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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Double Rifles

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NitroXAdministrator
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Double rifle sacrilege
      #377525 - 24/06/23 03:56 AM

While writing the double rifle theory thread I wondered about an uncomfortable premise.

As we all know under and over shotguns have pretty much replaced side by sides for most clay target shotgun shooting. Many users shooting fantastic scores think the U/O is better.

As my clay target scores crashed I succumbed to the U/O pandemic. I stopped being the only person using a side by side. And started using my sole U/O shotgun, the barrels for my Tikka/Valmet gun system.

My last clay shoot was back to my old reasonable average score. Not flash but wow in our clubs too ten shooters. We won the "cup"! I won't embarrass myself with revealing the not flash score. Lots of improvement possible.

Now to double rifles.

The theory of recoil with a side by side rifle, in big bores recoil greater than a 12-bore by a considerable margin is that the left barrel with recoil up and to the left somewhat. The right barrel up and a bit to the right. The bullet might travel in the bore for a split second under recoil with the upwards and lateral movement. Regulation by trial and error compensates for this. If necessary.

Now what about under and over double rifles. Is the lateral variations absent? Does the upper barrel recoil upwards with little lateral recoil movement? And the lower barrel recoil also upwards but lesser than the upper barrel? Less variation might mean less regulation "adjustment"? And potentially greater accuracy? With a U/O rifle compared to a side by side rifle? Any time a bullet spends in the barre during recoil or not is a relevant factor.

Also with medium bores the recoil is far lesser. Leading to potentially better accuracy compared to a big bore.

Thoughts and comments?

***

I remember as a newbie a long time ago reading how a .45/70 single barrel rifle would shoot a slower bullet higher than the same bullet at a higher velocity. The factor being the bullet was slightly longer in the barrel during recoil and more muzzle recoil lift.

This same factor might affect say a .450 NE. And other similar cartridges. With the barrel recoil movement as described above.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

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"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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eagle27
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: NitroX]
      #377529 - 24/06/23 09:37 AM

Having watched quite a bit of video of game bird shooting in the UK I was very surprised that the O/U seems to have taken over as the gun of choice now. Despite the tweeds and ties, 'proper' gumboots and all the other associated stiff upper lip bits that go with UK hunting, even the top guns have gone to the dark side with the O/U gun.
While I did say dark side, this in jest and they, like me many decades ago, have seen the light and recognise the O/U as being the leader in the field for both competition and sporting use.


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HeymSR20
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: eagle27]
      #377554 - 25/06/23 09:50 PM

Being this side of the pond, the principle driver behind over and unders for game shooting has in many ways been driven by cost of guns.

Side by sides are pretty much a hand built affair requiring lots of costly labour. The likes of AyA took over from British built guns in the 1960’s. I bought my AyA Yeoman new as a 15 year old using money from summer jobs on the neighbours farm and Birthday / Christmas money in the mid 1980s. Nowadays a base boxlock side by side is a few thousand.

However the Italians and now the Turkish have invested heavily in machine made guns and a new base level gun is an over abd under from the likes of Berretta, ATA, FAIR etc.

And for older shooters, when the side by side needs repair - cost is often prohibitive and less than price of a pretty decent mid range over and under. Friend’s Jeffery side by side broke its stock. £3,000 (probably now £5,000) to restock. That’s a good Berretta or Browning.

Coming back to over and under double rifles, I have an over and under combination with a Einstecklauf to make it a double 7x65r.

Recoil from bottom barrel is straight back. Top barrel does kick up. I suspect with less flip you are back on target that little bit quicker.

I understand that most over and under doubles are regulated so that top barrel shoots a bit higher than bottom, rather to one side as in a side by side. There was an old boy on the Stalking Directory who used an over and double Merkel in 7x65r for open hill red deer. He used bottom barrel for 100m and top for longer 200m shots.

Certainly my rifle is more than accurate enough that I have taken deer to well over 200m.


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HeymSR20
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: HeymSR20]
      #377569 - 26/06/23 09:16 AM

Further thoughts on sacrilege. Fortunately a lot of continental double over and under rifles do have twin triggers - one for each barrel. A double rifle, especially a dangerous game double absolutely needs to be twin triggered. In effect you have two completely different rifles so there is a redundancy. My experience with single triggered over and unders is that its just a matter of time before trigger mechanism gets gunked and fails.

Only downside perhaps of an over and under double rifle, especially a Kirsten locked one is that you have to open them slightly further than a side by side and thus slightly slower to reload. But that is a matter of practice. I have had an AyA Coral for 30 years. This is a double triggered over and under with a Kirsten lock. A couple of times I have been invited on very big driven shoots. The type where most are using double guns with a loader. I was on my own, with just my trusty gun and a bag of shells. I more than held my own. I have been in tricky situations with big animals, but not needed to shoot my way out. I would suggest the best shots will always be the first and then the second. Once familiar with an over and under double, i doubt 3 and 4 would be any slower than 1 and 2.

There is a difference in view down a side by side compared to over and under. Not better, just different.

But by far most important factor is whether the gun fits and does it shoot where you look with you needing to aim. In other words does it shoot like a fine shotgun.


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eagle27
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: HeymSR20]
      #377571 - 26/06/23 02:28 PM

The issue of reliability of single triggers on doubles needs to be put to bed once and for all. Single triggers whether mechanically reset or reset by inertia are inherently simple. The single trigger double shotgun or rifle still has two separate locks exactly the same as the double trigger iteration of those guns, it is only the trigger that is different.
Westley Richards have for years provided single trigger options for their double guns, Pondoro Taylor himself liked the WR single trigger and stated he would have no hesitation using for his DG game except because all his other doubles had double triggers, he did not want to introduce a possible confusion factor into his gun battery.
The double trigger is just a carry over affliction from the days of unreliability of firing pins and springs in many of the gun locks of the day, the trigger mechanism was not the issue on double guns.

Competition shotgun shooters who fire hundreds of thousands of cartridges during their lifetime rely on perfect repeatability of grip and length of pull of their guns, the trigger of which is a critical part of this. They would not tolerate the slightest hint of unreliability of their single triggers during competitions. The most ardent double rifle owner would only fire a fraction of the cartridges than what an average, let alone a top competition shotgunner would fire in their lifetime.

In relation to single trigger O/U guns, to state that "its just a matter of time before trigger mechanism gets gunked and fails" then I say the owners of such gunked up guns deserve to be trampled, gored or bitten by DG. That is just a poor excuse for stupidity and should not be a reflection on the reliability of any gun. Just as a hunter should be double checking his ammunition and other items and accessories before heading off on an African safari, so he should be doing so on his guns.

Edited by eagle27 (26/06/23 02:29 PM)


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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: eagle27]
      #377572 - 26/06/23 06:11 PM

Quote:

The issue of reliability of single triggers on doubles needs to be put to bed once and for all. Single triggers whether mechanically reset or reset by inertia are inherently simple. The single trigger double shotgun or rifle still has two separate locks exactly the same as the double trigger iteration of those guns, it is only the trigger that is different.
Westley Richards have for years provided single trigger options for their double guns, Pondoro Taylor himself liked the WR single trigger and stated he would have no hesitation using for his DG game except because all his other doubles had double triggers, he did not want to introduce a possible confusion factor into his gun battery.
The double trigger is just a carry over affliction from the days of unreliability of firing pins and springs in many of the gun locks of the day, the trigger mechanism was not the issue on double guns.

Competition shotgun shooters who fire hundreds of thousands of cartridges during their lifetime rely on perfect repeatability of grip and length of pull of their guns, the trigger of which is a critical part of this. They would not tolerate the slightest hint of unreliability of their single triggers during competitions. The most ardent double rifle owner would only fire a fraction of the cartridges than what an average, let alone a top competition shotgunner would fire in their lifetime.

In relation to single trigger O/U guns, to state that "its just a matter of time before trigger mechanism gets gunked and fails" then I say the owners of such gunked up guns deserve to be trampled, gored or bitten by DG. That is just a poor excuse for stupidity and should not be a reflection on the reliability of any gun. Just as a hunter should be double checking his ammunition and other items and accessories before heading off on an African safari, so he should be doing so on his guns.




It was long put to bed a long time ago.

Two barrels. Two locks. Two triggers.

Most single trigger shotgun users are so retarded they can't use a double trigger.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
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"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: NitroX]
      #377575 - 26/06/23 07:06 PM

Quote:

Further thoughts on sacrilege. Fortunately a lot of continental double over and under rifles do have twin triggers - one for each barrel. A double rifle, especially a dangerous game double absolutely needs to be twin triggered. In effect you have two completely different rifles so there is a redundancy.




Yes.

And avoids the use of the stupid barrel selectors.

Quote:

There is a difference in view down a side by side compared to over and under. Not better,




A side by side gives a far better view.

Quote:

But by far most important factor is whether the gun fits and does it shoot where you look with you needing to aim. In other words does it shoot like a fine shotgun.




A side by side invariably will naturally fit better. The forehand not sitting unnaturally high.

Gentlemen, don't get me wrong. I was not arguing a under and over is better. I was commenting on recoil movements. A side by side is better. The side by side shooter at a clay target shoot is almost always a good shot. Most people are naturally sheeple and afraid to be not part of the flock. Afraid to be different. "Everyone uses a side by side, so it must be better!" I'm sure some would reply with such an inane statement

An under and over MIGHT be better for trap down the line shooting, as the ine of flight might match the barrels better. Skeet, no.

My favourite Azhur detachable sidelock, side by side, has more open chokes than y other side by sides. Also nice and fancy. Twin triggers of course. The stock might feel a little short for me now. It never used to. It has no recoil pad or plate wall, just wood. I might source a slip on rubber recoil pad. The firing pins in it feel a little snippy. Not sure how to describe it.m

My Greener Empire, bought second as a DR donor, is a littler agricultural. I like it for fox shoots.

My Simson Suhl is plain by in near perfect condition. It's issue is very tight choking. Makes sense seeing our German members comments on a thread on why many German shotguns are tightly choked. I'd be "brave" to use it on a clay shoot. When hit, clays would be spectacularly powdered. I do want to see if it can become a specialist fox hunting gun.

My old Hollis, hammers, was myngrandfathers, Damascus barrels. I'd like to see it restored a little.

My other grandfathers shotgun, a Stevens also a handgun, is in better condition but is missing a hammer. Need for my Uncle and Aunty to find it, or source another one or two.

If I can continue to improve my shooting, I'll return to a side by side, at least occasionally. A lack of confidence was the main reason I stopped using it not actual functuality

None of my side by sides have ejectors. I remember switching to the under and over for a mass flurry clay shoot because of expected barrel heat and it had ejectors. A loader was used the shooter opening and ejecting shells, the loader popping in two shells, shoulder, fire, reload, shoulder fire ... Etc . Six or seven throwers on a ridge, throwing clays in fly over head, sraight or angled. Maybe some two clays at once. I think four or five shooters. Fast and furious. I did well on it. A group score.mIt's like overhead driven pheasants flurry. Great fun. A side by side, with ejectors, and a glove, would have made it even better.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
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"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: NitroX]
      #377576 - 26/06/23 07:14 PM

Note this thread was titled "Double Rifle Sacrilege". The reference to shotguns was just added context. Of course a twin triggered side by side shotgun is better for non structured down the line artificial shoots.

My sacrilege was discussing how a single bullet flight works from a double rifle,and accuracy, trajectory etc. An under and over vs a side by side. Shot patterns are easy in comparison.

A bullet impact higher or lower to the line of sight is entaly easier to mentally compensate for, than bullet impacts to left or right. Because we are more used to it for trajectory impact changes already.

Of course the sight picture over a side by side is more natural and better.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"


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HeymSR20
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: NitroX]
      #377595 - 27/06/23 02:17 AM

To paraphrase the late Michael McIntosh on which is better, give me a fine side by side and a fine over and under double with lots of ammo and opportunities to hunt and I will spend the rest of my lifetime working out which is better.

My one conclusion so far is that provided it fits you properly it doesn’t really matter about the action type, and its the first shot that matters.


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85lc
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: HeymSR20]
      #377605 - 27/06/23 07:18 AM

HeymSR20, Well, Michael McIntosh was the expert and I also agree with his comments.

I always like a SxS and recently broke down and acquired a vintage Sempert & Kreighoff O/U which is very nice. So perhaps both are great.

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RB


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Yochanan
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: HeymSR20]
      #377609 - 27/06/23 09:11 AM

Quote:

To paraphrase the late Michael McIntosh on which is better, give me a fine side by side and a fine over and under double with lots of ammo and opportunities to hunt and I will spend the rest of my lifetime working out which is better.

My one conclusion so far is that provided it fits you properly it doesn’t really matter about the action type, and its the first shot that matters.




Brilliant where to sigh up for this scientific research.

--------------------
© "I have never been able to appreciate 'shock' as applied to killing big game. It seems to me that you cannot kill an elephant weighing six tons by ´shock´unless you advocate the use of a field gun." - W.D.M. Bell: Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter.


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Yochanan
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Re: Double rifle sacrilege [Re: eagle27]
      #377611 - 27/06/23 09:16 AM

Quote:

Having watched quite a bit of video of game bird shooting in the UK I was very surprised that the O/U seems to have taken over as the gun of choice now. Despite the tweeds and ties, 'proper' gumboots and all the other associated stiff upper lip bits that go with UK hunting, even the top guns have gone to the dark side with the O/U gun.
While I did say dark side, this in jest and they, like me many decades ago, have seen the light and recognise the O/U as being the leader in the field for both competition and sporting use.




Boss and Co launched their o/u in 1909 and Woodward in 1913 - so about 100 years ago. I think it boils down to matter of preference. Today many shooting schools only has over and under - new guns will buy what they are taught to use on the range. Lack of demand for sxs means the makers will produce over and under - simple economics. Manufacturers are there make profit.


I shoot better with o/u even though I must admit a sxs might be nicer and more classic. For those who want a newly made sxs there are a few makers to choose from in the mid-price segment. AYA and other continental makers out competed the British boxlocks after ww2 as they could make less costly guns than British trade to market. Market segment left for the British makers were bespoke guns market segments competing, today competing with Bosis, Fabbri, Flli Rizzini and Piotti plus some others makers of great premium guns.
Even back in the days Boss & Co was considered to be too expensive for many with good financial means.


I find double triggers suitable for shotguns when barrels are choked differently. I had W-r sxs with selective single trigger and it worked fine. Boss single trigger is very complex and labour intensive to fix if there are issues.
Double rifles for dangerous game the double trigger choice is better as the hunter has the instant opportunity to select soft or solid. That is what I would get for dangerous game hunting

Sxs doubles recoil differently than o/u and shallower opening angle to reload both chambers. Between 1960-1990 there was a very limited demand for big bore sxs doubles as classic safari destinations closed or restricted hunting - 375 H&H and 458 win mag were about the only two caliber you could find factory ammo for.

If you fancy very high driven pheasants many will go for 32 inch barrels, 34-56 gram loads no 5 or 4’s and tight chokes. A classic sxs game gun 29 inch barrel, Imp cyl and 1/2 choke may not be what most choose for the task. People in the industry says the demand for sxs has increased again.

--------------------
© "I have never been able to appreciate 'shock' as applied to killing big game. It seems to me that you cannot kill an elephant weighing six tons by ´shock´unless you advocate the use of a field gun." - W.D.M. Bell: Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter.


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