I'd like to get an older/antique double rifle that is either sitll useable, or can be restored to being useable, preferrably hammered.

What caliber should I look for?
Particular makers?
Is this just plain nuts? (I realize I should probably just get a Searcy, but I like the old guns.)

What game do you plan on using it for?
Nitro Express or Black Powder Express?
Deer and pigs or for African game.

A 577 BPE Underlever Hammer gun would be awesome. What is your price range? Or how about this 8 bore Holland;

http://champlinarms.com/Default.aspx?tabid=30&mid=345&c...&StyleID=3&GunID=236

African Game -- after seeing that 8 bore Holland I wish my price range could go up. I really should try to stay under 15K. I would like a cartridge gun though/preferrably one that I can have cartridges made/purchase them -- really don't have the time to reload etc (and have a never used Dillion press to prove it.) If that's too cheap, then I can wait -- I pretty well own a gun for every possible purpose that I have.

Aglifter:
I shoot two Rigby hammer underlevers. One is a 450 3 1/4 nitro. Always under 2 inches at 100 yards and extremely well balanced. I'm close to booking a 2009 Tanz double buff 10 day hunt and the representatives of the agencies I contacted did not have any serious reservations about having a hammer gun on board. The other 450-400 BPE with NFB loads is even more accurate with several 1.3 and 1.4 inch right/left groups at 100 yards and extremely well balanced. That Manton 470 looked nice but I would inquire as to the condition of the bores as well as if Bass Pro ever tested the rifle (which I doubt). No handicap with a hammer gun, just practice carefully and then practice more.

Dutch,
are you shooting that bpe with bp?

Brent

Brent:
No, although I have been competing for 15 years in BPCR and Black Powder Schuetzen I have not attempted to load Black for the Rigby. Just too tired to experiment right now. May in the future. Proper starting load would be a 110 grain of Swiss 1 1/2 with Federal 215 primers, although I have had great sucess with CCI bench rest rifle.

Aglifter,

Have you looked through the DR section on Gunsamerica? There are a handfull of hammer guns for sale there for less then 10K.

A couple that caught my eye;

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976743261.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976738836.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976735297.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976699284.htm

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976672814.htm

In short 'English T', the long version is; double-grip rotary under lever patented by an 'obscure' Birmingham gunmaker Henry Jones.

Was a 10 bore suitable for heavy game/at least buffalo -- somehow facing up to an elephant with powder and a percussion cap doesn't seem like the best idea.

Sounds like a lot of fun though. I'd sure be interested in trying it. But elephant with anything, just isn't in my deck of cards.

Brent