The Mystique of the Double Rifle - Part One

For those who know anything about firearms, thetaste for the very best that money could buy.
double rifle has always elicited awe and respect. ItRegulating a double rifle, to have both barrels hit
reminds of the early days of hunting dangerous gamewithin a specified area at 100 or 150 meters, was a
in India and Africa; when men pitted their huntinggun maker´s nightmare. After the barrels were
prowess against the most dangerous game on themade and fitted as best that could be done, the rifle
"dark continent. It elicits respect due to the finewas taken to the range and fired with the specified
workmanship bestowed on double rifles as well asload for which the new rifle was to be regulated.
the technology involved to make the rifle into aAfter firing, the barrels would have to be readjusted
highly efficient firearm.and re-soldered and fire again, and again.... and again.
Prior to the invention of smokeless powder,the process was only stopped when the proper
semi-automatic rifles or even bolt action rifles, it wasregulation of the barrels was achieved. Firing
the hunter armed with a single shot rifle andexpensive, high intensity cartridges was a tedious and
cartridges loaded with black powder. What wasexpensive part of the final manufacturing process.
needed was a large and thus powerful cartridge inThe double rifle is a rifle of close to moderate range
order to bring down an elephant or charging lion withand is not for varmint shooting at ranges of three to
the one shot at the hunter´s disposal. If thisfive hundred meters. Once the range is extended
shot failed, then there would be one less hunter onbeyond the distance in which the rifle was regulated,
the planet!! Enter the double rifle. If still fired a largethe point of impact for the two projectiles will
diameter projectile with black powder, but it had twodeviate greatly. Not only are we talking about the
barrels if the first shot should fail. These rifles werenormal bullet drop as the range increases but the
made in large calibers such as the 12 bore (12 gauge)lateral dispersion of the projectiles.
so that the black powder propellant could deliverThe point of impact for the two projectiles can also
maximum shock to the target. Some of the thesebe altered depending on the powder charge used,
double rifles were designed into what is called athe type of powder used, the weight of the
paradox double rifle. The first part of the barrel wasprojectiles, the type of jacket material used on the
smooth bore and toward the end of the barrel itprojectiles, etc. When a double rifle is regulated, then
was rifled to give the projectile a spin and thus givethis act of using a standard load in the rifle prevents
stabilization through its flight.one from going to the gun shop and saying, "Give
As the gun smithing art progressed, calibers such asme a box of ammo of this caliber"! Stick to the
the 577, 577/450, 450, 470 and eventually the 600regulated load for the double rifle.
nitro express were placed on the market with theTo fire a double rifle, fire the right barrel first and
double rifles chambered for these cartridges. At firstthen the left barrel. For best results fire left barrel
some of the these cartridges use black powder aswithin five seconds of the right barrel. If not the heat
the propellant but later the cartridges were loadedgenerated in the right barrel can cause the barrel to
with smokeless powder and were dubbed nitromove with a resultant loss in accuracy. Do not hold
express rounds. The smokeless cartridges hadthe barrel with you free hand! Lightly grasp the fore
several advantages: first when the cartridge wasend, without any undue pressure and then fire the
fired there was no large cloud of smoke to giverifle. Do not let the barrel rest on a fence rail,
away the hunters position and second they had abranches or the side of a tree trunk.
much higher chamber pressure and thus more footWhy would want a double rifle after reading the few
pounds of deliverable energy when an animal was hit.points outlined in the paragraphs above. Well first of
I might add that collects in the bore of a rifle firedall, a double rifle is not for everyone. In fact it is only
with black powder can produce a caustic mix thatfor the chosen few. You must follow the rules
can pit the barrels. Remember, black powder has acarefully if you are going to have any luck firing the
key ingredient, sulfur which can form sulfuric acidrifle accurately. If you can find factory loads that
when mixed with water.work well in your rifle then you can stick to these
Witch these large powerful cartridges, there was aloads. If not, you may want to reload. Reloading is
great deal of recoil and which was transmitted to thealso a requisite if you have a rifle in an absolute
hunter´s shoulder. These double rifles werecaliber or it the factory ammunition is very expensive.
made heavy to decrease this heavy recoil generatedCartridges for the fairly new (in double rifle years).
by the powerful cartridge and could weight in the 157000 Nitro Express can cost in the neighborhood of $
to 25 pound range. This rifle would be a heavy load70 per ROUND! Of course, anyone who awns a. 700
for a hunter of middle age or order to carry throughNitro Express doesn´t have to worry about
the tropical heat of Africa or India so gun bears werethe cost of ammunition as he loads his double rifle
used to carry these heavy rifles. When game wasinto his Rolls Royce.
spotted, the loaded rifle was handed to the hunterWhat do double rifles cost? The textbook answer to
for the shot. After the shot was fired, the rifle wasthis questions is ... whatever your want to pay for
handed back to the bearer.them. The double rifles of continental Europe are the
Normally the double rifle cartridges had a taperedleast expensive. The British double rifles are the most
case with a rim at the base to facilitate extraction. Inexpensive as they are virtually hand made and hand
modern times some double rifles were manufacturedfitted with the finest finish, engraving and stock
with rimless cartridges, but the extraction of thesewood. As a ball park figure, the best British double
rimless cases can fail with the inherent problemsrifle will cost some $ 60,000 on the low end. Used
associated with a cartridge case stuck in theEuropean doubles can be had for $ 5,000 on up. I
chamber.might say, for clarification, that some good buys can
Double rifles are made with both box locks (the leastbe has in Britain for used double rifles which are not
expensive) and side locks (the most expensive). Theof the Royal grade.
side locks cab be hand detachable and thus can beIf you are interested in a double rifle, check the
removed in the field if a spring breaks, for instance.many firearms auctions that are held around the
Of course, an extra ser of side locks would have tocountry. Get a copy of the Double Gun Journal at
be carried in the field and this raised the price of theBarnes and Noble and get some books on double
rifle with hand detachable side locks.rifles. One that comes to mind is Shooting the British
Besides the inherent labor required to produce a fineDouble Rifle by Graeme Wright.
double rifle, most of the well to do hunters of theI hope I have piqued your interest on the world of
era had the stocks and metal embellished withdouble rifles. In the second part of this discussion I
engraving, carving, inlays, and checkering. This couldwill go over a German double rifle that I have had for
drive the price skyward, depending on the ownersmany years and is still my favorite rifle.