OK guys, I'm wanting a double rifle in .375 H&H, and possibly a .458 Lott. I can't afford a nice Holland & Holland on a contractors salary, but want something reliable and well regulated. I want to use it with my heavy hard cast bullets for fun here in Oregon, but hope to go to Africa one day. For now it will be Black Bear and Roosevelt Elk in the thick timber. I would appreciate some advice from those in the know. Thanks in advance.

While the caliber’s you listed are great bolt calibers they are not nessacariley the best for a double rifle. You want to use a cartridge with a rim. This will make it a more dependable dangerous game rifle because of more reliable extracton/ejecton of the empty cases. I think a .470 will work as good as a .458 Lott and have great resale. I don’t know your tolerance for recoil but if recoil is a problem you can look at a 450/400 or even a 9.3/74R as the latter is nearly as powerful as the .375 and will work great on all North American game.
I don’t know what your confront level is when it comes to cost but a 9.3/74R can be had in the $5,000 range or less. I had a Merkel Model 140-2.1 on my table this weekend for around 12,500.
Butch Searcy will build you a PH grade rifle for about the same basic price. There are several in this price range such as Hyme and I am probley forgeting several outhers. Then you get into the more expensive rifles like the Westley Richards basic rifle starts at $53,270.
I do recommend you start with a new production rifle. The benefit of new is you can have it made to fit you.
You can find some used guns that may be a good bargain if they fit you. I would stay away from the older “collectable†guns till you get some experience.
Bill

check out this 1... http://www.tjf-jagdwaffen.de/english/index.htm the top gun in .375 h&h is dale nygaards' rifle..go to "assortment" and pick out double rifle...

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Originally posted by DWright:
OK guys, I'm wanting a double rifle in .375 H&H, and possibly a .458 Lott..."


You will get lots of advice to avoid these two cartridges in a DR..... most of it pretty good!


"I can't afford a nice Holland & Holland on a contractors salary, but want something reliable and well regulated. I want to use it with my heavy hard cast bullets for fun here in Oregon, but hope to go to Africa one day. For now it will be Black Bear and Roosevelt Elk in the thick timber. I would appreciate some advice from those in the know. Thanks in advance.

You can't go wrong with a new or gently used Chapuis DR in 93.x74R with a QD scope setup. I have not used this combo in Africa (YET), but it served me very well in Wyoming this fall on a combo antelope and elk hunt. Just an awesome rifle/cartridge combination. My antelope was @ 86 yards with open sights and the elk was at 267 yards with the scope. GREAT FUN

Agreed!!! You cannot go wrong starting out (and staying) with a Chapuis in 9,3x74R.

Absolutely going to be my first double, I hope this year.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Another vote for the Chapuis. 9.3 x 74R should be a wonderfully gun to shoot. I have a 470, used in Africa for several trips now. Unless you really need the 458 kind of stopping power, the 9.3 would be a more flexible choice (read: less recoil!)

There is also a 375 flanged magnum, very similar to the 375 H&H in performance, and designed for double rifle pressures and extraction. But ammo would not be as easy to find as the 9.3.

Double rifles - a great adventure in themselves. I watched a Dangerous Game episode on TV a couple of week ago where an African outfitter/PH used his double on a bear on the Alaska Peninsula. Really a great show. Cartridge he shot with was a 300 rimmed mag (30 Flanged Magnum), then followed into the brush with his extra set of 500 nitro barrels - no fool, he !

DWright

Please research my previous posts on the 9,3x74R Chapuis.

It would be a great choice for your first double.

I have used mine in a LOT in, Texas, Montana, Idaho, Canada, and on 3 Safaris to Zimbabwe totaling 86 Hunting days.

Since you seem to be a few years away from Africa a 9,3x74R double would be your best choice.

I have taken game from beaver and bobcat, coyote, to deer, wild pigs, black bear, all manner of African plains game, up to giraffe, my biggest cape buff [in horn, and body size as well], to cow elephant at 5 yards.

A 9,3 double is one of the best hunting rifles on the Planet.

I really like my Chapuis.

quote:

I really like my Chapuis.

450 NE No2,

You have never left us any doubt!

One of these days, I will just have to get a Chapuis 9.3x72R for myself.

JPK

Chapuis also makes a double in .375 Flanged as well as .375 H&H Magnum, but it's not on the same action and it costs more.

Thank you all, great advice from those in the know. I don't know much about doubles, so I don't want to have to 'rediscover' the wheel so to speak. Off to see one of these "Chapuis" rifles. Got my first side by side shotguns about 6 months ago, now I have two, and I'm hooked on side by sides in general. Thanks again! Good huntin'

JPK

Sorry,I cannot help it. I have had such good service from my Chapuis.

It has exceded all my expectations, in two dimensions. One, the performance of the Chapuis double as a rifle, the other the 9,3x74R cartridge.

I do not know of any rifle/cartridge combo that could have done any better.

BOTH have been PERFECT IN EVERY WAY.