I know this is a bit of a silly questions but what if one mistakenly pulled both triggers on a .400 and up double. Could there be damage to the action, stock or shooters shoulder?

That's what you do if you're being charged by an elephant or buffalo that wants to kill you. Sure, you'll be knocked flat on your buttoxes but that's better than being trampled to death; at least I think it is.

I'd describe the recoil of a double discharge as "Brisk"! And your shooting buddies who witness the event will rag your ass!

Brisk is a nice term. I have had a 450/400 double on me. Not my doing but the gun doubled. I have seen just this past year a 600 NE double on a gentleman. That was what I call "very brisk". I now pull the back trigger first to help avoid possibly pulling both from recoil.

Double .600 sounds painful. I have shot a double 12 gauge 3 1/2 slug at the same time, how would that compare?

In 1964 I was 13 years old and probley weighed 110 pounds and worked in a gun shop after school cleaning up and stocking shelves.
I always listened intently to the gunsmiths stories and the owner talking to the customers.
I was always eager to help with any task having to do with fire arms.
One of the 'smiths told me to go to the range next door and test fire a .28 gauge shotgun for him.I was given the already loaded side-by-side shotgun and instructed how to remove the safety and sight the shotgun.
I remember that there was a small bead as a front sight and a machined notch close the the breech of the shotgun. I raised the very heavy shotgun and aimed at a target we used to test fired the firearms.
I pulled the front trigger and both barrels fired. I was thrown back with enough force that I started to stumble and as I did the 'smith had been standing behind me. He grabbed the shotgun and started to laugh.
My left thumb-nail had slit my face from my chin up and back to my left ear.
My shoulder was bruised bad enough that I could barely move my left arm.
I was more pissed off than anything else as I had been set up for a really sick joke.
The shotgun was really a .600 Nitro Express double rifle. It had come in with the complaint that the rifles front trigger fired both barrels and needed to be fixed.
After work I went home only to be confronted by my Mom. She asked me what had happened to my face.
She drove down to the gun shop after work the next day and had a few words with the 'smith.
When I showed up for work the employees were nicer than normal to me.
I was told while I was sweeping up the metal chips from the machine shop area that my Mom had come into the store,introduced herself to the owner asked to see the 'smith and smacked the crap out of him. He did not repeat what my Mom said but I'm sure it was impressive.
To this day I'm not recoil shy at all. In fact after shooting the Nitro rifle as a kid,everything else since then is a joke when it comes to recoil.

I used to have a Merkel in .470 That doubled on nearly every one that shot it. I suspect that it was a "strumming" issue but it is "special".

Never had a rifle double. Did have an old SXS12ga double when I was about 14. That was 50 yrs ago and I remember enough to know I don't want to repeat it.

The stock action etc were fine. My black and blue shoulder wasn't

Speaking from experience with a 500NE Merkel: You will get a big kick out of it, but your friends will get an even bigger one.

quote:

What happens when you pull both triggers on a big bore double?

Twice the recoil!

I doubled a 470 ONCE. I thought at that instance...holy crap! The 2 holes were real close at 50 yards but it ain't something I want to do on a regular basis.

Gary

My new Merkel 500NE doubled right out of the box. No damage to the rifle.

It was very surprising.

The best answer that I give to the question is that you will have an experience that you are not anxious to experience again anytime soon. Even the Heym 88B Safari double, with it's built-in intercepting sears, will not preclude it from doubling if both triggers are pulled.

I recall a story, not sure where I read it where a hunter shot a charging buffalo with a double rifle, I think it was a 500 NE, at point blank range and it doubled. The PH said he stood there wondering which of them would get up first.

Doubled a 450/400 on a cold windy day about this time of year 6 or 7 years ago. I was wearing gloves and heavy clothing, and was trying to get a good steady hold leaning over a fence post. I just strummed the triggers. A 450/400 does not have a particularly stiff recoil but this one was scoped and that can bring in a whole extra dimension...

I was not sure what happened when the shot(s) went off, but a couple of seconds later blood started streaming down my forehead and nose. Fortunately the friend I was shooting with is a surgeon and he had some sutures in a first aid kit. That saved a long drive and probably a good part of a weekend day in a ER - we were back to shooting in 30 minutes or so. Black eye was pretty impressive by Monday, and I took lots of heat in the office. You can bet I've been a lot more careful since! I've shot that, and other doubles many hundreds of rounds since with no other problems.

This thread should probably be moved to the Double Rifle category.

Good hunting,

quote:

Originally posted by jwp475:

quote:

What happens when you pull both triggers on a big bore double?

Twice the recoil!

Actually the recoil energy is four times as much, since the energy varies with the square of the velocity, and the recoil velocity is doubled as a result of the bullet and powder weight being doubled, while all other factors remain the same.

My Krieghoff .458 Winchester Magnum double rifle once doubled on me. I took a step backwards, got my feet tangled up, and sat down hard, but otherwise no after effects. It was a true double, since the bullet holes in the target were less than an inch apart.

I had an 8 bore double on me. Have a pic somewhere. I was aiming at a target, then found myself pointing straight up into the air and then doing a beautiful half turn on one leg ending up pointing the gun 180 degrees from where I started. My buddy was laughing so hard he damn near fell over.

I guess I feel a "soft" pat on the shoulder.

Ovny.

I had a 10 gauge double on me while shooting at a goose from a boat. four ounces of shot didn't leave much goose and I ended up in waist deep cold water.

quote:

What happens when you pull both triggers on a big bore double?

Nothing good.

A friend and I were developing "poor man's double rifles" out of 12ga side-by-sides. We had shot both 2-3/4" and 3" slug loads with no problems. I'd bought some 3" brass hulls to reload some heavy loads using a company's loading guide. I also used 1-3/8oz slugs.
I stood at the line, fired my PMDR, and both barrels fired. Not a fun experience.
My buddy, after a full ration of s--t to me says he'll show me how its done.
Yep, both barrels doubled on him with his shotgun. I said, "Yep, that's exactly how I did it!" He didn't laugh.

quote:

Originally posted by Emory:
Doubled a 450/400 on a cold windy day about this time of year 6 or 7 years ago. I was wearing gloves and heavy clothing, and was trying to get a good steady hold leaning over a fence post. I just strummed the triggers. A 450/400 does not have a particularly stiff recoil but this one was scoped and that can bring in a whole extra dimension...

A friend of mine was shooting his Krieghoff .458 WM double rifle from the sitting position using a Lyman 2 1/2X All American scope mounted in claw mounts. After a few shots firing the front trigger first, he decided to fire the rear trigger first.

He had forgotten that he had already engaged the set mechanism on the front trigger. The result, naturally, was a double and he was hit in the head with the scope hard enough to bend the tube.

Being more than somewhat hard headed, he bandaged up the wound and continued to shoot. Not a procedure I would recommend.

I watch a 60 gentleman unintentionally pull both triggers on a I believe Merkel over under double in 416remmag. (it was over 20 years ago).

I think he struck fingers on both triggers and the recoil depressed the rear one.

It appeared he was hammered good by the recoil didn't want to shoot it again.

I carried it a week looking for a doe to shoot with it but was never able to make it happen.

When I talked to the owner a couple of years later and asked about it he said the frame had cracked on it.

You are given the annual and highly regarded dumb ass award. Commonly called the "Shootaway t Trophy"!


465H&H

Ditto xausa's recoil calculations.
A simultaneous double discharge quadruples the recoil energy of a single shot.
Double discharge: I am always reminded of Tony Makris double-discharging a 600 NE on "Under Wild Skies" where, IIRC, he still killed the elephant.
From a 2011 post:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...043/m/1991013261/p/1

From 2012:

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
The common recoil numbers are
Free recoil velocity
plus
Free recoil energy
both of which depend on both the load fired and the weight of the rifle.

Less commonly used:
Impulse: Like the impulse thrusters of the Star Ship Enterprise when not in warp drive.


The recoil of the 378 Wby is not unusual.
Just has a high recoil velocity when fired in a Weatherby Mark V rifle with a No.3 sporter barrel contour, a standard factory format.
Too light a rifle for the nonexpert.
Hence the vicious reputation.

A simultaneous double discharge of a double rifle delivers twice the impulse of a single discharge.
That double impulse acting on the mass of the double rifle gives it twice the recoil velocity, and hence quadruples the recoil energy:
KE = 1/2(MV*2)
Ouch.
Like Tony Makris' double on "Under Wild Skies."
Might have knocked him down and bloodied his nose, but all considered, well done!
The 200 ft-lbs of 600 NE recoil energy becomes 800 ft-lbs, when the double rifle doubles.

Mr. RIP, sir. How the heck are you? I was beginning to worry about you!

Hi Quick Karl,

Hijack on:

I am just trying not to rehash old stuff too often.
Not much new here.
Got the 404 Express shooting yet?
I am not dead yet, so of course I am waiting on my latest wildcat, the 400 Bateleur:
.408/335-grainer at about 2750 fps from a 24" barrel ought to be nice.

I'm just happy to know you are alive and well!

But heck I thought your 400 Bateleur was already finished and shootin!

Last summer I acquired a Richland O/U 10ga. I own a 600 Overkill and have fired friends' BIGGER bores-700AHR, 700Nitro, and 4Bore at Hoot & Shoots. I decided to see what 4.75oz at 1200fps felt like. This was two Hevi-Shot Magnum Blend shells. NOT unbearable, but not pleasant either. I would love to find an American Arms O/U 10ga. I am having trouble adjusting to double triggers.

A .375 or 450-400 is brisk to say the least but mostly you get a 10 inch or smaller pattern.

The 470 and up may come out of your hands and may crack your head. The best you can hope for is you only see stars and your addled. The worst for me was waking up on the cement floor of my shop in a puddle of blood with the indention of the rear sight in my forehead, whistling who'd a thought it!

I strummed my .470 in Zim this year at the sighting session.......... it was brisk and embarrasing but nothing brutal.

Got some good laughs.


.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
I strummed my .470 in Zim this year at the sighting session.......... it was brisk and embarrasing but nothing brutal.

Got some good laughs.


.

I am not surprised that you pulled both triggers at once.You are an idiot that is why.

Being considered an idiot by you is a real compliment.

Thank you.

Shoot anymore cows lately? Or is your helmet blocking your vision?

.


.

JD's 470 doubled on him at the last Houston Big Bore shoot. Only time I ever saw him blink...

quote:

Originally posted by tiggertate:
JD's 470 doubled on him at the last Houston Big Bore shoot. Only time I ever saw him blink...

+1

It is brisk but not earth shattering with a .470..It will not knock you on your ash can but you'll know you just did something.

What happens when you pull both triggers on a big bore double? --- You receive a behavior modifying experience.

On a dare, my dad jumped in the air and yanked both triggers of an old 10 gauge double. He was fine, and walked away with the gun for not falling down. P.S. he was 61 at the time!

Mostly depends on how your holding the gun and in what position your in, it can be damn bad or just exciting, lots of room for both.

This is not a double rifle story, but it is a bout recoil:

I was at a gun show and a fellow was trying to trade a like new Weatherby Mark V in 460 Weatherby Mag. He also had a nearly full box of cartridges with three spent cases. The guy at the the table said "Three is all you could stand?"

The man replied: "Third owner."