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Many posters are always asking which new rifle to buy? what calibre? double of bolt? Many say they cannot afford a double, especially since most people think they will not use a big bore double that much. While I would want a bigger gun if I was a PH, or if I knew I was going to make multiple trips to Africa and shoot multiple buff and elephant, There is one calibre double that bears taking a look at.
I have been using a 9,3x74R Chapuis double rifle for over 6 years. I have 2 scopes for it, a 2.5-8 Leupold with the heavy duplex, and a Swarovski 1.5-6x42 with the illuminated circle dot reticle. Both are in QD mounts.
This rifle just may be the best Allround rifle on the Planet. There might be times when you might want a more powerful rifle [as stated above], and it might not be the best antelope, sheep and goat rifle, but if you can aford those types of hunts, you can afford more rifles.
For everything else including brown bear and the occasional buffalo or elephant the 9,3x74R will do the job, and it is not too big for all the other stuff. It is a rifle you can use on almost every hunt.
My Chapuis weighs 7 1/4 lbs without the scope. It handles like a fine .410 shotgun. The stock works well with iron sights and fits perfect with the scope. My rifle is the UGEX, the lowest price of the Chapuis. The 9,3x74R's are usually much less expensive than the bigger bores.
I have used loads from 193 grains to 300 grains. Mostly I use 286 grain bullets.
I have taken skunks, armadillos, jackrabbits, beaver, bobcat, coyotes [all problem animals in some areas], turkeys, wild pigs, deer, blackbear, impala, jackel, civetcat, klipspringer, baboon, waterbuck, and kudu.
Shots have been taken at ranges from 5 yards to just over 300 yards. The 9,3 kills big game well, and yet does not destroy a lot of edible meet on the smaller big game.
I have found the fast handling and the quick one-two shots from this double rifle to be far superior as a hunting rifle over a bolt action, or any other action type.
Many times I have taken 2 animals at the same time with a quick right and a left, other times I have been able to put 2 shots into an animal before he was able to get out of sight behind cover. I could not have made those shots with a bolt rifle.
The double rifle takes down for travel, making it less likely to be damaged in baggage. You could even break it down and put it in your pack if hunting in rough steep country, or after the kill when carrying out game.
I know there are several members here that have 9,3 double rifles [and some with 375H&H doubles], that can add to what I have said, [feel free to do so

].
I suggest anyone thinking about a new rifle give a 9,3x74R double rifle some serious thought.
Be advised however

.... after you use it for a while you may find 90% of your other rifles obsolete.

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