A bit silly, but I'm bored! -
Money no object, what would your dream double rifle be?

Two conditions -

It has to be new
And it has to be for Africa.

Even though I will never go to Africa, I have thought about the type of rifle I would take or have built were I ever to go.

For many years my dream gun was a Holland and Holland Royal Double in 465 H&H.

After having used a 375 H&H for several years now, I would still like a Royal Double, but in 375 H&H instead of the 465.

I am not interested in hunting elephant/hippo/rhino, so my largest quarries would be cape buffalo and eland, and I believe that the 375 will handle both of those.

A prewar Westley Richards Droplock in 600NE!!!!!!!!!!

Brett

Mine would be a matched pair of Westley Richards high grade boxlocks with side plates, and good engraving of the big five and Brit rose & scroll. One standing and two flip-up sights, and quality quick detach scope rings on both rifles.

The small one would be an eight pound 375 Flanged magnum, and the large one would be a 10 pound 450NE 3 1/4"

Sorry couldn't imagine owning only one double rifle for Africa!

......................

Brett, if a Purdy 600 NE would suffice, pony up $225,000..it's waiting for you on Guns Intl!

quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
A prewar Westley Richards Droplock in 600NE!!!!!!!!!!

Brett

I has to be new, or no double!

quote:

The small one would be an eight pound 375 Flanged magnum,

Just to run this off course a little, I was figuring on an 8.5 to 9.5 pound 375 double.

What is the difference between the 375 Flanged versus the belted versus the 9.3x74?

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:

quote:

The small one would be an eight pound 375 Flanged magnum,

Just to run this off course a little, I was figuring on an 8.5 to 9.5 pound 375 double.

What is the difference between the 375 Flanged versus the belted versus the 9.3x74?

The flanged and 9.3x74 both have rims which are conducive to double rifle extraction. The H&H is belted and does not have a rim which makes it a potential issue for extraction.

Brett

The one pointed at a 100+ pounder on a full charge!!!!

Vintage Rigby sidelever sidelock rising bite in 450-400 3" with well documented history. I don't mind a few character marks if I know who may have put them there, when and possibly where.

quote:

Originally posted by Bailey Bradshaw:
Vintage Rigby sidelever sidelock rising bite in 450-400 3" with well documented history. I don't mind a few character marks if I know who may have put them there, when and possibly where.

No vintage allowed!

I would want a field grade 577 double in a tacky stainless and the stock to be 100% desert ironwood and many many memories of adventures on the Dark Continent.

Sorry, didn't read carefully enough to see the New requirement......so in that case.....with great anticipation....a NEW Rigby with rising bite and sidelever in 450-400 3", and I'll have to make my own damn history !!

Now Bailey that is what I want you to build for me. I'm working on a healthy deposit at this time.
Butch

Fine! A new Westley Richards droplock in 600NE!

Brett

OK I've let this thread float around long enough and it's not going away so I'll bite.

I would have a sidlock built in Ferlach by who ever seems the best at the time. Right now it's really hard to choose between makers like Hambrusch, Hauptman,etc.

I would have it built in the white and un finnished wood for my favorite American engraver ( Jim White) and favorite American stock maker (Graham Bostick) too finnish out.

Heres the deal though, I would have it built with severall sets of barrels to cover anyting I might hunt.

I would have it built on a reciver big enough for a DG round leaning towards 500/416 or 450 Nitro.

Second set would be a 8x57jrs for pigs and light game.

3rd set a bergstutzen 7x57R and .22 hornet

And a set of shotgun barrels that would fit on that frame guessing 20 ga.

Oak and leather case fitting all the barrels and optics, Sure why not?

Well I think I am the luckiest fella on the planet, I have my dream double...

It is an original British Double in 450 No2.

It has 28" barrels, and fits me perfect. I have made some of the best shots on game with it.

I have taken deer, pigs, African plains game, giraffe, several cape buff, and several elephants.

It shoots 350 450, 480 and 500 gr bullets to the same place and same regulation.

Two matched British doubles from Boss and Company in 500 and 450/400.

John how is my choice?

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
Two matched British doubles from Boss and Company in 500 and 450/400.

John how is my choice?

Mike

Not bad, shame about the 450/400 though!

A match pair of "new" Holland and Holland in 8 bore regulated for black powder and conical lead bullets. No engraving, no gold.

If that could not be built, then I would opt for a 577NE Royal. (again a pair if I can dream) In (the suggested 15 pounds +1) 16 pounds.

Can I dream? Yes - all four then.

after shooting a double rifle........ANYONE.........they are so much fun and so far out of my reach

quote:

Originally posted by fourbore:
A match pair of "new" Holland and Holland in 8 bore regulated for black powder and conical lead bullets. No engraving, no gold.

If that could not be built, then I would opt for a 577NE Royal. (again a pair if I can dream) In (the suggested 15 pounds +1) 16 pounds.

Can I dream? Yes - all four then.

I suppose I could be tempted by a pair of Hollands, although I don't much like the idea that my double might smell of chanel.

quote:

after shooting a double rifle........ANYONE.........they are so much fun and so far out of my reach

The poor mans double is a single. Classy guns and nostalgic. Perhaps even more fun. One careful shot. No regulation issues.

quote:

Well I think I am the luckiest fella on the planet, I have my dream double...

It is an original British Double in 450 No2.

It has 28" barrels, and fits me perfect. I have made some of the best shots on game with it.

I have taken deer, pigs, African plains game, giraffe, several cape buff, and several elephants.

It shoots 350 450, 480 and 500 gr bullets to the same place and same regulation.

I agree, you are one lucky guy. I have a Kodiak MKIV (Pedersoli) in .45/70 and a left handed Searcy Field Grade in .450 NE, so I have no cause for complaint.

I would like a .577 BPE by a quality maker (would anyone build one of these nowadays?)with a matching bullet mold. External hammers would be nice and a top lever would be preferred since I am left handed. I figure a .577 nitro would be too much for me, though I have never shot one.

Next would be a .375 Flanged or belted rimless hammerless WR droplock double, 26" bbls. That one with detachable scope mounts.

H&H Model Royal in 375 Flanged to replace the one my grandfather owned that never made it down to me.

Searcy sidelock as shown on the website, chopper lump barrels, 450/400.

I'd been looking for the mythical sixteen bore rifle for three inch metallic case.

Was thinking of having the Boron shop make me something new but finally found a top lever hammer double rifle from Westley Richards that shoots well with huge powder charges.

Pretty much killed the interest in having a new one built to answer my dream-search.



Cheers
Tinker

When the 5Pm corporate conference calls start, the 30-slide PowerPoint decks are unfurled, and my eyes get as glassy as the town drunk's, here is what I am dreaming about:

London best. Either Boss & Co. or persuade Purdey to employ Woodward livery. Case-colored action by the shop New_Guy uses for Heyms with gorgeous results. Regulated for 180-grain RWS in .30R Blaser. No sights, just scoped with a 1-10 power illuminated March. 26-inch or longer barrels. Sling swivels on top, not the bottom, of the gun. Maybe a 6.5X65R in matching style. Love Boss scroll but bulino scenes are good dream-sequence material, too.

There's a place for vintage. But not everyone is pulled as strongly by anachronistic arms evoking the high water mark of, in my case, someone else's empire. It is the same way I doubt many bolt-action aficionados are looking to Oberndorf circa-1898 for styling cues.

Great Question!

A duplicate of a Pair of Wesley Richards I saw & handled in 1976 -

They were side locks made in 1963 for the Maharajah of Cooch Behar & his Rani (queen).

The big bore was a 476 single trigger & the other one was a 280. I still dream of those rifles.

If I could find one, an original John Wilkes sidelock in .450-400/3-inch.

If I was having it built for me, a Holland and Holland Royal with three sets of barrels, all with claw-mounted scopes; .300 H&H Magnum, .375 H&H Magnum, .450-400/3-inch built on a light-weight frame.

A pair of London Rigby Rising Bite Doubles.
1. .450-.400 3 1/4 regulated with the Hornady ammunition.

2. .500NE 3"

The pair cased; tastefully engraved, and with the best wood Rigby can find.

Rich

I suppose I am a bit of an odd duck, but I would love a Holland & Holland Round Action Sidelock in 12 gauge with paradox bores. Dangerous game hunting is grand, but I'd rather be able to take medium game, small game, and fowl any day. The versatility that the paradox gives is hard to beat unless you feel like toting around a drilling.

Options?
-Manual Safety
-Double Triggers
-Straight Grip
-24" barrels
-Light Acanthus Engraving
-French Grey Finish
-A nice, dark piece of Turkish walnut
-Leather-covered recoil pad

26 year old 36D's

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
26 year old 36D's

been there done that got the t shirt.

Also tried the F's and the G's thought dd's were too small.

I'd post pics but I'd get banned.

The heck with the English stuff. How about a Krieghoff Gold Imperial in .500/.416. Perfect rifle in the perfect cartridge. Here's the link:

http://www.krieghoff.com/ki/in...icle&id=74&Itemid=96

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
26 year old 36D's

been there done that got the t shirt.

Also tried the F's and the G's thought dd's were too small.

I'd post pics but I'd get banned.

I dare you.

Hoenig

Got this one covered....A Bradshaw in 375 Flanged and a nice set of 28ga barrels. I can't think of a finer firearm to own...I will own one in the next few years.



"I am the punishment of God. You must have committed great sins for God to have sent a punishment like me upon you"
Ghingus Khan

please post pics of these rifles... I don't get playboy for the articles

I'm going to assume we're talking about rifles , but any rifle in .470 NE would make me happy.