Darrin, affordable is a very relative term, for me it’s only affordable if I can afford to bounce it a few times, is fun to shoot and with no worries about scratches and dings. I looked at many “affordable” rifles before buying and am sure quite a few posters here would say I paid over the odds, but the point is this. I bought from a reputable dealer who put all the niggles right, took the rifle back and sorted trigger pulls, adjusted stock dimensions and stood by the sale at no additional cost. The rifle has now close to 450 shots through it, with some a little on the hot side, no sign of going off face or problems. It shoots well with factory loads and very well with hand loads. It has cost me the “affordable” purchase price only. A number of friends have been put off doubles for life through buying affordable bargains that look good but are not what they seem and cost to put right. Virtually any problem can be put right, its not rocket science, its just a case of how much will the affordable bargain cost. Don’t fall into the trap, buy new up to your affordable budget from a reputable dealer or used up to your affordable budget from a reputable dealer who will stand by the sale.

Don’t buy bargains, they rarely are and usually end up far from affordable. That said; if you reload go for something other than a used 470NE which come at a premium and you may find those used doubles start to look a little more “affordable”. Remember, it’s rarely affordable if you then have to spend the same again on putting it right and some wouldn’t be affordable to get shooting even if they were free.

For what it is worth, I have seen good used affordable doubles for your 5K here in the UK but they all seem to be in unusual NE or BP calibres or smaller non dangerous game calibres.

Regards

Phil