ATHiker07, welcome to the wacky world of double rifles! Double rifles are not expencive when you consider it takes a minimum of 400 man hours, of very skilled labor, to build a double rifle. With the Hourly wage of a simple machinest, which doesn't have the ability to build a viable double rifle, it suprises me they aren't higher.

First you need to think about the cartridge you want in a double rifle! Even if a double was made yesterday, with modern steel, it is still 18th century technology, and is not suited to high pressure cartridges, like the 458 Win Mag. Even though some were made in these chamberings,and sadly still are, it was only because KYNOCH had ceased to make the NE rounds, and the 458 was all that was available. Most have been rechambered to 450NE 3 1/4", or 450NE No2.

The fact is a double rifle should never be chambered for a rimless, or belted rimless cartridge, even a low pressure one. A 450NE, or a 450#2, 500/450NE or 470 NE will do anything the 458 Win Mag, or the LOTT will without the rifle damageing pressures. Restrict your 458 LOTT to a good CRF bolt rifle, and use flanged, low pressre rounds in your double. The verious .450s are a good choice, because the wide veriaty of cheap bullets. Handloading is a must for most double owners. #1 because you must tailer a load to your rifle to meet the regulation built into the rifle. #2 the cost of factory ammo, ammo that may or may not shoot in your rifle , is expencive. Example 470NE is $220 per 20 rounds! Even handloaded it will cost you $100 per 20 to load it yourself. As someone pointed out, a Merkel 470NE or a 500NE is a great buy, but there are others as well.

A B. Searcy PH will set you back about $10K,if you order quick, the price is going up by $2K next year. but it is 50% down, and about 8 months to pay off the other 50%. This rifle will be made to fit you, and have auto sel ejectors, top notch wood. If anything goes wrong with it, Butch is a phone call away!

When someone says doubles are expencive, while stepping out of a wornout used 4X4 they just payed $20K for, and it will be in the wrecking yard in five years, I have to grin! That double will be in the field with your great grand children!