"Double rifle shooter" synonymous with "reloader"?

24 February 2004, 17:57

If you decide to take up shooting double rifles, does that pretty much mean that you need to be a reloader? Seems that trying to find the right load is a major focus of the guys that shoot doubles. I'm thinking about buying my first double rifle, but haven't reloaded in years, and that was for shotgun shells for dove hunting. Will I be a fish out of water if buy a .470NE and plan on shooting factory ammo?

24 February 2004, 18:22

Cole

470 ammo is expensive. 1 of the reasons we load is to taylor make our ammo to our rifle and the game we hunt. Also check the name of this web site ! ha ha good luck.

24 February 2004, 18:43

Oldsarge

"Double rifle shooter" synonymous with "reloader"? Well, either that or seriously well-to-do. You can get ammo for almost anything if you are willing to pay for it but you will definitely pay!

25 February 2004, 02:45

475Guy

Well, since a box of Federal 470's is close to $200 whether solid or expanding, you just about have to. Most who reload use only a couple of powders for it as they bulk up with only some any air space. The newer rifles can handle most reloads and regulate without too much hassle. Just look at the reloading data available and you get close right off the bat. Some loads seem to shoot right on and another needs tweaking.

25 February 2004, 07:28

MacD37

Quote:

If you decide to take up shooting double rifles, does that pretty much mean that you need to be a reloader? Seems that trying to find the right load is a major focus of the guys that shoot doubles. I'm thinking about buying my first double rifle, but haven't reloaded in years, and that was for shotgun shells for dove hunting. Will I be a fish out of water if buy a .470NE and plan on shooting factory ammo?

Spring, you have hit the nail squarely on head! Unless you are indipendantly wealthy, you will need to reload for your double. That is, if it is chambered for any of the Nitro cartridges, and in many cases with smaller cartridges as well! At $220 USD for a box of 20 Federal 470 cartridges,on top of the very high cost of double rifles, I certainly can't afford to shoot factory, and still be able to afford to hunt!

First, you must decide what chambering you want, then buy reloading equipment to match that choice! standard equipment will not usually accommmodate the very large, and long Nitro exp cartridges. I use an old RCBS "Big Max" press, but the new Ammo Master press, from RCBS will handle anything up to a 50 BMG, and like the MAX, will handle over size dies, as well. The trimmers must be proper as well, while many will handle cutters that are big enough, they will not handle the very large 500 rim size up, or the case length! Trim dies are an option here!

These cartridges, are not only a problem for all the standard loading equipment, but must be loaded to regulate to your rifle as well! Once the load is found,however, they will be loaded the same way every time! This lets you use one powder,filler,case brand, bullet, and primer selection in all cases,the one exception being soft or solid bullets.

A large supply of ammo can be cranked out at one time, in NEW brass, and stored away for hunting. I like to use the same 20 cases to work up all my loads, for a particular rifle. Once found, buy 100 pieces of new brass, and load it all with that load! Now when you get ready to go hunting, you simply take what you need from your supply, and go! The only thing I haven't mentioned is the need to find a load for soft point, and another one for solids, because the load will be different for each. Then I load 60 rds with softs, and 40 rds with solids. The reason for the disparity over 50-50, I use my rifles far more in North America, than I do in Africa, hense the 60% softs!

When you decide what chambering choice you want to buy, there are plenty of members here who will be more than happy to help with chooseing loading equipment.

Hope any of this helps, and has not turned you off double rifles altogether!

25 February 2004, 07:35

Atkinson

Buy a .470 Searcy double that is regulated with his 108 grs. of IMR-4831 or H4831 with 500 gr. Woodleighs....

Then buy your brass, bullets. primers and powder and have someone load the new brass for you..that will cheapen costs up a good deal...and this regulation tends to shoot factory federal to the same POI...

If you can't find anyone to do that then, since I have stuck my foot in my mouth, I will do it for you....

25 February 2004, 15:53

NitroX

YES!

Here in Aussieland at least. That is why at one time we had companies start up producing for just this market. Woodleigh for bullets with the original Kynoch profiles, Bertram brass and Simplex presses and dies.

For useful double rifle reloading information check out the specialised reloading for doubles forum at NitroExpress.com (links below). Dozens of loads which regulate in their users rifles are listed there. We want dozens or hundreds more so it is a real resource for double rifle uses.

There is also a competition to win a year's subscription to the Double Gun Journal. One post of your load = one entry into the comp. Be quick as this comp ends end of February but another one will run March to December.

25 February 2004, 17:45

500grains

You do not need to reload to own a double. You can get reasonably priced double rifle ammo from Safari Arms in Seaford, NY or from Superior Ammo.