Greetings,

I am interested in knowing the weight (kilos pounds no diff. to me), length of pull and where your rifle balances.

Reason: I have heard many speak of and read many times/places the best doubles point like a good shotgun. Consequently I am trying to learn what will make a bolt gun "point" as well, particularly a heavy rifle.

Thanks for your consideration.

Roger

Quality English Guns will balance at the hinge pin. Some exceptions for two barrel sets as the smaller one will have heavier barrels because of the action size.

It is alot more than balance though. Castoff, length of pull, comb height, stock width. It all comes together in a perfect rifle. If a Double doesn't fit your body it is as miserable as any bolt rifle.

Roger,

A good double does as you say "points like a good shotgun". However Mickey1 is correct in that it has alot more to do than just the weight of the gun and where it balances. Here are a couple of examples.

Jospeh Lang 500 Nitro (actualy made on a Webley Screw Grip Action).
27" Barrels, 11lb. 11oz 14 3/8in LOP. Now this gun Balances and "points" like nothing on earth.

Army & Navy 500 Nitro (actualy made on a Webley PHV1 Action).
27" Barrels, 12lb. 12oz 14 1/8in LOP. Now this gun is or FEELS BARREL heavy and doesn't point nearly as well.

Webley & Scott 500 Nitro (actualy made on a Webley Screw Grip Action)
Originally 27" Barrels, Not sure of weight or LOP but it would have been similar to the Army & Navy's mentioned above. 2 inches was cut off the barrel to make it 25" barrels, the gun re regulated and now this gun Balances and "points" like nothing on earth.

As Mickey1 says, "it is alot more than balance though". The FIT of a gun to you (ie Castoff, length of pull, comb height, stock width) all have a bearing on whether a gun balances FOR YOU.

I have a Rigby 450 Nitro (Webley Screw Grip Action) that doesn't feel that good to me but I shoot it well and it's a nice boxlock. However A good friend of mine thinks it is the best gun out in terms of balance, feel and fit as it suits him exactly and FOR HIM it "points like a good shotgun"

Hope this helps.

500 Nitro

Yes this does help very much. It means more work for me.

Thanks for taking the time to post that information.

The above solutions to balance are part of the reason good double rifles should only be worked on by smiths who understand doubles.

Almost all mine balance on, or very neer the hendge pin. I have one that is extremely muzzle heavy, because the barrel walls were left too heavy. The releave this, I'm in the process, as we speak, of re-shapeing the barrels to octigon, from five inches in front of the breech to the muzzles.

Roger,
To make a bolt gun point: Bolt Gun 101:

26" barrel.
8.5" forarm.
Slim stock void of excess wood.
long in grip with rounded grip cap area optional.
low comb
5/16th cast off is a plus
iron sights

If used with a scope then split the difference in comb height between irons and scope using centerbore as a guide.

Fit to yourself by pointing until you reach that point where it just feels good to you. Not someone else.