While shooting trap this weekend, I had my Fox B 20ga SxS double. A pair of 20ga AA's is not a day ending event but a pair of .470's would certainly get your attention. Has this ever happened to any of you? Did it wake you up?
Bob

I know a fellow whose 9.3 doubled on him. He said recoil was significant, and the two bullets hit right next to each other (the second would have been over the backstop if it was recoil-caused instead of doubling).

His big concern is that this rifle was built to handle one shot at a time. Doubling puts twice the force on the breechface and twice the stress on the other parts of the action. Is his rifle ruined? Should he feel lucky he doesn't have a big piece of engraved steel decorating his eyesocket?

H. C.

VFR
I have had my 450 No2 double twice and my 9,3x74R double twice. The reason was the same all 4 times.
The rifle slipped in recoil and my finger hit the back trigger and BOOBOOMMM.
I was on a turkey lease with my 450 No2 that had a skunk and an armadillo problem. The land owner asked us to shoot all we saw. Since the 450 No2 was fairly new I was using it to get some practice. I decided to use it for turkey also with a 500gr. Hornady solid. I did not see a big gobbler that morning so when an armadillo walked up to within about 20 feet of me I took aim. I was wearing camo gloves, the nylon net kind for warm weather, they were kinda slick and the rifle slipped in recoil firing two shots. First shot hit the armadillo.
The second time I was shooting at a wild pig while sitting on the ground. The pig walked right past me about 15 feet away on my right side and curved to the left presenting me with a broad side shot at about 20 yards. I had been "tracking" him in the sights but several trees kept me from firing until he was way to my left. I had to lean foward and the butstock was not on my shoulder but on my arm. When I fired [480 Woodleigh Soft], the rifle kicked me sideways and my trigger finger hit the back trigger. First shot hit the pig.
Both times with the 9,3 it was while testing loads and I just did not grip the double tight enough.
None of the doubles caused any injury or more than momentary discomfort.
My brother also had a double with my 450 No2 the first time he fired it for the same reason.

I have learned three things from this:
1. When letting a friend with no previous double rifle shooting experience [Daga Ron, you know my Bolt Rifle Trash buddies sorry could not resist] shoot one of my doubles I only load one bbl at a time for a few rounds. I put an empty in the left bbl and check to see if he fired it when shooting the right bbl.
2. You must have a good solid hold on the rifle. Do not wear "slippery" gloves. Wool gloves with the rubber knobs work great wet or dry.
3. When shooting from an unorthordox position shoot the rear trigger first.

Failure to do any of the above may result in as Elmer Keith used to say; "The rifle might kick you out from under your hat"

Of the 50 or 60 double rifles I've owned in my life, I've only had one to double on me! That is, a true double, with the sear slipping on the off barrel from recoil. Still the rifle does not actually fire similtaineously, but one then the other in rapid succession. If a true "DUBLEING" does occur, then the rifle need some sear engagement work. The doubleing will not hurt your rifle if it isn't allowed to happen for a long period of time. I would say most so-called doubleings are simply the fireing of the other barrel by finger shortly behind the first. The finger slipping double shots are common, especially in cold weather, when cloves are worn for warmth,and are not the fault of the rifle, but the shooter!

I've doubled my Merkel .470NE twice, once in practice and once on my buffalo. At 50 yards, the first round hit where aimed, and the second round went over the target both times. Pushed me back a bit more and muzzle jump was greater, but I didn't lose balance and it didn't hurt either time.

Hi VFR,
When out shooting with some friends I caught one of them doubling a 500/416 on video. It's up on my site if you would like to have a look.
Take care,
Dave

VFR,
I have only had one of the 30 or so double rifles I have owned/own, double discharge.
Normally when I buy a rifle, it goes straight to the gunsmith for a take apart, clean, make sure all is OK.
On this instance when a friend heard I bought it (a WR 500/465 BLNE), he said when are you
coming up hunting Buffalo. Well I went to the range, worked up the correct load on one weekend,
no problems, no double discharges. Gave it to a friend to shoot 4 - 8 shots - it doubled once BUT
we thought he could have touched the rear trigger - new gun etc etc.
Anyway, jumped on a plane, test fired gun when I got there, again no problems. Went out and found
a buffalo, got to within 30 yards of it, fired the gun and both barrels went off !!! Luckily the aim was
true and the first bullet hit the top of the heart/lungs and made it bleed everywhere. The Buffalo ran
20 - 30 yards and collapsed. It then did it a few more times during the week so as soon as I got back
I took it to my gunsmith and got everything fixed up (nothing serious - worn sear).
A good example why I get ALL my guns checked and cleaned BEFORE I fire them.
500 Nitro

I cranked off a shot from my bench rest in my shop and doubled a 470 that I had done a trigger job on and they broke clean at 3 lbs..

At the shot the gun reared straight up in the air, came over and the rear sight hit me between the eyes, splitting my head open and knocked the preverbial s--t out of me, I woke up in a pool of blood on the cement floor about 5 ft. behind the bench...I thought the damn thing had blown up..the target showed two shots about 4 inches apart, thats how close boths cartridges went at the same time....When that happens that close the recoil is indescribeable....I have had guns double but they went bang, bang, not BANG! like that one did...I went back to 6 Lb. triggers that break clean on my doubles. Never again.

Ray,
I have my triggers set for Front 5lbs, Rear 6lbs.
I am glad I picked these figures as I wouldn't want to go
through what you did.
500 Nitro

Had an SxS 12 ga. double on me once! It ended up pointing straight up into the air, and there I was holding the detached FOREND in my left hand...was slightly dazed for about 5 seconds too!

Who is your gunsmith?? I have a specially made Heym 500 Nitro Express 3 1/4" OVER UNDER! the only one they have ever made, and it doubles. Heym has tried for a whole year, and havent accomplished much. Can you suggest a master gunsmith? I suspect the sear engagement to be weak, and the doubling occurs by the recoil.