caliber choice for double rifles

14 May 2002, 13:40

<lb404>

If you were to only own one double rifle and you wanted to use it alot, mostly in the USA with bi-annual trips to
Africa for mixed game, including dangerous game----which caliber would you choose;
375 flanged magnum
450-400 3"
450/470/475 nitro express?????

also, can a casual user of a double rifle realise the benefits in a "LONDON BEST" double rifle vs. a standard model regardless of caliber choice?
lb404

14 May 2002, 15:30

Atkinson

I shoot a 450-400-3", but I suspect the 470 is always the best route to go on a double for several reasons, available factory ammo being primary....I got my 450-400 on a deal and it shoots so well I suppose I'm stuck with it for life..It is light and sleek and pretty well worn.

I would suggest a Searcy Rifle being your best bet and it is stronger and more usuable than most English guns..along with about a $20,000 savings that you can spend on Atkinson Hunting Adventures shooting up our Lions, Buffalo, Elephant, and Leopard

Sending a Holland, Rigby or the likes to Africa on an Airline in care of airline personel is scary at best...most never hunt with their doubles because of this. You can insure a Searcy, lose it and buy another, not that easy with a $30,000 double from England.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

14 May 2002, 15:32

Heritage Arms

I use a PH I in .470 Nitro. I has done evrything I have asked of a double

14 May 2002, 15:58

Zedman

Mine is a new Rigby exhibition grade 470. I know what your thinking and no I'm not I just got a great deal on it! Even at that I'd still be shooting a 470 Nitro. Good Hunting. "Z"

14 May 2002, 16:00

John S

I'd take the Searcy, but in 500-3" and load it accordingly.

14 May 2002, 16:12

POSEUR

Why is the Searcy better than the english guns?

Thanks,
Casey

14 May 2002, 17:16

JBoutfishn

I agree with the 470 part of the discussion, and since I plan on dragging it all over Africa, I went with the Krieghoff because of the cocking/saftey system.

Jim

14 May 2002, 17:26

aHunter

I vote for 450/400 3" as most universal ( over the world ), although I would rather use my 9.3x62 bolt ( but that was not the question ).

For Africa I vote for 450 3 1/4" NE. THE classic, even better penetration than the 470. And lots of bullets to choose from.

Hermann

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14 May 2002, 20:54

<Rusty>

Well, I guess if pressed I would have to vote for the 450/400 3 inch.

The 470 is the double rifle chambering that all others are judged by. A stopper!
For me the 450/400 gives you a long, great penetrating 400 grain bullet and the recoil won't beat you up.

Casey, what makes Butch's rifle appealing to me is a NIB rifle with a warranty and the owner is a stand up guy.
Now what REALLY makes them nice is the price on his field grade rifle and he is now making 450/400 3 inch. I don't know of another double rifle maker doing that today.
Mac's new 9.3X74R Merkel is a beauty and shot great. Great price as I remember. For me, I'd buy a Searcy! Someone got 7K I can borrow?

You ought to have seen my wife when I told her about the Searcy 450/400 and how I NEEDED another double!

Rusty
We band of brothers!

15 May 2002, 03:32

MacD37

Gentalmen, I believe the question was what would you buy if you were going to use mostly in North America, with a sprinkeling of DGR/Plains game, in Africa!

With this idea in mind, I would definetly go for a new B. Searcy chambered for 450/400NE 3". This rifle/chambering is not only cost effective, but is as close as you will get to an all round double rifle for the world. These rifles are usually in the 10 lb range, and will handle anything on legs or wings. This chambering is also a great ELK, MOOSE, BEAR, including Coastal Browns, and it will absolutely flatten any deer in the world, without damageing any meat.

Handloading is a fact of life, if one shoots double rifles, the factory ammo is too damn expensive, and a couple hundred rounds of 470NE factory ammo would cost enough, that with the same money you take a nice plains game hunt in RSA, or Namibia, and use your new double with handloads.

As others have stated the Searcy is affordable, and that's an understatement, IMO. For $7K your getting a $16K rifle, and now that Butch is chambering for the 450/400NE 3" that makes this rifle a real choice, for a man who wants ONE double rifle for anything, no matter he goes. I have killed Mule deer with mine at just under 300 yds, and it will absolutely handle a Cape buffalo with ease.

My second choice for this question would be a 375 H&H flanged,legal in all countries, and 3rd would be a 9.3X74R,legal for dangerous game in all except in Tanzania, where 375 H&H is minimum.

The 470NE is a great one if you intend re-selling the double rifle, but the 450/400NE 3" is gaining on it daily,in popularity, and are getting harder to find, in good used rifles. I paid $5500 for my A&N 450/400 3" 15 yrs ago, and you couldn't buy for $15K today, it isn't for sale!

If I were going to stay in in North America, as I probably will now, that ENRON has fallen, I would be happy with my "LITTLE SISTER", a Merkel 140E 9.3X74R, as it is fast becomeing my favorite rifle. It will absolutely handle anything this country has to offer, but is light for the big boys in Africa, IMO!

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art