Allen,

You do know how to reheat a controversy. Although the folks posting here have been pretty well behaved with no threats of bodily injury etc.

As for the question if you can find a good british double at a fair price it probably is a good financial investment. As a hunting tool for the average safari hunter I think they are a poor investment. First off I think people often buy a double thinking that it will enhance their total experience because a double is so much a part of the African hunting mystique. Also all the stories of bullet proof buffalo charging at close range enhance the feeling that a big bore doulbe is necessary. I think what people find is that the double is such a specialized tool that it isn't even always the best choice for elephant and buffalo. Not only that they are incredibly expensive to buy and shoot.

For a guy who has shot some buffalo, elephant and wants to add a differnet element to his hunts a double is perfect as long as he realizes its limitations. For the first time DG safari hunter I think purchasing a double is folly. People call me on a pretty regular basis asking about short buffalo hunts and in the next breath they want to know what double to buy. To me this makes no sense. I always tell people to put their money into daily, trophy fees and buy a good scoped 375.

Don't get me wrong I'm a gun crank too and I'd love to have a couple of sexy doubles but when I weigh the cost against trophy fees for my next safari I just can't justify it. Sadie said it best when we looked at some doubles and I actually was entertaining the thoughts of buying one. She said "You know if we buy that rifle we'll have to put off our next safari for another year?" It only took that statement from a staunch supporter of our hunting to bring me back ot reality.

I guess for me the bottom line is if a double really trips your trigger you probably should buy it but buy it because you want it not because it is really necessary for the job.

Regards,

Mark