Another gem from Nickadu

Sports Afield, Jun 2002 by Boddington, Craig
Continued from page 1.

For many years, I bought into the accuracy argument. On average, a bolt action is much more accurate. However, all but the most poorly regulated doubles are plenty accurate enough to cleanly take large game out to 100 yards. I've seen some that were much better, but I always thought it was sort of a random spread. Over the past few years I've been fortunate to share my little town of Paso Robles, California, with the John Rigby folks. I've watched them regulate dozens of doubles and have done some of the regulation shooting myself. With experience and like components, it's easy to achieve a starting point that gets you close. Then it's a matter of heating the barrels, melting the solder, moving the wedge-until you get it right. No double can rival a really accurate bolt action, but I am now convinced that double-rifle accuracy is largely a function of the amount of time and ammo its maker is willing to invest-and, of course, the skill of the regulator. Rigby's Del Whitman is a whiz, and I've seen him turn out numbers of doubles that have the shots cut each other.

They aren't alone, of course. Last year I used a Krieghoff double in .500/.416 that would print both barrels exactly side by side at 100 yards. Few big-bore bolt actions are as accurate. Krieghoff is a large and modern manufacturer, and their boxlock double is one of the least expensive on the market. You might think that they've found a way around this costly hand regulation. Not so. Just like Rigby and the many other smaller shops, they achieve a starting point through historical data and precision-made componentsbut then it's the time-consuming business of final regulation by hand, the old way.

When in need..

So the accuracy of a double depends on who makes it. The cost of a double is what it is. Not everyone can afford one, nor is a double rifle necessary to hunt dangerous game. Unless, of course, you really need that instantaneous second shot.

One long day in the Zambezi Valley, professional hunter Russ Broom and I followed a wounded leopard. I was carrying a shotgun, and I took the charge when it came. I saw both buckshot loads strike home, and I had time for two very quick realizations: I had failed to stop the leopard, and the gun was now empty. Then, to my right, came the double boom of Russ Broom's twin-barreled .500. The spotted blur folded, too close. Maybe I should have been carrying a double rifle that day ... but I will always be thankful that Russ was carrying his!

Copyright Sports Afield, Inc. Jun 2002
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