more knowledge or experience with double barrel rifles shed some more light on this?

As I understand it, side by side doubles are "regulated" so that both barrels shoot to the same point of impact at a particular distance, e.g., 100 yards, and that the regulation is load-sensitive. The definition of "same point" (of impact) is not quantified as far as I know.

I have read that doubles are quicker for the second shot, but the bolt action passes them for the third shot, and they more or less tie at 4 shots, when operated by equally skillful riflemen. Since most large-caliber bolt actions don't hold more than 4 shots total, the bolt loses big after that.

I've also been told by a couple of experienced Africa hunters that the doubles are considered less reliable than modern bolt guns. Their PHs encouraged them to bring bolt actions and not doubles, and their PHs used bolt actions.

But, ... Doubles are so much prettier, and have so much "soul", panache, sex appeal.

The double is a bit shorter than a magazine rifle in the same barrel length, and you do get the first two shots off quickly. The disadvantages are cost, expense, and price. But the Cool Factor is way up there. Start unpacking that leather trunk case at the range and you won't be lonely.

A good double will have its barrels regulated to the same point of impact at a specified range. This requires trial and error by a skilled craftsman and that's what really adds to the cost.

This Cogswell & Harrison .375 Nitro Express was made in 1910 and sold for about $60. That was a lot of money at the time. I think the S&W Triple Lock sold for $21 a few years later and they were too pricey to survive in the market. I bought this rifle 27 years ago (omygod!) and paid $1,900. This is a field grade box-lock, remember, and the more deluxe side-lock guns go for much more. That was a fortune to me at the time. I have no idea what it might bring now. I try not to think about it. It will put a bullet from each barrel within one inch at 100 meters.

Another thing about the double - the top-grade guns are just mouthwateringly beautiful. For example, the Royal double rifle from Holland & Holland:














Drooooolllll...

My grandfather always used a double rifle for dangerous game in Africa, for the reasons already illustrated above. His favorite was a '14Thomas Bland and Sons double in .470 Nitro Express loaded with Kynoch 510 grain solids for elephant and buffalo. His reloads were very fast, and he could fire 4 rounds with extraordinary swiftness. Even after my grandmother gave him a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in the then-new .458WM, he never relinquished the double for serious work. Now that beautiful double rifle has passed into my collection, and it is my favorite of all of the firearms I own. I think most of the cost of a good double stems from the tremendous amount of labor and hand-fitting involved in regulating the barrels to the same point of impact. You'll pay handsomely for a double that'll put both barrels into a inch or so - economy grade doubles might be 4 or five inches off (or more). I would never have bought one; it was only through the succession of male shooters in the family that I came by my grandfather's - and it's worth apparently $30,000 (not that it matters, it's obviously a family treasure and will never be sold). There's really nothing quite like a nice double rifle for conjuring up images of African safaris.
vanfunk

Many of the reasons have been stated, but one of the biggest joys of a double is the balance. They are about six inches shorter than a repeater for a given barrel length and the weight is all between your hands. When one fits you it comes up like a shotgun and it's already on target. You just pull the trigger. Not many bolt guns/repeaters handle like that. YMMV

The double rifle "pluses" have already been identified, but there are a couple of "minuses" besides the price.

1. Long range accuracy will be inferior to a bolt action, though this isn't usually an issue with a big .470-class (or larger!) dangerous game rifle.

2. Regulation usually only holds for one specific load - not a big problem, if you like the load and it's available.

3. Ammo for the big rimmed NE cartridges isn't always readily available. (Doubles are only interesting to me if they ARE set up for big rimmed NE cartridges.)

4. It's not entirely uncommon for a malfunctioning DE rifle to fire both barrels at once. (Ouch!)

5. Reliability under harsh conditions suffers. ANY rifle may malfunction, but no less an expert than W.D.M. Bell asserted that under dirty/dusty conditions, a good bolt action was more reliable than a finely-fitted double.

6. Twice as much bore to scrub after a shooting session.

Seriously, I've handled some nice doubles, and I'd like one myself . . . but I choose not to spend that many $$$ to get one that's to my liking.

As a preachers kid, we had missionaries staying at the house fairly often, one of them had been in india and told storied and had slides( color transparencies of big tigers that he had shot in Assam. Most of the villagers had no front door, only a tarp or cloth for privacy and predation at night of villagers was common. His opening as being a trusted person was his ability to kill a tiger that was eating people in the village. He used a pair of H&H copies from India that he bought while over there, I believe they were 450/577. when they retired they left the guns with their son who took up the mission, I heard recently that he has lift he mimssion field and is returning home, I have sent him a message telling him to return with the guns and that he would be surprised at the value here. Now tiger's more protected than the people. and if a tiger has to be put down they use an FAL.

A few years ago Browning had Superposed's that were a 270 or 30-06 O/U with a 20/28 Gauge spare set of barrels. I have been looking for one of these sets for a while so they must be fairly rare.

on the point of regulation, with modern tooling and techniques, it should not be as hard as people think. there was talk a couple of years ago the the new ruger SxS wasbuilt strong enough to easily handle a new set of barrels. perhaps this is coming. also. When you are shooting BIG animals minute-of-gopher accuracy is unnecessary. the vitals on a water buff at 15 yards is a manhole sized region. the heart of a elephant is supposed to be about the size of a water melon, the brain pan is basketball sized.

He used a pair of H&H copies from India that he bought while over there, I believe they were 450/577.

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The .450-577 was the standard British military cartridge before the .303 was adopted. Civilians were not allowed to have rifles in this cartridge -- that's why the .470 was developed.

A whole lot of British officers had doubles and repeaters built in this round so they could use service ammo though....he might have gotten a used one.