As members of this forum are well aware and no doubt bored to have to be reminded of again, my first double rifle was a Krieghoff O/U in .458 Winchester Magnum, with interchangeable .375 H&H Magnum barrels. Both barrel sets were equipped with claw mounted scopes. The action featured double under lugs and Kersten cross bolts, ejectors, manual safety, double triggers, both barrels cocked on opening, and the stock was built to my specifications. This was at a time when Kynoch had ceased manufacturing African calibers and only the stocks which were on hand were available in the future. Kyoch cartridge cases were Berdan primed and did not lend themselves to repeated reloading.

In subsequent years leterally dozens of double rifles passed through my store. Most were acquired in London, from the Holland & Holland showroom, or from Paul Roberts, and most were well used. Of those I sold, I particularly remember a Westley Richands boxlock S/S in .500 NE, which was slightly off face, but nonetheless shot acceptably, a Westley Richards Ovundo (O/U) in 400/350, with hand detachable boxlocks, and a Westley Richards S/S with hand detachable boxlocks in caliber 6.5 Mannlicher. There was no reliable ammunition source for any of those calibers, which is why I let them go. I still regret it.

My Krieghoff has accounted for one elephant, one Cape buffalo, one lion, one leopard, one eland, one greater kudu and one lesser kudu. If I had had the .500 available, I would have used it for the elephant and buffalo. Since I did not, the rest of my four elephants and six Cape buffalo were killed with my wildcat .505 bolt gun.

I presently have building for me another Krieghoff boxlock identical to the one I already own, except that it is on a 12 gauge frame (only 16 gauge frames were available when I bought my first DR.) It has one set of barrels in .500 NE and another in 8X75S, and both barrel sets are equipped with scopes. I also have on order a sidelock Krieghoff in caliber 9.3X74R similarly equipped.

I have nothing against S/S doubles. They are part of the British tradition, and ideal for someone who has grown up with a double trigger S/S shotgun (which I did not.) No doubt they are margainally quicker to reload, although I had not trouble getting off a quick six shots with my O/U, when the occasion called for it.

.458 is not an ideal double rifle cartridge, but it was widely avaiable in Africa at the time I bought my rifle and I suppose still is. For a one week hunting trip with limited opportunity for dangerous game, that may not be a consideration, but for a five week safari, with elephant, buffalo and rhino all on the program, that certainly was.

Your choice of double rifle depends on a number of factors, most of which are unique to you. Are you interested in a practical tool, which won't let you down in a tight spot, as I was? Have you shot a lot with an O/U shotgun, as I had? Is cost a consideration, as it was for me? Are you wed to the British tradition of oversize case capacity cartridges and thumb sized bullets? Are you an admirer of mechanisme and workmanship? Do you just want to dip your toe into the water of double rifle ownership, or do you want to plunge in all the way immediately?

There are plenty of rifles which will satisfy your every wish available, as this thread amply demonstrates. You need to write down a list of your priorities and once you have done that, likely as not, you will have answered your own question.