This is not about what double caliber is suitable for what or what make is better than the other. The question is when you are off to the range for a fun day of shooting, which double do you like to shoot most? For me, I have this little Chapuis 9,3x74R that is just a ball to shoot. Reloading is easy, lots of cases and bullets available, recoil is modest, it really does handle like a shotgun, it's just a fun gun to shoot and never fails to put a smile on my face at the range or hunting. I think the 9,3 is just such a great cartridge and at my last chrony session I was getting 2238 fps with a 286 NF cup point solid.

How about you? What's your most fun double?

You may have wanted to first define "double", but if "most fun" is all we're talkin here - my little 1913 vintage Parker 30-30 (shotgun conversion) is most entertaining to shoot. And obviously more economical than my 450/400.

It wears out milk cartons at 50 yds with either barrel. Open sights of course. And always draws a crowd at the range. Good one for the grandkids to shoot too.

Hey Dave,
Great question. I was going to say my Verney-Carron 375 Flanged because it is light, handy and plain fun.

BUT, after some thought I'd have to say my V-C 600NE and here's why:

Before:



After:



One of the most enjoyable ways to cut down trees, wouldn't you say?

Looks like great fun Doc

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Looks like great fun Doc

We gotta get together one of these days. A pile of doubles, bucket of rounds, Todd, Jorge, Sam, Retreever, Don, Ken and a few others (we could probably even fool Micheal458 into coming) - just to have fun with doubles.

Sometimes we get too serious about this stuff - need to spend more time enjoying it all.

The one that is lightweight, fast handling, and easy on the shoulder AND wallet!

Same with my shotguns too!

I like shooting the little 9.3 as well (funny that we'd refer to a .366 as little, eh?) but I really get a charge out of the big boomers. I had a hell of a good time with the 577NE.

My most fun one is the one I am holding at the moment!

450-400. Big enough for DG; small enough for sissies. I mean recoil conscious. No hate mail; I actually have one and it is my favorite double to shoot. No, I am not a sissy; I am recoil conscious.

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
Hey Dave,
Great question. I was going to say my Verney-Carron 375 Flanged because it is light, handy and plain fun.

BUT, after some thought I'd have to say my V-C 600NE and here's why:

Before:



After:



One of the most enjoyable ways to cut down trees, wouldn't you say?

That looks more fun to cut down a tree with your double than a chainsaw!!

How many shots did it take?

quote:

Originally posted by cjfoster:



That looks more fun to cut down a tree with your double than a chainsaw!!

How many shots did it take?

One of course!! 600NE baby!!

quote:

Originally posted by Todd Williams:

quote:

Originally posted by cjfoster:



That looks more fun to cut down a tree with your double than a chainsaw!!

How many shots did it take?

One of course!! 600NE baby!!

If that is the case then you would not have to cut out the ivory on an elephant. You would have to pick up the splintered pieces and glue them back together!!

Having shot over a few trees I realize I have missed out by never doing it with a double. Anyaway the most fun and my go to seems to vary. Usually it is my Searcy 577 but 40% f the time it is my VC 577. I would have said it was Wade's 600NE but he took it back.

Matthew

Shot a Westley Richards 375F on the weekend. Certainly a pleasant rifle to shoot.

577, hands down :-)

Well, I only have one: Mine is a Merkel .500NE, and I simply love shooting it.

I did get a chance to shoot an old English .475NE (forget which number) and an old English .577NE, and enjoyed them, but shooting and hunting with my very own is very special to me.

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
Hey Dave,
Great question. I was going to say my Verney-Carron 375 Flanged because it is light, handy and plain fun.

BUT, after some thought I'd have to say my V-C 600NE and here's why:

Before:



After:



One of the most enjoyable ways to cut down trees, wouldn't you say?

Doc,

How much did it cost to shoot that tree down?


465H&H

quote:

Doc,

How much did it cost to shoot that tree down?

It died of lead poisoning...900gr per dose :-)

QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave Bush:
For me, I have this little Chapuis 9,3x74R that is just a ball to shoot. Reloading is easy, lots of cases and bullets available, recoil is modest, it really does handle like a shotgun, it's just a fun gun to shoot and never fails to put a smile on my face at the range or hunting. I think the 9,3 is just such a great cartridge and at my last chrony session I was getting 2238 fps with a 286 NF cup point solid.

How about you? What's your most fun double?[/QUOTE]

quote:

Originally posted by Shack:
You may have wanted to first define "double", but if "most fun" is all we're talkin here - my little 1913 vintage Parker 30-30 (shotgun conversion) is most entertaining to shoot. And obviously more economical than my 450/400.

It wears out milk cartons at 50 yds with either barrel. Open sights of course. And always draws a crowd at the range. Good one for the grandkids to shoot too.

Dave I agree that the 9.3X74R Side by Side double rifle is a very versatile hunting rifle, that is absolutely fun to shoot, and hunt with. Today I have two doubles so chambered, and in North America that is the rifle I grab when I want to do a little stump shooting, or hunt big game.

However, as Shack says, I had two little double rifles that I built on Browning BSS 20ga actions. One chambered for .41 Rem Mag, and one chambered for 30-30 Win. Both rifles had 20” barrels, and were built to carry following my bear and lion dogs in the mountains of New Mexico. Both were so much fun to shoot that I rarely went to the shooting range that a dozen people wanted to shoot them. The 41 mag was because I also carried a .41 mag Ruger black Hawk and my ammo would work well in either gun. I built the 30-30 later for the same reason to use with the dogs. The 9.3 is a far more versatile than either of those two special purpose doubles, but they were really fun to own and shoot!
.......................................................................................

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:

quote:

Originally posted by CCMDoc:
After:



One of the most enjoyable ways to cut down trees, wouldn't you say?

Doc,

How much did it cost to shoot that tree down?


465H&H

Hmmm - probably more than a couple of dollars but it sure as heck was worth it.

Mac, I used to have a 20 ga Browning S/S that I wish I'd kept and converted to a double rifle. I didn't know then it'd be a good candidate. I wasn't thinking in those terms back then.

I really like your idea of the .41 Remington Magnum. You know, it's very rare to see a double chambered for handgun cartridges, but it's really a perfect deal for a shotgun conversion because of the chamber pressures. With our 30-30s it's 42K and with the .41 it's only 35K.

You could also do .44 Magnum or .45LC in a conversion, but then, those really "are" handgun cartridges if you know what I mean - they just "seem" like they should be in lever guns or revolvers. But the .41 Magnum is kinda "hanging out there by itself" and they didn't build a rifle or carbine around it.

Btw, I once looked into the .348 Win in a double. Thought it'd be a cool idea too. Chamber pressures of 40K on it. I've only heard of one being built. That would be a "fun" gun.

Besides the 30-30 I enjoy my Searcy 450/400 with the low power loads. Pleasant shooting when perched atop a deer stand.

My favorite (and affordable) double gun to shoot is a Browning o/u in .270