Now that I have returned from Africa from hunting with my top-lever back action H&H 35 WCF double rifle I can give an in depth report on how it performed. I want to compare and contrast it with my .375 Merkel DR and .376 Dakota 76 so that the reader put it in perspective.

Lets start with a picture. Obviously it's the petite rifle with hammers. You can take your thumb and finger around it with ease. The other rifle is a 450 Jeffery.

Carrying. I carried this rifle two ways the entire time a) africa style over the shoulder b) in my right hand cupping the round action. At 7.5 lbs it was a joy and I never got tired. However, nothing caries like a double over the shoulder. The drop in the stock acts like a keel and keeps the rifle flat and the twin tubes really gives you something to grab.

The Merkel .375 comes real close but it was 9 lbs and began to get heavy on an elk hunt in 2006. The Dakota is a scoped rifle which makes it top heavy by comparison.

Now let me tell you why I think the top-lever hammer gun makes the best stalking rifle: safety and the wonderful slim round action. I loved being able to carry the rifle loaded but un-cocked. If a quick follow-up shot was not needed I could open the action reload the right barrel and let the left hammer down with no danger of a discharge - or just reload the right tube and cock the right hammer if the game is near.

Shooting. Nothing points like a classic DR with lots of drop in the stock and rock steady 28" bbls. It begs off hand shots. Terminal performance with bonded bullets is nothing short of amazing; pass throughs are the norm.

So go out and get yer self a small bore double rifle. Merkel used to make a 30-06 140 that would be very nice.